The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-06-21
be published:

lating to the Smoky water trouble has
been received with a request that ii
be published
Editor REPUBLIC:
As one of the dear Socialists" mentioned by
P. /. Lancaster in his article on the water right,
question, | wish TO offer d few words. AMI IL
| justice to yourself IN particular, TINS commend
| Is due, as you are charged by the gentleman of q
j miSStatement of the facts And IN Justice to L
| L. Lancaster an explanation on this point j,
/ due, as ii seems Mr., Lancaster cannot under
stand why the misstatement should nave been
made relating to tine exact number of signeFs tu
the cross petition which you saw lit to publish,
In the first place the cross petition was only
| intended to impress upon the commissioners the
true state of the facts Ia the case and that there
were other and greater interests at stake besides
I the individual interests OF Mr.. Lancaster, VINO,
I Dy the way, has already admitted that III was
/ purely selfish motive with possible public
/ utility" view in the background which prompt
| ed him to attempt the establishment of the first
| irrigation district IN Kansas. The simple facts
are, MT. Editor, that the cross petition was 50
strong and self-eYident to all having the least
knowledge of the situation, that impulsiyeiy
some signed it without any solicitation what
ever, and by this means few names appeared
on the cross petition who were not directly in.
teTested, but we suppose they have strong So
clalistic tendencies.
Now, Dir. Editor if to associate our efforts in
a legal and moral endeaFOr TO better our COLI
ditiOn socially, morally and financially, Is a
crime against MF. Lancaster, because he, like
the rest of us, wish to keep of the poor list
then We plead guilty.
Ii 1t Is a crime to defend our Own interests
against the eHcrOachments of greed and avarice
as exhibited by the gentleman in question then
We plead guilty. But if law and equity as we
understand il say We are right, then we viii say
IN the language OF the gentleman himself, I'VE
=, ~, D To- - DIT ~.
motives as insinuated by Mr. Lancaster to
create public sentiment against him through
said organization is or has been attempted MF.
Lancaster has successfully done all that him
self, by the perniciOus course he has pursued in
the premises.
In plain English, Mr. Lancaster has, with all
the valuable AID and counsel of the great
Scott, made fool of himself For read what
the law says and all Is plain: And the county
commissioners may mot shall order the county
surveyor on application of any 10 lnOtativel Of
SAID petitioners IN writing. 70 make the neces-
sary estimates as herein provided for.
Besides the garbled evidence produced by Mr..
Lancaster In his attempt to throw discFedit up
on the efforts Of those interested iH organized
effort TO advance our interests as agriCulturists
and good, loyal citizens Of free government, lie
is wrong even IN the description of the name OF
the society he seems to know SO much about
although he referred 70 recognize one principle
embodied therein, ana ignored all invitations
10 uHtQut interested OF alllu lLtn5EI WITH III.
Now how can ne expect TO know so much Of
things least concerning him.
To sag the least BIZ. Lancaster's position is
ildeieBsible; be declares he viii abide by the
law. The law says 'An natural waters
whether standing or running, and whether sur
face or subterraneaH, shall be devoted first, 70
purposes 81 irrigation IN aid of agriculture, sub
iect 70 ordinary domestic uses"
Hence, to ali ordinary intelligence Of the
source OF supply Of water In the Smoky, rising
as it does from springs along the stream, here
rising above the surface, and there disappear
ing beneath the sand, proves that the attempt
By any one 10 appropriate the same for iTriga-
tI0n purposes other than by dams and pumps
must practically defy the law, and set reason
ana common sense at disadvantage.
The writer Of this, and many Others could
have taken the same view of the matter and
fled notice under the law for right, long before
Sir. Lancaster did it. bat We viii admit that our
Social lncllnati0ns and regard Tor cur neiglb0Fs
welfare we're too strong and We desistsd.
That old idea Of proparty rights IN water mast
soon takelts place alongside the long exploded
idea thst AIR, i i could he bottled I'D ana con
HHea " man and dealt ont TO his telioWmaB for
q consideration IN order that he might exist. ii
dE. Lancaster has not set learned sasse Sooiai-
lsi-e ideas ase gaining gEa1na under tHs prrssIs
plutSeratle government ncF ia tie naule ot
comma ssnse Is he to ana Is oVt5
G. s. BEAEsoS,
l4S cs che csfss ISIS.