The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-13
NO GRAZING LAND LEASING
Beaver County Sends q RemOnStFant
Petition 20 Congress.

Beaver, o. r, March IA remon-
STRANGE signed by several hundred citi-
zens Of this county has been sent to
Flynn for presentation TO congress. The
people out here are more than anxious
that the proposed measure to abrogate
the homestead law and lease the govern
ment lands west of the S9th degree of
longitude west be not passed. The re-
monsuarce is as follows:
Eve; your petitioners, residents of Bea-
yer county, Oklahoma Territory, appeal
to your honorable body, and present our
cause for petition and remonstrance as
follows:
Whereas, There is now befoSe the con-
gress Of the United States, in both bodies
| thereof, certain bills proposing to lease
the government lands west Of the 9Sth
degree of longitude west for grazing pur-
poses. and withdrawing sid lands from
| settlement under the homestead laws.
I'VE wish to respectfully cali the atten-
ton of congress to the fact that any such
law would prove very injurious to the
! people living within the limits proposed
and described in said bills, for the fol-
lowing reasons:
''First-That all the hopes for the fur
Their settlement OF the territory proposed
to be taken for the purpose described
lies in the full and complete operation of
| the homestead laws, and TO abolish or
obstruct said homestead laws would be
a manifest injustice to the millions of
American citizens who have as yet had
no opportunity to exercise their home.
stead rights.
"Second-That it is well known that the
proposed bills for the leasing of said
lands is a movement of wealthy cattle
companies and syndicates who have
formed a trust for the purpose of getting
control and possession of all of said
lands; and no restriction which congress
can place around such an organization by
any law which takes way the homestead
rights Of the people would for any length
of time prevent such said trust from
crowding the farmer and small stocl1man
out of all Of the territory described in
said bills.
''Third-That the passage of any such
bill as either of those proposed would
eventually, and in a very few years.
place in the hands of said trust the DOW
ot all animals and meats in the United
States. Already the powerful meat pack
ing trusts or corporations have destroyed
all opposition 10 their operations. SO that
even a small meat dealer N small town
is compelled to purchase meats prepared
by such mammoth packing or slaughter
ing establishments, or suffer the corse-
quence by having his business DESTROYED
by the opposition Of the furnishing
corporations. Therefore. the operation of
any such law as the proposed land lease
would not only destroy the small cattle
raisers in the territory leased, but would
place the entire meat production Of the
| United States at the mercy Of said cattle
trust, and prices received by the stock
farmers east of the proposed meridian
would be regulated at the viii ana mon
strous trust in possession of the immense
territory embraced within the operation
Of the proposed land lease bill.
Fourth-That the operation of either Of
/ the proposed laws, would. without a
doubt. eliminate IN conflict between small
| stockmen and small stock farmers and
cattle synjicates in regard 70 water
! privileges and much turmoil and blood
shed would inevitably follow the leasing
| of said lands under the provisions OF
/ either Of the proposed bills.
"Fifth-That the tendency Of the 0ro-
posed land lease laws would be 10 de-
stroy the public schools already estab-
lishei within the limits Of the territory
! proposed 10 be leased, would efsecuauv
/ prevent the establishment Of any more
/ public schools within said territory. ana
! so far as Oklahoma is conc raed. womb
! place the entire public school fund az the
/ disposal o. the tAickIv settled portion NJ
! this territory. which said section ALREADY
/ aprro0-iates more than dve-sixths OF the
/ money received from the lease OF -,,,h7i,
lands in this couuty.
That pordoR % the lease money pro-
/ posed 20 he used for purposes of i~riea-
/ ton would be- detected from part Of the
territory where the lands proposed 10 b.
leased ara located AMUSED IN portions
Of said oklahoma Territory where said
land lease laws 20 not apply.
I'VE. therefore anxiouslv ask ye,,~
earnest consideration Of The objections I,
! the proposed land lease legislation here
/ laid before you. with many other obiee-
lions which space viii not permit item
/ izing. and which yaur knowledge Of The
| subject VIA present, and yau viii no,
permit this great wrong IS be inflicted
/ upon people livins IN che territory de-
/ scfibed n tha land lease bills.
And fOr justice and projection in thgs
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