The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-18
fspeclal TO The Herald

/ Fort Worth, Tex, Jan. 1.-THE sons
OF Utah at the meeting of the National
Livestock association have their coats
I off. They have two big jobs on hand
One Is TO pack the next convention to
salt Lake, the other is to prevent the
adoption Of a resolution favOTing the
leasing of grazing lands. They have
formed a combination with Idaho,
which has ninety-two votes, on both
these questions, and strength is being
added to the combination hourly. Mr..
Leary, one Of the most active members
Of the Utah delegation. said tonight:
I believe we have over 400 of the $50
votes in the convention in favor of
Salt Lake as the next meeting place.
believe Texas VIII give US her entire
vote We have a combination that is
hard to beat, and in my Judgment only
miracle can prevent the next con-
VentiOn going to Salt Lake"
This afternoon the big fight on the
leasing question was raised and dis
eussed during the greater part of the
session. Most Of the speeches have
been against leasing. The question
arose On a resolution favOriRg the Ieas-
ing plan.
Against Leasing Proposition.
A substitute was presented by
Mackay Of salt Lake against leasing.
and the argument was on it under the
five-minute rule. Mackay, Callister
and M0yle of the Utah delegation were
among those who spoke against the
leasing proposal Mr.. Mackay pleaded
for the small stock owners, who would
be forced out of business under any
leasing plan. Corporations would Sc
cure control Of the ranges and add an
other item to the long list of unholv
money combinations OF wealth. place
another fnger on the trust hand, which
is gradually choking the life out of the
people. AIr. Calisxer was also very
vigorous iE as nunciati5n Of thu
leasing scheme
Mr. Movie urged action by the con-
vention that would place the stOckmen
in position to get the best possible re-
suits in case the question had to be
met. He urged the stOckmen to ap-
point a provisional committee to take
the matter up at Washington and Sc
cure the most favorable conditions pos
sible. He was Of the opinion that con-
gress would pass a leasing law. The
argument viii be continued in the
morning.
Texas Keeps Out.
The Texas delegates indicate a will
hngness to keep out of this fight. in
asmuch as ali the range lands of the
state are already leased by the stock
men. If Texas keeps hands off. it is
safe to say that the substitutes will be
adopted.
The committee named to draft a
sketch of the land leasing bill to be pre-
scented to congress in case the cOnven-
ton endorses the scheme held a meet
ing tonight. The majority adopted a
draft which provides for division of
range land into three classes. First
land with both grass and water. no
person or corporation to lease over
5000 acres Second. land with grass and
no water limit $1,000 acres. Third. land
without good grass and without water
supply, lava land, etc, limit 1000
acres.
Fix Their Own Maximum.
The draft provides that Utah and
Idaho be allowed to fix their own max
imum for the land. owing to the vast
amount Of arid lands therein. this to
be done by congressional representa-
ton Of those states
J. D. Wood Of Idaho and Mr. Smith
of Utah. minority Of the committee
viii put in a minority report in case
the leasing plan gees through.
Tonight the delegates are beinr en-
teTtained by an Illuminated parade by
the Mystic Shrine of BOvina and a
grand ball C. F. Wantiand of Utah
is here fighting for the leasing plan. He
proposes a local option arrangement.