Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-07-10
A Republican Measure.
REPUBLICAN, RECORD.

REPUBLICAN, RECORD.
Galusha A. Grow, a republican, first
advocated the Free Homestead law in
1852.
Owen Lovejoy, republican, strongly
advocated the Grow Free Homestead bill
in 1860.
Aldrich, republican, introduced the
bill in 1861.
Lovejoy, republican, reported favor
ably on the bill.
The bill passed a republican house by
vote Of Io7 to IS.
Harlan, republican senator reported
the bill favorably in the senate, which
passed by vote of 80 7.
Abraham Lincoln, republican, presi-
dent signed the bill May II, 1862.
The present Homestead bill, making
lands free to settlers on Indian reserva-
tons as well as on other pnblic lands,
and reserving all public lands for settle
ment under the. homestead law, was in
troduced Dec. S, 1899, by F. M. Eddy,
republican member of congress from Min
nesota
1t was passed by republican house. 1t
was called up in the senate by Knute
Nelson republican senator from Mime
sofa and passed by republican senate.
1t was signed by William Mckinley, re-
publican president on the 18th day of
May, 1900.
DEMOCRATIC RECORD.
The homestead law was opposed by
John Slidell, democrat, in Uuited States
senate in 1859.
John W. Breckenridge, democratic vice
president voted against it on tie vote of
2S to 20.
Andrew Johnston, democrat opposed
the Grow Homestead bill in 1860 and Of
fered substitute bill making price OF
IS cents per acre on lands, which bill
passed congress but was vetoed by James
Buchanan, democratic president
William S. Holman, democrat, i'll
1890 advocated adding the cost of lands
purchased of indians to be taxed up to
settlers OH reservation lands, and sue
ceeded in securing the enactment of a
law to that effect
, The present Homestead law making
lands free to settlers on reservations as
we'll as on all public lands was opposed
in congress by Mr.. Maddox, democratic
member from Georgia, who led the OPP
position to the bill.
, The IS petitions of Idaho to our con
. gressmen asking for free homes for set
tiers were all drawn up by republican
and sent out for signatures, and returned
J to him and forwarded to congress, con
tanning in all over one thousand names
and no other petition was forwarded ex
cept through republican channels from
the state of Idaho to congress.
Edgar Wilson, silver republican mem
Der of the house from Idaho presented
the petitions in the house and Senate
Geo. l.. Shoup, republican senator fror
Idaho, presented the petitions in tn
senate. Senator Henry Heidfelt fror
!. Idaho, populist favored the bill. Til
democratic champions of this measure d
not appear very often in the record {
aiding the measure except in their ns
:, tional platforms, and if the bill ju:
passed had not become law its failur
would have been charged to the republ
can party, therefore it is fair to credit tn
, law to the republican party. The legi
\ latiye record shows that republica
4 senate passed memorial No. /, in favor
n free homes by unanimous vote also Sci
4 ate memorial No. a, unanimously. an
= also passed House memorial No. 5, unan
= mously.
The democratic house tabled Sena
4 memorial No /, and refused to consld
4 it by a vote Of IL to 2S. Senate memoir
d No. 4, was voted down on motion
! to suspend the rules for its passage by
, vote of 10 to ~. House nj mortal NO.
was passed dy the house.
q Tens of thousands of settlers from Ok
q homa to the Pacific oceiu have been be
4 Gifted by the enactment of this law, b
= perhaps none have received a great
} benefit according to the population tn