The state herald., 1902-03-14

Tho cattle barons who have been
working for several years TO get up n
scheme tor securing the passage OF land
leasing bill have been playing pretty
smooth game, They have heretofore
avoided putting the cattle associations
OF the state on record Oh the question CT
leasing government land. They waited
till their bill had been introduced and
then few OF them styling themselves
the american Cattle Growers Associa.
ton" met in Denver and passed some
resolutions notifying congress that the
great "American Cattle Growers Associ.
ntlon" demands the passage Of the bill
providing for the leasing OF government
land. IL is very fortunate that Colora-
dos representatives IN congress are well
informed as TO the general makeup OF
this association for otherwise its very
name might cause a stampede among
congressman 10 the support of the leas
ing bill. We venture the Hsse rtion that
the action OF that association IN declaring
for Il lease law does not represent the
position of ore-third OF the Colorado
cattlemen on this question. The owners
Uf the large ranches make 1t n point to
always attend the meeting Of these
associations and they also make it II
point to contiol the actions OF the asso
citation. Very few OF the small cattle
men ever attend and The result IL that
when an association declares itself on a
question this declaration simply voices
the wishes OF the owners OF the large
ranches. There has been no question
abont where the large csttlemen stand
on the leasing proposition and it was
moi necessary for them to meet 10 Den
Yer aud adopt resolutions TO let the peo-
Pile know that they want lease las.
or course they want such law for they
know that IT. will benefit them but when
they transmit their resolutions 10 con.
gfess they should be honest enough to
lsbel them ns the resolutions OF the large
lhltiAA bNhCsF- iit w
not want lease law aud they far out
pumber the ndvocates OF such law. As
we have always had 1t, Uncle Sans past
ure field IL just as free TO the man with
20head OF cattle us II is to the man with
1000 head and there Is no good reason
why he should now change this
tAltsN .HI mi az, I, sfv z,n
grass" and especially so when by such n
change OF policy he is simply saying 10
the man OF small means, "you cannot
embark in the cattle business for my
land is all leased" Il is exceedingly
kind IN the advocates OF this bill to call
attention 10 the fact that the mouey that
is paid for the use OF the grazing land liz
to be used by Uncle Sam in irriga,ing
this western country. That is all very
nice. Irrigation Is needed badly but i,
Is not needed badly enough TO justify the
perpetration OF such an injustice to the
small cattle growers Of this western
country as the passage OF the leasing bill
would be even is by so doing irrigation
could be secured. The money that
would be received from the leasing OF
government, land would be only Il drop
IN the buckle. compared With the money
that Nill be required to make much
show iu reclaimlug the arid and semi.
ard land. md the eloquent advocates OF
the leasing bill should no, attempt TO
blind the people to the fact that they
are setting their right to free range on
on Uncle Sans land at IN decidedly low
figure when they receive IN return com.
paniivsly only u few dollars to apply on
the grea, work Of retaining the arid
land.