, 1900-12-27
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1900.
Their Entire Argument.

wolf bounty question and represents
about all the argument there is on the
VOTERS side of the question. Its first
proposition is presented as follows:
The stockmen Pay taxes, and these
taxes go toward paying for the general
public's protection against criminals OF
all kinds. Then why should not the gen.
eral public pay something to protect the
stockmen?"
The stockmen share equally with the
general public in the protection the law
gives against criminals of all kinds.
We are of the opinion that the time Of
the sheritfs and other court officers is
taken up to a greater extent by Grim
inal prosecutions against cattle thieves
than proportionately against other Grim.
inals, The second proposition Of the
Tribune relates to leasing state lands, as
follows:
The stockmen pay the state thou
sands of dollars for land that is of no ac-
count to any one but the stockmen,
then why should not the state on cour
age these men in this industry by giving
them protection against wolves and coy
otes?'
OF course the lands are not valuable
to anyone else than those who use them
That is a self evident proposition. But
they are valuable to the stockmen and
are leased for the reason that they are
valuable. No stockman would lease "A
foot of state land if ne did not believe it
was profitable for him to do 50. This
leasing proposition is the latest and most
catchy argument presented by the ad-
yoeates Of the wolf bounty. but it is as
fa!lacious and gauzy as anything yet
brought forward. They have discovered
that Il few dollars are escaping into the
state treasury which they are not get
ting back and they want it. The leased
lands are principally school lands and
the income therefrom goes to the benefit
OF the public schools. in which we all
share equally. To pay it back to the
stockmen for the purpose Of killing
wolves would not only be in opposition
to the constitution, but would be in VIC
lation of justice. The last proposition
Of the Tribune is the most ludicrous Of
all:
1T is very seldom that a merchant
has II special Waterman to protect his
store or home against thieves, for he
pays the tax that pays the prosecuting
attorneys: he pays the tax thai pays the
salary of the sheriffs, and the wardens
and guards of the penitentiary. But he
does not pay any more of the tax that
pays these officers salaries than the
~stockmen. Yet the merchant is protect.
ed against the thieves, and the stockman
pays part of the money for such protec.
ton. Then why should not the mer-
chant pay part of the tax to protect the
stuckmen against the coyotes and wolves
that come in the night and kill his
stock?"
The Tribune admits that the mer-
chant pays just as much as the stock
man for the general public good, but
socks to deny that the stockman shares
equally in the general administration of
the law, although it does not point out
Just how. 1t Gays 1.-THE merchant is pro.
tocied against the thieves and the stock
man pays part OF the money for such
protection That is true. The pro
to .tion given merchants by the police
departments Of the cities ia paid entirely
by city taxpayers, who are also required
to pay for fire protection, etc.
Let the Tribune or some other paper
advocating a wolf bounty refute this
statement. The stockmen of Wyoming
have received more money from the
state treasury to pay for wolf bounties.
stock commissions, inspectors, detect.
yes, etc. etc. than they have paid into
the general fund OF the state. The
state would have been better off tinan.
cially. 40 far as taxes are concerned, had
it said tn the stockmen twenty years ago
.lientlemen. il you will take care Of your
selves you need not pay one cent OF tax
The Republican would like to see alb.
solute Justice meted out to all. No
other policy will win. Let the honest
people of the state stand for equality in
taxation and urge by every possible ar
gument a fair assessment Of the proper.
ty OF the rich and the poor Let no
ulan assume that he is a public benefac.
tor because he has accumulated a little
more wealth than his neighbor. Those
who are prosperous should not be per
mitted To place greater burdens upon
their less fortunate fellow citizens. Lar.
annie Republican.
" there is anything wrong with the
arrsarance Of The Sun this week our
L-.L - ~. 1T AEnA MO