Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-10-19
THE BACA COUNTY LAND BILL
SENATOR WOLCOTTS REAL POSITION
ON THE LEASING OF PUBLIC LANDS
He Opposes Cedns Public Lands to the States or Leasing
Them-Position of the Party Shown BY Its State rat
form-A Letter From Judge Nerthcu't
Letter TO Hon. J.. 4. SheridnnJ
Denver. October y, 1900.


Denver. October .. 1900.
Hon. +. T.. Sheridan:
Dear Sir-l am greatly obliged 10 you
for calling my attention to the pincard
issued by the Fuslonlsis respecting my
position concerning the leasing OF pub
lie lands.
am now, AMI ever since have been
In the Senate have been. unnl,crabiy
opposed TO all plans and schemes ana
measures OF every sort whatever look
Ing to the cc,iins OF the public domain
to the different states. or the leasing
OF the public lands Of the United states.
In the campaign four years ago AMI
two years ago opposed any such
measure. my attention being especially
directed to II by the fact that the Fu'
rloni-t congressman from the First dis
trIct favored the ccdinE OF the public
lands. During the last few years
have written hundreds Of letters to con.
stItncnts stating my position upon this
question. My efforts have always been
directed to securing: free range for the
small holders OF stock.
The statements In the circular which
you enclosed are wholly false. The
stockmcn In Bacn county nrc greatly
annoyed and injured by the fact that
cattle from Texas and Kansas nrc
driven ON Ia the range In that county.
TO the great dctrlmcnt OF Colorado
stock owners. The leading citizens Of
that county Joined in a request.
through Judge Norihcuti. district Judge
OF the Third district. that l should IN
trolucc u I'LL. local to Hacn county on.
Is. by the terms OF which the small
owner Of stock was said 10 bc amply
protected. to relieve them from this
H.. Il lao.
quest, ms was my duty To my consiitu.
cn,s. Al the same time informed
Judge Norihcutt AMI other friends that
the blu could not pass. rs IL was con-
,rnry TO the position which the Rcpub
iIcan members OF the Senate took on
this question and to my own position
upon the leasing Of public lands.
The bill was introduced and referred
TO the committee on public land.
stated my position on the subject TO
the chairman OF the committee. rs
state Il here. The bill was reported
from the committee adversely and was
Indefinitely postponed: thus the matter
was finally disposed OF. This IL all
there Is to say OF the Baca land bill.
In this connection ! desire TO call
your attention to the plank In the plat
form adopted by the Republican party
In Its stntc convention ut Denver ON
September 18th. respecting the leasing
Of public lands. n plank which had
n share In framing: q.
Opposes Leasing Public Lands.
"rhc Republican party has been the
constant md ever faithful friend Of
the home builder and settler In the
West. II believes In free homes for
free men. II was the father OF the ben.
cficcnt homestead law and secured Its
enactment against the bitter opposition
OF the Democratic party In Congress.
Republican legislation gave land to the
landlcss and homes to the homeless,
and tina, party will continue to be the
stcadfast champion and defender OF the
home builder and the pioneer.
1--WE favor only such changes In cN-
listing land laws rs have for their OBJ
ject the advancement OF the welfare
and prosperity OF the settler. We are
unaltcrably opposed to any legislation
that would deprive the farmer or small
holder OF stock from the unrestricted
use Of the public domain OF the United
States, and to all legislation heretofore
introduced having that in view.
Eve are heartily in favor OF national
legislation which will aid in the con.
struction of irrigation canals and rcscr-
voirs wherever needed in Colorado.
1--WE believe that the perpetulty of
American institutions and the future
destiny OF our country rests largely oil
the shoulders of our laboring classes.
consequently we believe in surrounding
the home of the lnboring man with cv-
cry protection known to the law of the
land"
A SANDER travels fast. but l have no
doubt that friends will see that the lies
contained in the circular referred to are
overtaken by this statement Of my po-
sition on this question.
l herewith attach Judge Northcutts
letter, which states the exact situation
surrounding the preparation and intro
duction Of the Baca county bill. Yours
very truly,
E. o. wOLCOTT.
Judge Northcutt's Letter.
District Court Chambers