Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-05-24
SANTA FE, N M, SATURDAY, MAY "a, 1902.
AGAINST THE LACEY
LEASING BILL
An Eddy County stookman Gives Several
Excellent Reasons Why No Leasing
Legislation Of Any Kind Is De-
manded at This Time.
THE LACEY BILL, HOWEVER, is THE
LEAST OBJECTIONABLE OF THEM ALL
Carlsbad, N. NJ, May 81, 1902.

4 Carlsbad, N. NJ May 81, 1902.
To the Editor of the New Mexican:
The people Of New Mexico must not
| lull themselves with the belief that
with the refusal of the committee on
public lands favorabiy to report the
Bowersock bill, all danger of leasing
legislation is passed. Truth is, the dam
ger was never so imminent as now.
The fight hitherto waged against the
leasirt.. s introdrrrd in congress has
been along the line that they were all
In the interest of the big companies and
corporations, and that under the work.
ings of their provisions it would be on
ly short time until the possession of
all the vacant public domain would
pass to the control of limited number
Of men and agencies This is true, and
has been SO clearly established by tes-
timony produced that it is now but lit
tie controverted,. but evidently some
members of the national legislature
have deduced from this character Of
opposition that II bill was drawn full
ly protecting the interests of the small
owner and discriminating against the
large holder, that solution of the vex-
ing problem Of the disposition of the
public domain would be reached. Fol-
lowing out this theory there was intro
duced in the house, April 80. bill by
Congressman Lacey of Iowa. ITO grant
grazing privileges to homestead settlers
and holders Of small farms in the arid
and semi-arid land region, and for 9TH
er purposes" A general reading or the
bill indicates that it Is drawn solely
for the purpose of eliminating the OBJ
iections that have been urged against
all the other bills, and that under It's
provisions the big companies Will f1nd
It impossible to acquire large holdings
of land, as 1t Is provided that not more
than five sections shall be leased to any
one person and that the person must oe
homesteader or freeholder, that sucn
lease shall not be assignable or trans
ferable, and that no corporation snaii
be entitled to any lease whatever. BE-
ing drawn in this manner it is certain
then that the big owners will oppose II.
Their agitation for a lease law has peeh
with a view Of securing large areas OF
grazing territory and prevent the tur-
ther encroachment of the man with a
small herd While they have held
forth to the public that it was their
consuming regard for the small man
xfskl
that has led them to labor so earnestly
for a leasing plan, truth is that the
small man was the prick that awaken
ed them to the fact that in the natural
course of events under present condi-
tions the small owner would soon over
run their vast ranges and that In order
to stop him and provide for the perma-
nent control Of grazing lands now en-
loved 1t was necessary to secure legis-
lation which would pass control of these
lands for term of years.
It has, therefore. been the big man,
the companies and corporations which
have. been importuning congress for
leasing legislation, and holding forth
that disaster and chaos would result II
their plan was not accepted and their
remedy applied. The small man has
been pushed forward in the role of
beneficiary but 1t Is false role,and one
strenuously denied by the small owner.
The small man has never asked for,
and does not desire lease law. NO
leasing bill could be framed which
would give to the owners Of small herds
and fiocks the privileges and opportun-
tiles they enjoy under conditions as ap-
piled to the public ranges existing TO-
day. He Is abundantly able to take
care Of himself and Is asking for no
protective legislation. He is making mis-
way against the big companies ana is
lrapidly absorbing an equitable portion
Of the immense ranges. Under the in
fuence of his coming, the country IS
prospering, towns are building, schools
are being established and business and
social interests are developing with
amazing swiftness. Then why seek to
change the conditions under which all
this Is being accomplished by a lease
law, even though the bill bears as its
seductive title IA measure for the small
owner?" II It Is the disposition Of con-
gress that the big companies and large
owners shall not have the public lands
Of the west for their own selfish use,
but that the lands shall be reserved for
| the settler and the man Of small hold
ings, then refuse all legislation and al
low things to continue as they now are.
The settler and the small owner is rap
Idly coming into possession Of his her
itage.
For this reason, then, the Lacey bin
Is weak. It. has never been asked for,
and ,is not demanded now. While pro-
fessedly for the purpose Of benefting
and further assisting the small stock
man, IL passed. It would take away and
deny to him privileges now enjoyed. All
1 this leasing crusade has been on the
part Of men representing the large in
terests. If the proposition as present.
ed by them to congress has not met
with favor, then congress should an
nounce to these gentlemen that It fails
1 to see the merit In their scheme, and
advise hem to return home and let time
4 and circumstance (which seem to .bt
n handling the matter very successfully
4 Just now-work out the solution Of the
II question.
The expediency and usefulness o.
crowding food into man already over
| FED ana protesting against the recep.
tion Of more, would be paralelled b,
congress attempting to place upon thu
small stock growers Of the west gar
ment in the shape Of q lease law. Of