The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-07
BERNARD IS WARM
Minneapolis Lumbermen, He Says,
Would Wipe the Morris Law
Off the Books.
Talk Of Extending the Time for Cut
ting Chippewa Pine Causes
a Stir Up North.
Special TO The Journal.

Special TO The Journal.
Cass Lake, Mimi, Aug. THE Cass
Lake Commercial club held largely at
tended meeting last night, at which the
subject for discussion was the action OF
Lieutenant Governor Ray Jones at his
banquet to the state senators, where, it
was reported, an attempt was to be made
to secure their signatures to formal
petition to President Roosevelt to extend
the time for the cutting of the pine on
the Chippewa reservation. There We're
some heated expressions, and after the
meeting President A. q. Bernard gave OUT
the following:
1T sounds like a pipe dream 10 learn
that some of the Minneapolis lumbermen
intend to banquet as many members vi
the state legislature as will attend sucn
q function, and that then an endeaVor Will
be made to obtain their signatures TO
petition to President Roosevelt, asking
him to extend the time for cutting the
timber on the Chippewa reservation. Fer
haps the time Is too short to cut the TIM
Der advertised under the first sale, put
the amount Is not nearly as large as the
lumbermen say. If the limited period
given Is not long enough, and any good
business reasons shown why there should
be an extension, no doubt it will be grant
ed, with the condition that certain per
cent of the timber be cut each year for
five years, when all must be cleaned up.
Should the members Of the legislature
make the contemplated request, I can
didly believe it would not be received
with any favor. 1t Is not so much an eX-
tension Of time for cutting the timber
that the lumbermen want; it is the repeal
of the Morris law in it's entirety From
the inception Of the movement to pass
the Morris bill until 1t received the pres-
dents signature, most of the Minneapolis
1umbermen fought it in every way. Now
that its provisions are about to be put
t. -
made to overturn the provisions laid down
by the commissioner Of the general land
office.
THE extension of time asked for is a
mere subterfuge. The ultimate aim is to
prevent anything being done under a law
that Is so Objectionable to them. AS
matter Of fact, the Minnesota lumbermen
are not ready to purchase the pine on
the Chippewa reservation. They desire to
dispose Of their holdings in other coun-
ties before bidding on the timber here.
And they do not want lumbermen from
other states bidding it, either-a kind
Of dog in the -manger feeling. They would
like an extension Of time until after March
1, 1905, when 1t Is expected that Secretary
Hitchcock will be out Of office and man
appointed in his place more plant than
the present secretary.
IF an extension Of time is granted, then
q campaign will be begun to repeal the
Morris law and sell the timber under the
old Nelson law. The forestry features of
the law are highly Objectionable to them.
They object to burning the slashings; they
do not want to lumber on the forest re-
serve under the directions of the bureau
of forestry, and. in fact, their chief aim
Is to wipe the Morris law off the statute
books.
If the members Of the legislature are
led in to signing the petition, what effect
will 1t have upon the PRESIDENT None
whatever. During the passage of the
Morris bill he became familiar with its
provisions and expressed wish that the
bill become law. And at the time the
bill was In it's most critical stage, it be-
came an administration measure and re-
ceived the support Of the president, which
Insured its passage. 1t Is colossal nerve
that causes this latest move. 1t Is in the
interest of one class Of people alone, and
the attempt will fail from the weight of
It's impudence. .~
1.-THE same influence that assisted in pass
ing the bill are as alert as they were in
days of the first session Of fifty
congress, and these influences will not
permit few selfish and grasping lum-
bermen to defeat measure that insures
the best result to both the whites and the
Indians In this part Of the state.'