The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-07-25
St6ck ans
Stockn1en
FAvoRs LAND LEASING.
Strong Views Of Prominent
Cattle Grower.

" VASsAu N|lCSOnIdu. L. ". AuSh /,
OF Chico, Cal President of the
American Cattle Growers Associa-
tion, is at the Portland. Although
q resident of California, Mr.. Lusk's
principal business interests are
in this state. He is general mana
ger of the French Glenn Livestock
company, in Harvey county. In
conversation yesterday, Mr.. Lusk
said:
''Inasmuch as my cattle interests
are all in Harvey county, in this
state, ! would like the opportunity
to give to the readers of the Orego.
Man an account of the American
Cattle Growers Association and
what it hopes to aid materially in
accomplishing, among other things,
namely, the passage of wise and
prudent law by congress authoriz-
ing the leasing Of the public range
in the arid land states.
The association was new one.
It was temporarily organized by
leading cattlemen from the states
3 and territories west of the Missis-
sippi, at Salt Lake, last winter, and
its final organization was perfected
at its annual copven ton, held in
Denver in March. That city was
selected permanent headquarters,
because it is the practical center of
the great west. It is purely cat
tie growers association, no other
kinds of stockmen are admitted. It
Sc is an association of individuals
and not of state and county associa-
!. tions. In it's deliberations the
owner of small band of cattle has
the same voice and vote as the
owner Of $4,000. 1t started with
large membership and is receiving
numerous daily accessions. 1t now
includes practically all of the repre-
sentative cattle growers west of the
Missouri, and hosts Of small growers.
The membership and attendance at
It's conventions of the latter class is
especially desired. It's convention
at Denver last March by nearly
unanimous vote passed a strong res
olution in favor of leasing the pub
lie range lands, and committee
was ordered to draw bill to be pre-
sented on behalf of the association
10 both houses of the next congress.
The bill is now in process of con-
structicn, and will be given to the
public as soon as compl eted."
Mr.. Lusk is a strong advocate
Of land leasing, and, known to be
such, was elected president of the
association at Denver. In response
to questions as to the condition OF
public opinion on the proposed meas:
ure, the reasons in favor Of the law
aud the probable features of the pro.
posed bill, he said:
Public opinion is largely formed
by those directly interested. In the
convention at Fort Worth, in Janu.
airy, II 900, Of the National Livestock
Association, body composed of thu
owners Of all kinds of stock, sheer
predominating, a resolution favoring
land-leasing was passed. A bill
providing for it was introduced il
congress that winter, and the sub
iect at once became q general theme
81 discussion. Public opinion in thu
q arid land states mostly affected ap
.. peared adverse. This was caused
81 the owners Of the inn,,merabl'
bands Of migratory sheep, who nat
urally oppose it, and by the small
cattlemen, who, not understanding
the proposed measure, feared tina
they would be frozen out by larg'
cattle 81 sheepmen opolizing thu
leases. Butin the past year and
! half events have followed SO rapid.
on the ranges, and the facts became
known that public opinion ha
changed with great rapidity on tn
IL subject In Colorado, for instance
sss ~ I, ~ 10 alm0st absolute. TIL,