Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1899-08-16
4 DANGEROUS SUGGESTION.

- L-AN 1LAON0 5IboLHL ION..
1.-The policy of leasing the graz
ing lands of the west by the states"
Secretary Wilson of the depart
ment of agriculture said, ''cannot
but operate very beneiicially to
those states, but would eliminate
much of the trouble which the west
is now having over the range ques-
ton. Let the title of the land re-
mann i'll the federal government by
all means, but give the states the
use of the lands. c., the money
which would be derived from their
rental. Most of the western states
have comparatively small settled
areas, and these must bear the bur-
den of caring for the remainder of
the state which is government prop
erty. 1t would be very danger
GUS move to give the land itself to
the states, because before long
there would then be neither state
nor government land, but if it is
simply question of the state dis
posing of the annual income from
rentals, a proper system of exptn-
ditures would soon become estab-
lished. This would practically dis
pose of the range question, as leases
could be made tor terms of years,
and there would be then no conflict
i of right"
The writer has for years opposed
the policy as above set forth. Our
reason for doing SO is:
That to allow the states to leafe
the lands would be to give a few
large stock companies monopoly of
the public range, thus successfully
shutting out the small stockman.
Gigantic stock companies would
be formed in the different states of
the west, to handle sheep and cat
tie, and all the land leased by these
corporations, and of course these
leases would mean practical owner
ship, so far as small herds were
concerned. With this grip on the
public domain the small stockman
would be forced to sell out or be
starved out. If his stock should,
by chance land of course they
would if turned loose on the range,
get onto these leased lands, he
would Immediately be subject to q
suit for trespass, and if necessary
this suit would be pushed to hell
squeeze him out of business, fol
: corporations arc heartless in othel
business, why wouldn't they be il
" this case.
: If such a policy as Secretary
: Wilson proposes were to be estab
lished, it would result in the mos
!, gigantic land monopoly ever heart
of in any country. 1t would meai
: the creation Of landed holdings tina
would put similar institutions il
. England to shame. 1t would meal
: the forcing of every stockman, VIII,
was not able to lease land enough
J" for his herd, whether sheep or cal
: tie, off the range and out Of bus
= ness, and in thousands of cases
= where they now own farawa
mountain ranches, be compelled t
= pull up and leave the country.
= The evils that would follow tn
" Inauguration of this new schem
" are thousand fold worse than tn
y paying Of taxes by s'sparsely Sc
tied" states to keep their govern
:, mcnts running. No, Mr.. Secr'
tary, the west don't want any sue
monopolistie schemes as you pr,
pose. Our taxes are pretty heavy
its true, but if the farmers an
:. stock raisers are allowed the use G
the public range, as they are now
VIC can pay them and have som
y thing left. With the other schem
= there would be only starvation an
. the breaking of thousands of farm
= ers and stockmen up in bushes
~ and the state wouldn't get as niue
. money in return as it gets now.