Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-03-10
The Free Homestead Bill.

On the homestead bill now before
congress he said
"Tn the campaign of sos in Nez
perce county l told the voters of
this county that all of the political
parties were pledged in their plat
forms to give free homesteads to
the settlers and quoted as follows :
REPUBLICAN,.
Homesteads !: We believe in an
immediate return to the flee home
stead policy ofthe republican party,
and urge the passage by congress
of the satisfactory free homestead
meas ure which has already passed
the house and Is now pending in
the senate.
DEMOCRATIC.
The democratic p,rty believes in
home rule and that all public lands
of the United States should be APP
propriated to the establishment OF
free homes for American citizens.
PoPULIsT.
We demand that bona fide set i.
tiers on all public lands be granted
free homes, as provided in the ma
tional homestead law, and that no
exception be made in the case of
Indian reservations when opened
for settlement, and that all lands
not now patented come under this
demand.
The Silver Republicans also ia
vored the bill.
The Republican party having
majority in congress, we must
look to that party to redeem its
pledges and give the settlers free
homes, and as a representative of
that party l felt free to say they
would do it. l pledged myself, if
elected, to use my best efforts to
secure the passage of the bill. The
first resolution l introduced in the
, state senateiwas 81 lne mdiiat asking
congress TO pass the bill. The me-
mortal passed unanimously, was
afterwards amended in the house
and passed by both branches of the
Idaho legislature, and was for
warded to congress. The consider
alton of war measures and other
questions of national importance
prevented its passage by the last
congress. During the past two
months l have written fifty four
letters to members of congress, and
the answers received indicate that
a majority in both branches of con-
gress are in favor of It and will vote
tor 1t when it comes up tor final
passage.
"a unanimous report by the
pubic land committee has been
made in favor of its passage and
reported to the house. There will
be no valid excuse for non action
by the present congress, and unless
this pledge is redeemed before the
adjournment of congress the re.
sponsibility will be located and a
hearing demanded by the voters OF
this state on or before the ensuing
election. The people of this county
and state and other states demand
consideration at the hands of the
present cong ess. The only argu-
ment used against applying the
Free Homestead Act within the
Indian reservation boundaries is
that Government had to purchase
those lands. There is but little
force to this objection, when 1t is
well known that outside of the
original area which made up the
United States all lands have been
purchased by Government.
France was paid SIS, zoo
Tor Louisiana. Spain was PAID
$4,000, 900 for Florida. Over IS,
100000 was paid by the govern
ment for the Yazoo claims. We
paid for California and other ter
r'tories to Mexico SIS, 900, 900. Te
Texas for land conveyed to general
y ,verrment $Io, 900, 900. The
Gadsen purchase cost $40, 900, 900
\ Russia was paid 81, 200, 900 FOL
laska. There have been pait
1T for Indian titles to lands ii
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kan
SIS, Nebraska, North aud Soutl
Dakota 500, 900, 600, and nearl,
all this land has been given to set
tiers under the free Homestead
laws. The lands above referred
to were itch agricultural lands