The Meeker herald., 1900-04-21
The Denver Convention,i

The Denver COnventionyj9
liy Sunday night all the White river
delegates TO the late anti-raBge-leasinS
convention at Denver had returned
home.
All complained of the bad weacfT
they encountered in the capital city, but
all came back feeling that they had not
made the trip in vain, and that their
time and labors were devoted to good
cause.
Rio Bianco's delegation was IS FOL
lows:
Ben Price. president White hiver
Stock Growers association; A b Critch-
low, secretary of same; IL L wilson,
chairman OF board Of county commits.
sioners; Commissioner Sam Martin, > 7
Wear, A M Pierce. A G Moulton. J l.
Nc II alton. Al Ellison. J W G Sheppard,
L Salmon, julius Strehlke, l. B Wal
bridge, w II CLARK, w A Keller, Chas
Bloomfield. J II Coltharp, Frank Mid
dleton. J E Rooney and James Lyttle.
The delegation elected W HClark chair
man.
At the Denver gathering Mr.. Clark
served on the committee on credentials
and permanent organization. Mr.. Moul-
represented this county on the commit
tee on resolutions, while THE HERALD
scribe assisted in formulating the pre-
lipainary order of business.
Harmony and unity Of purpose per;
vaded all the actions Of the delegation.
which was conceded to be one OF the
strongest and most representative In
the convention.
Following are the resolutions adopted
by the convention: '3
RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, We have observed with no
small concern the efforts that have
recently been made to secure national
law for the leasing for grazing purposes
OF the public domain; and after giving
the subject thorough investigation and
full consideration we are of opinion that
such law would be unwise and injur-
ious for the following reasons:
First-The value Of agricultural land
in Colorado is materially enhanced by
the free range privileges guaranteed b.
the general government by its time
honored policy; and to now deprive the
settlers Of that privilege would ts a
brsssh e faish. ~ -. $500 f1sxeder
government and e6alss . vantOn de
probation Of property valnes created
and vested under that pledge.
second-It would ba impossible for
small stockmen under the varied Con
ditions of the ranges Of the arid west to
fence or otherwise protect themselves
in their leases or that their ranges must
sooner or later be absorbed and devoured
by large and syndicate stock owners.
: Third-The crowding out and extinc-
tion of small herds must result In re-
stricted competition in the purchase of
farm products, and will bring abont a
decrease in prices which entails the loss
of former values, the buying up Of the
small ranches and farms by powerful
corporations, and the final extinction of
the yeomanry.
Fourth-It will close up the avenues
by which all stock owners have climbed
from few head to large herds and do.
prive Others of that opportunity witch
we have so happily improved, and which
all citizens of the states and territories
of the Union have, up to the present
time, enjoyed.
Fifth-It will concentrate the wealth
occasioned BY the free grazing of Stock
upon the public domain into the hands
of the few and cause the ruin OF the
many.
Sixth-It must bring endless and
ruinous litigation or manifest injustice
between stock owners, whose herds COM
mingle, and between which no adequate
lines can be drawn or priority Of occu-
patton established.
Seventh-The use of the public DO
main for grazing purposes under the
present system is more satisfactory than
the proposed change to the lease system.
Eighth-The leasing Of the public
lands will result In the withdrawing
from settlement of large areas of the
public domain, and If enacted will dis
possess, debar and forever shut out the
homeseeker from the enjoyment OF his
rights and privileges in the public DO
main, thus bringing to a standstill the
progress, development and reclamation
of the Western states, and cast pail
Of stagnation, retrogression and decay
over one-third Of the total area Of the
nation.