El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-13
STRONG OPEN LETTER

CO-Stockmen Much interested
The Merits and Dement'S OF
the Issue.
Over the signatures of Messrs. Cam
eron, Goetz and Fullen, of Carlsbad, an
open letter has been addressed to the
press of New Mexico. There is nc
question, Gays the White Oaks Eagle,
that she stUckmen of this territory
will be very much concerned. in fact
vitality interested, in wha, ever legisls-
tive action is taken by congress. and to
be able to intelligently represent their
interests, they should become acquaint-
ed with the merits and dement's of the
issue. The letter referred to ia In part
as follOws:
This agitation is viewed by the peo-
pie of New Mexico with an apparent
difference that can result only from
an utter unfamiliarity with the vigor-
Gus and wide reaching result that will
follow should success attend 1t.
It will mean, fret and pre-eminently,
the utter destruction Of the sheep and
wool interests and small stock business
OF New Mexico; and what the effect of
the destruction of this industry-now
the predominant one of the territory
would be, it Is not necessary to picture.
That the matter may be brought to
the at entiOn of the people and they be
melted to efforts to prevent the pas
cage of the lease measure proposed, it
is necessary that the press of New
Mexico should give careful investiga-
tion to the subject, and after satisfying
itself of the injury that would result to
the whole people from it's adoption,
give the facts to the public that 1t may
be thoroughly informed.
To that end the following is respect
fully submitted for considerations:
That we'll organized plans have been
perfected bv the big cattle concerns of
all the western and nort hern states to
secure the passage of national lease
law by congress during the present
winter, admits of no doubt.
That the governor of Wyoming has
called a meeting of all the governors
of western states to meet in Salt Lake
City. December 14th, to formulate
plans of legislation to be submitted to
congre ss, looking to leasing grazing
lands in the west to stockmen and
ranchers."
That national lease law will be
calamitous thing for the western states
generally, and for New Mexico partic-
ularly, is at once apparent to anyone
who gives study to the question.
It is q fact of record That the greater
portion of the wealth of New Mexico is
by live stock being bred
and raised upon the public ranges,
which sstock is owned in small herds.
Under present conditions the public
range is free alike to all. The owner
of only few head of stock has the
anne right and derives the same ben
eft from the grass and water as the
man mum bering his stock by the thous-
ands. But the enactment of a general
law for leasing the public lands would
be ruinous to the interests of all own
srs Of small herds, particularly of
sheep, for the reason that the laree
backed by uulimited cap
gradually, if not at once, control all
The desirable lands and water. This
,ould be effected in many ways.
Their large holdings and CORES
bonding profits would permit them to
pay higher lease price than the man
with only few head of stock, paying
him only minimum Of profit. Con-
slant and persistent eac roachment |
would coon give the big owners the |
1reds OF small focks and herds there |
would appear only miles of fence and |
PASTURES owned by immense corpora |
ions.
A lease law means the extinguish-
nent of the sheep industry in New
Mexico, and today the sheep and wool
interest ia of ali others In the territory
he predominant one.
Does New Mexico want to kill it's
thief industry-the one that supports
greater number of it's people than
my other?
The sheep industry and lease law
re not compatible, for the reason that
heep will not thrive when con fined to
me range, the migratory nature of the
.nimals making constant change
necessary, and as an illustration of this
act it ia only necessary to cite the his
DRY of the sheep growing industry in
he state OF Texas, where few years
f the practical operation of q lease
aw has resulted in driving the sheep
ut of every part OF the state where
he range bias been of sufficient value
o justify the leasing OF the land by
be owners of large herds of cattle.
'he record of this state has been that
be cattlemau has spread out, crushed
nd com petitor and vertically posses ses
be land. He Is an embryo king and
is sway none disputes.
The enactment of a lease law would
lace it within the power of corpora
ions and men OF large means to lease
nd control all desir able grazing land,
erds, thus giving over the country to
he use of privileged few to the detri-
lent of the many.
People now deriving livelihood
-om small holdings of live stock, kept |
n the range, would under a lease law
e forced to dispose of their stock at
no nricea aa thau C0u1d obtain from, | q,