Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1896-05-10
t,,u,I For

Of prosperity that iarer ome there
has lately u doubt crept into my mind
t3,Tt the free and unlimited coinage
al si.Ner will not bc II ptnacea for all
orr lit5; ihat, If VT ever get FREQ COIN
age. We should 80 shape things that
We can retain it and not build up 9th
er States antl Territories T., our Own
disadvantage.
Having occasion lately to observe
the progress and development OF the
surrounding States and Territories OF
Utah. Idaho and Arizona, whose soil.
Climate and natural are
i~dentically the same as our own, and
in no particular superior. | would
naturally ask myself what is the mat
tee "I;n Ncvada. While we realize
that tics, States are fast filling mp
with people who are making their
waste places blossom with abundant
hnrvests and happy hoinrs. whose
boniiiccnt and just laws are develop
INK and fostering "a sincerity OF inter-
ests for the protection of all to the
exclusion OF nonc, without which no
State can becom" healthy md strong,
It cannot be with any feeling OF pride
and satisfaction that we turn To- con-
template our own condition and draw
conclusions. and, # we are capable Of
reasoning from cause To effect, which
] think We are. | don't thiux we need
20 far below the surface to- find the
cause.
don't undertake TO say that we arc
any better or worse than orr neigh
bors, but will unhesitatingly a that
We have some Of the most pernicious
and unjust laws that ever disgraced
the statutes Of any State. Our land
system i'll it's conception is us rotten rs
Il dead mule. Our trespass laws are
but class legislation. and OF such n
character rs is known in no other
Stntc. The so-called sheep license
law il fast driving ont an industry
that other States are proud TO foster
and protect. Our mining laws, in
many instances. are unjust to the en-
tent that capital seeks other fields for
investment and what pres are mined
have to be shipped out OF the State
for reduction. And with those condi-
tions staring us in the face. with our
population steadily decreasing, |
would like to make n few pertinent
suggestions. How woull it do. for
instance, to elect me 10 the ncyt leg
islaturc who have the interest OF the
State at heart and whose length and
breadth % fairness and intelligence
Will cause them To protect every in
dustry to the exclusion OF none? We
had Il few men Of that stamp in the
last Legislature. Why not elect Il full
body?
Let III see how the so-ca led sheen
license law has worked us a
producer for the State. In tie first
place, il the law was for the purpose
of revenue. which [ question, for |
think the intent Of the law WAS to kill
oil the industry, it shuts out any Door
man Wishing to engage in the bus
'n"ss for he lis handicapped by not be-
ing able To or rent land To- cx-
cmpt him from this unjust law. and II
necessarily places the business III the
hands Of those able to own vast tracts
at land. thereby not only creating 4
monopoly III the business uf raising
sheep. but building up and fostering a
land monopoly besides, which is tho
primary cause Of much Of our polit.
zeal misery.
+. ! will give you Il few figures on the
number of sheep that have left this
part oil the State since the pnssape of
thIs law. Tho number leaving last
year 50 far as | know. are: VIM.
Mitchell, G,00O; Bcws Bros. 10000;
Orr, 5000; Dunn. 5000; Sampson. TO-
GOO: Hawkins. 5000; Pierce IL Quick,
G,oO0; McDcrmont, 1900. This wear
the figures are: Sampson Bros. 49,
0Ol; Brws Bros. 1900; Picrco&Q Quick
5000. McCurdy and Hutton. 5000;
McDrimont. 5000; making an aggro-
gate oi 10000.
| would ask how are the
oi the stat" benefited 10y driving this
vast amount Of property out. and
mind y"rl, those people did not pay
tn" license, but. when il was ncces.
Fary t" nave land To he exempt from
ITS collection. leased from the G.. y. II
IL thereby adding another source OF
revenue to that vast monopoly. |
would nsk You in all fairness how
many merchants. blaCkHmitha. hotels,
farmers, etc, have been benefited by
the absence Of all this property with
tho ,afgo number Of men %ccesg To
move III Take tho poll tax alone
aud it is quite u respectable sum.
stop and think Tor Il momont--du Il
little Iiguring-and you will sec how
much goes into circulation to help
build up some other State, which il
giad to have this property we persist
~ driving out.
Another thing | will draw your at
tcutiOn To il this: No State is cursed
with Il monopoly Of land equal to the
State OF Nevada, aud it has never
been profitable to the holders, but
their greed aud avaricc controls their
common sense to that extent that
they will not throw il up. Tho inter.
est on tho purchase Of this land Ia o