Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-19
FENCE OR LEASE FOR RANCE
EtOokmsn At Allianc, Votes Their Demands
Without Hssitansy.
APPEAL TO CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT
want order TO Remove Fences sus-
pended Until Legislation In
Their Behalf Can he
Enacted.

ALLIANCE, Neb., Feb. 1~S.-(Special Tel
egram.)-A special meeting of the Western
Nebraska Stock Growers association was
held here today to consider the proposed
lease law now pending in congress. Presl-
dent S. P. Delatour Of Lewellen and Sec
rotary Van Bosklrk we're both present.
President Delatour stated the object OF
the meeting was the consideration Of lease
and fence questions, giving statistics OF
acreage and investments Of cattle indus
tries and saying all western Nebraska Is
interested. Bartlett Richard Of Ellis
worth opened the meeting with an address
on conditions as regards grazing in west
ern Nebraska. He said the stockmen are
content with matters as they stand. with
their fenced hay lands and open ranges,
and are prospecting. II allowed to retain
their holdings they will willingly pay for
them. He went on:
We are told that all Of us who have 100
acres of public domain enclosed within our
fences are criminals-that we must take
all such fences down. we are liable
to a fine of $1,000 for each such offence.
to keep our cattle from drifting far away
where we either would recover them at
great b expense snc,o or not IG az as sll; ThS az t bed man on
before ue law as he who has enclosed
more.
Appeal for Relief.
In this dilemma we have appealed re-
lives in Washington to use their best eff
forts to stay the hand of government in
carrying out the law, Thus far they have
succeeded, which has been done by making
use OF every influence which had our good
at heart, and the good of those whose in
But now when we beg for further exten.
sions the authorities who are entrusted
with the carrying out of the enacted laws
"You have votes and you use them to
send men to Washington to make laws for
you. II you find any laws obnoxious your
senator's and representatives should have
them annulled or have measures passed
which shall be agreeable to you. But don't
laws of the United States to condone such
infraction, nor keep the laws from being
YOU must take your fences down" So
says the land department today. Sampson
tore the pillars of the temple down and
some method to avoid the result of this
order of the department we will have failed
many Of us viii follow Simpsons fate.
What shall we do? We can not ask the
government to repeal the anti-fence law,
for unbTidled srasping contention ana teuds
No industry has less organization than
stand s%upineiy BY and see laws enacted
against the cattle growers without COM
planning against them. We offer our law
US raise not a voice to second them. while
others cavIl at. the measures, attribute
others, and iconociasts ofer nothing to
replace that which they endeavor to break
down. In this leasing matter will you
livelihood are endangered, or shall We make
come strong united efcrt for the estab-
ihesTna me lines Conditions exist here IN Me-
braska which do not exist elsewhere, which
makes 1t imperative that we either be not
Obliged to take our fences down or else
have a lease law passed. We must i'm
press upon our senators and delegates to
congress our necessities and that we must
have immediate relief.
In Favor Of Leasing.
Frank Currie OF Whitney, Neb, offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, That 1t is the sense of this
meeting that in view of the probable re-
movai of fences on government domain
we are in favor of the leasing of the public
lands in such manner and under such re-
strictions as will protect the small stock
grower as we'll as the larger owner.
The resolution was adopted with but one
dissenting vote in a membership of over
800.
H. H. Robinson Of Denver, representative
OF the American Cattle Growers ~associa-
ton, made a short speech and invited mem
beers to attend a meeting Of that body al
Denver, March 4.
Special Agent Lester of the land depart
ment of the United States. said the fence
matter had been discussed for a year and &
half by the department and the decision
reached that the law must now be en-
forced. He read the law and also the order
Of the department, issued February 6, re,
quiring removal of fences from public lands
within sixty days after service Of notice
to do so.
c.. F.. Martin, secretary Of the Nationa
Stock Growers association. said the plal
Of leasing public lands has been increasing
in popularity. and referred to the action o
congress on o~leomargarine and urged cattle
men TO look after their interests in thi
direction. He also spoke Of the need O
an annual classified census Of livestock an,
means of securing same.
miscellaneous Business.
President Delatour announced that tn
annual meeting OF the association will TAX
place at Crawford. on Tuesday May IS.
A resolution was adopted petitionin
President Roosevelt to stay the enforcement
of the fence law until legislation on tn
matter can be taken. Also, one deplorin
the recent action of the Omaha CONNER
cial club against the lease law.
A report was made Of the meeting OF tn
Central Nebraska Stock Growers held a
Broken Bow, which had taken nearly tn
same action as that Of this meeting.
Resolutions were adopted asking that a
annual livestock census be maded, and tha
the shody bill In congress be passed.
DR.. Thomas, state veterinarian, talke
about itch in cattle and said 1t had bee
stamped out among shsep. He suggeste
that the bureau Of -nimal Industry be mott
Ned Of all sectIons In which diseases ex
lists. .
d.. Peters made a talk on skin disease
* animals and means of prevention an
cure.
order Not Popular.
; The department order issued Februar
7 6 directing that sixty days notice be give
n to those who have fenced public lands fo
the removal Of such fences created a GOO
deal Of feeling. but there was Nowhere ca
hibited any intent to ignore the orde
} Opinions were freely given that the r.
: suit would be disastrous to those for who's
protection It was urged.
e Reports from the ranges are of a MOI