Gunnison news-champion., 1902-06-13
RANCu AND RANCE.

All meefings af the 6upHisos
cell attended aud esssbu~ia-tic 50 thai
chs smsusl gathering OF SATURDAY. wss
moi an exception. Between 90 aud 20
ssesa tsrs were present. coming frem
every quarter of The county A. the
county u 81 miies aere-s - speaks
Gcll tor the 10y ally ef member- 10 the
organization that such a large number
shoald come cut. THIS s-sociatioa
represents the second largest industry
in the county. II u composed II over
lT5 prosaiasat aud iuA pestisl c,tIzens.
aud, as President GlIlsspey said in
his opesisQ address includes praeti
cally all the prominent csttlemen IN
sAis section.
Al 2:3o y. N. the convention wss
called to order m the court room by
". A. Gillaspev who delivered the
following address:
lArass AND GE~rLENENs
II becoines my duis ON this. the eleventh
annual meeting OF the GunBison County
Stock Growers association, 10 congratn-
late You upon the prosperous condition Of
this association aud It's members. The cat
tie industry Is in a most prosperous con
dtlon in tins section aud at the present
Int f.4uf in DIr
association has grown from forty members
at its organization 10 ls5, and as we have
added to'our members our power tor good
in this community has increased. Practl-
cally oil the prominent cattlemen in the
caNnty aVe members and while this fact
gives " certain sasant OF pewer, It also
increases our responsibility as an associa-
sioa. The fact that we have the power.
net only far oar own benefit, but for that
of the cossaunity and the state.
In this connection ! wish TO call the at
tentlon of the association to the conclusion
reached at the last convention of the state
association regarding the part the cattle
men should take in the approaching polit-
ica campaign for state and legislative of
Ulcers. twas decided at that meeting that
the cattle organizations Of the state could
not afford to enter party politics, but that
1T was the duty OF the members individually
10 attend the primaries and conventions OF
all political parties and use every honest
effort to secure the nomination of men
known TO he honest, able and true TO the
great cattle growing interests and the wei
fare of the country in general The live
stock interests OF Colorado are entitled to
recognition from the state legislature. We
were denied that recognition during the
last assembly and it was our own fault.
Let Us see to IL that we have men there
next time who will listen to wisdom and
understand our needs. | would suggest
that at this meeting discussion be had ol
che names of men in this county whom the
stockmen would like to see in the Legislature,
REGARDLESS of politics. Let Us be honest with
ourselves in this matter and true to our in
d1stry
Another matter wherein we have duty
as an organization occurs to me That in
regard to the forest fires that damage us
almost every wear 1t should be the duty
e,f every member to act as a volunteer fire.
man and forest officer, to rush at once to
aid in extinguishing any lire that may
start in his neighborhood In DOING this
we are not only serving the community.
but ourselves as well. We all know Ivy the
damage done by these forest fires IN the
destruction of the range and sheds for wa
ter supply. two things in which every
rsnchman and stockgrower is vitally IN
ferested.
am glad to announce that the danger
Il the passing of leasing law 10y congress
winch has been SO long feared by the peo-
pie ii this section, is past for the present at
least The leasing policy is not an Ameri-
can institution. and while we admit that
the time is rapidly approaching when
soH,ething will have TO be done to change
our land laws so that the settler and cattle
men can have some protection. II IS very
doubtful whether leasing Is the real pana-
es.A. II some plan can he found that viii
~ amend the land laws that we can give
the protection needed against eucroach-
.nents. am sure such plan Will be Joy
fully received Nearly every member here
Is basIly establishing a home and the fu-
ture prosperity of that home depends upon
his ability to find pasturage for his herds
on the pubic domain, lands which car
never be of any use except for grazing
ymrposes. | believe that eventually ~
~IIl find some way to secure the cooper