The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-19
VEST IS UNBUTTONED
The Old MiSSOurian Says he Is a
WeSterner All Over.
A REMINDER TO CLEVELAND
1t Is Given Out Straight That the
Administration Must Respect
People Who Live West of
the Mississippi.

Washington, March ls-Owing 70
the indisposFtion OF Mr.. Mills. who had
the floor on the subject. the Cuban de-
bate was not continued to-day. An an
imated controversy arose over the reso-
luton OF Mr.. Cannon directing Secre-
tary Smith to execute the law for the
public opening of the Uncompahgre In
dian reservation. Utah. Mr.. Cannon
said 100000 acres were involved. and
he wished this mandatory resolution
TO overcome the delays of the secretary
of the interior
Mr.. Gordon responded that. after
conference with Secretary Smith, he
had learned that vast mineral wealth.
particularly asphalt, existed on these
lands. The secretary was desirious OF
protecting the government against ra-.
pacious persons and corporations seek
ing to control these valuable deposits.
and the secretary felt that the govern
ment ought to receive some benefit,
either by royalty or otherwise, so the
public might receive the benefits, in
stead of giving them to some great cor
poration.
Mr.. Chandler asked why Gordon or
the secretary did not ask to repeal the
law, instead OF ignoring the law. There
was some disposition to cut off the de-
bate, but Mr.. Wolcott protested that
Cuba and the Dupont case ought not
to crowd out all other subjects. The
new state of Utah ought to have a few
minutes on matters concerning her in
terests. The senate thereupon adopted
Mr.. Cannon's resolution to proceed
with the consideration OF his resolu-
tion. Cannon followed in a sharp crit
icism of the secretary of the interior
for falling to execute the law. The
secretary's course was such, he said. as
to ultimately put lands into the hands
of a monopoly instead of opening them
to the whole public.
Mr.. Wolcott added that the land be-
longed to the public and should not be
kept from prospectors who were en-
couraged by the government and would
open these vast tracts and make them
valuable.
Mr.. Vest followed in criticism of the
secretary's course. There was a time"
said Mr.. Vest, when a cabinet officer
who violated a law would be brought
before the bar of this senate" This
reservation, said the senator, contained
the greatest beds Of asphalt in exist
ence-sufficient to supply the country
for centuries. A law was passed di-
recting the opening OF the lands, but
the secretary of the interior nullified Il.
1t was nullified on the excuse that
congress did not know what Il was
about. The secretary's course was in
behalf of rich investors who were the
only ones who could bid on a public
auction of the lands.
Mr.. Vest said he had protested per-
sonally to Secretary Smith and had
told him the entire eastern interest
would oppose his plan and that no
western man would propose 1t to con-
gress. Thereupon Secretary Smith an
swered that he would get friend from
Georgia to introduce IL. II am sorry TO
say" said Mr.. Vest. but there seems
to be disposition on the part OF the
present administration to treat the
western people as If they were in a
condition of pupilage. that they did not
know their own rights or their own
interests and must be Informed from
the East in regard to what is best for
them and what should be done for
them. Even the president Of the Uni
ted States lately. on a missionary occa-
sion, spoke of the West as the land of
and crime. Our president
stood with DR.. Talmage on one side
and the Rev. Sheldon Jackson on the
other, and gave a new version of that
blessed missionary hymn which we
have heard SO often In our childhood:
From Montana's sinful mountains
From Utah's wicked plains,
They call us to deliver
n.... L.
There was long and loud laughter as
Mr. Vest repeated the lines in tones OF
intense sarcasm.
We are told" continued the senator,
by high ecclesiastical authority. that
his excellency has lately laid down his
honors at the foot OF Jesus I am glad
to know II. II has been the general
impression of the democratic party
that the mugwumps and incense burn
ers have got all those honors and In
tend 10 keep them. l have got respect
for the Christian religion and missions
at home and abroad. but. Mr.. Presi-
dent, IL is q slander upon the men who.
With rife In one hand and an ak in the
other. have gone out and blazed the
pathway OF civilization In those west
ern wilds. ! am a western man:
went TO Missouri when IL was a from
tier. In sight OF the Indian and buffalo.
1 nave nNeQ tncre nearly % years ana
say to our president now that II he
will interrupt hunting ducks i'm North
Carolina and silver democrats in Ken
lucky long enough TO come out. we will
show him a Godfearing and respect
Ing law abiding people; we will show
him churches in which there Is real
and unanecting piety. our church
spires may not reach 50 near to heaven
as those OF the East, but our people
are worthy OF the respect Of any ad-
But ] d0at rise for the
purpose Of again criticiSng this ad-
1 rose 70 say most EN-
1hatically that this habit Of the secre- I
tary or members of the cabinet Of de- 7
iberately trampling upon the laws OF
congress and refusing 20 carry them
out have gone 10 an extent that de-
mands immediate notice at the hands
n the executive department Of the
government"
Nir. Villas followed Mr. Vest. follow !
ng the history OF the land legislation.