The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-27
be detrimental to Montana for the
same reasons given, and the article Ia

be detrimental to Montana for ths
same reasons given, and the article Ii
herewith reproduced, 1t Says
Notwithstanding the fact that the
National Live Stock association at their
convention passed a resolution eAdors,
lug the leasing plan Of the public eraa-
Ing lands, the breeders at this state,
both cattle and sheep men, Me bitterly
opposed to the plan and are taking
steps to flght the hill now before cong,
TESS, Eastern Oregon has risen en-
MaSse against tho proposed Legislation
aud its people are loudly protesting
against leasing ef the grazing lands,
The principal fight Ia being made
against the bill OF Senator Foster Of
Washington, AZ II pertains directly O
the country west Of tho oath meridian,
which runs elese 10 Lincoln, Neh,
Senator Fosters bin embraces Oregon,
Washington, California, New Mckee,
Colorado, Wyoming, AliaoAa, Utah,
Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, kNn-
aus, Oklahoma and Texas,
The leasing Of the public lands In
this state weula letatd Immigration, IA
large hedies Of land would be tied up
by big corporations aud virtually taken
out OF the market for actual settlers,
and this IL just what we don't want
We want more people Ia 0Eeeons the
kind Of people that are willing ia take
up this land for homes, The small
breeder that Il now located IN vaIious
outlying districts would seon DO driven
out Of the business by tho large CON-.
hines, There Il not Quo good argument
IL favor Of this system IN Oregon, The
ideN that NaN,lesiaeAts are coming
here to build up our range Ia ridiculous,
They will take everything possible that
II free and leave oNf eeuAt1y not Gully
barren OF grass, but at population, for
they will surely drive the small set,
tier from his home, and do II accord.
ing to law II this bill Ia passed,
Al we understand the situation, tho
National Live Stock association has not
endorsed the Foster bill, lts commit,
tee, az stated Ia The Gazette last Fri.
day, IL to meet soon = probably IN Den,
vet-te formulate a measure, but its
general provisions will likely DO stint.
lar to those Of tho bill under discussion,
HoN, Paul MeCelmiek of this city, the
Montana member OF the committee,
says he would 10 Ia favor Of also al,
lowing settlers on the leased tracts, to
raise hay for tho big steekmeM, Ii q
measure, this would remove some of
the objections against the proposed law,
but az Il general proposition II seems
to be dangerous 10 states that are de,
pending on agricultural immigration
for their development, Still, the
feature of the law providing that half
of the revenue derived from tho lease
shall 70 to the state for irrigation pur,
poses, IL an attractive one,
However, the eonoensus of opinion,
IA fur as 1t has been expressed In Mon,
tana, seems to DO against the leasing
question and II should DO carefully con,
sidered Ia all its hearings BY the
people, We do not believe, though,
that congress- will hastily pass such Il
measure az the Foster bill, too many
states aud too many people are affected
BY It for such a radical law to DO Oh.
acted before they have been heard
from. This IL particularly true by
reason Of this being the year Of the
presidential election, Al u rule the
make haste slowly In GA,
such Legislation just preceding
Il general election,
A movement was i%AaugnEated Ia
Billings this morning against the Fest.
or bill, steps being taken to forward a
femonstranoe 70 Washington, which
will no largely signed by the stookmen
and raAehess Of Yellowstone county,
The sentiment here seems TO he almost
unanimous against any proposition to
lease tho public domain and II will
certainly DO an unpopular move for
representatives at the CAPT,
tul 10 vote for any measure Of this
character, The remonstEanoe will ha
circulated for signatures tomorrow, Ii
being the intention 10 canvass tho en-
tiro county,