Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-18
How the Measure Would Defeat Hope for
Permanent Settlers
UBuc DOMAIN IN IMMINENT DANGER
Nine Millions of Acres in Nebraska is
Subject to Entry,
POWERFUL INFLUENCES ARE LINED UP
Forces behind the Measure of such
strength that the People Must
wake Up or Lose Their Mag
nihccnt Heritage.
(From a Stan Correspondent


GORDON, Neb., Jan l7.-tSpeclal Tele-
gram.) AFTER a thorough examination Of
existing conditions throughout the entire
Sixth congressional district, where % per
cent OF the public land OF this state lays,
1t is apparent to the most casual observer
that the land-leasing bill, now being gem
orally considered, is a gigantic fraud, and
no one seems to recognize this fact more
generally than do the promoters thereof.
The recent spectacle OF Nebraska fed
eral grand jury adjourning without a single
indictment against the large offenders IN
this part OF the state, where more than
100000 acres Of land was involved. and
bringing indictments against FIVE small
offenders in the eastern part of the state.
where less than 500 acres were involved, is
generally considered the greatest Joke OF
the season
1t will be remembered that during the
congressional campaign the promoters of
the leasing bill did everything in their
power to have congressional candidates
pledged TO their pet measure, but, notwith-
standing Judge Kincuid's well known views
against any leasing bill whatever, the
judges majority in the district was close
to 1000 votes.
From the best information obtainablo
now IT appears that the reference of the
bill to the Nebraska legislature was done
a last resort and the entire district Is
said to now be drummed up and hunted
over for any persons who are willing to
take trip to Lincoln and help lobby the
resolution through the matter of expense
to be borne by the promoters for the pub
! lie good II must be remembered that
the promoters of the leasing bill are we'll
organized and the showing they are pre-
pared to make is simply wonderful.
Bill Has Influential Backing.
It must also be remembered that the
! large cattle barons have influential backing
and unless the common people of the state
act, and that quickly. they will wake up
| some morning and find the benevolent
homestead law a thing of the past-and
this the law that has given millions OF
homeless people homes.
It Is found that the cattle barons are
strongly depending upon the bankers OF
! the state Cor assistance In passing the
measure, as nearly every bank in the state
Of any slze has more or less cattle paper
| in their vaults. The bait thrown out to
| catch the Nebraska legislature appears to
] be the revenue feature, wherein It is pro-
vided that one-fourth of the leasing money
! is to go to the county, one-fourth to the
state and one-half TO the federal govern
| ment but the weak part in the measure is
I
/ the leasing price at less than taxes would
amount to IL they had title to the land,
and in the end the county and state would
each be the losers.
Another feature OF the bill is the expec-
tation OF the cattle barons later on to OBJ
| tain title to the land after a certain num-
Der Of years of peaceable possession, which
plan will involve the future control Of the
land department of the government by the
cattle barons, and they being able to call
off the dogs during a generally conceded
honest administration portends what might
be expected some years hence with a
friendly Indian" in charge OF the land de-
partment.
Admitted Wrongs and Remedy.
1t is generally admitted by part.sans on
both sides OF the leasing question that
great wrongs have grown up under exist
ing laws, wrongs which have been given to
the public during the past few months, and
there appears to be a solution of the prob
lem coming in sight, and while 1t is not
pleasing TO the cattle barons. it meets with
the approval of the common people.
The strong undercurrent OF opinion seems
TO be drifting like a Nebraska blizzard in
favor OF section homestead law for the
Sand Hill district. In favor OF this meas
ure It is argued that while a man can
hardly make a living on a quarter section
alone, he could make a living for a fam
lily on a section Of land. 1t appears to be
the general belief that II a section could
be taken in homestead thar all the Sand
Hill country would rapidly settle up with
a good class Of citizens, who would greatly
add TO the general wealth OF the state.
Another good feature advanced In favor
OF a section homestead Law would be its
self-acting enforcement, as where a man
was holding a section OF land under the
, homestead act II would be so valuable that
II he did not reside upon 1t In perfect com
plance with the provisions OF the law, his
. right would be speedily contested and taken
away from him. The sentiment in favor Of
section homestead law appears TO have
grown out OF the recommendation OF Presl-
dent Roosevelt in his message TO congress.
, wherein he recommended a larger number
OF acres for a homestead in the purely
grazing part Of the country, and also ex-
q pressed the opinion that homosteads should
be given only to those who actually lived
on the land.
In connection with the homestead law
II is well 70 consider that there are yet
100000 acres Of public land in Nebraska.
one-ffth Of the area Of the state, and II the
= cattle barons have been traficking 10 the
l. | public lands In a fraudulent manner,
Z where one man could only take quarter
d section. how much more could we expect
r where one man could lease twenty sections.
or 10 500 acres? II is argued that a sec
=, ton would be so valuable that the cattle
u men could not induce anyone to take land
n for their benefit, they would each want
II for themselves. Nine million acres d.
" yided into section homesteads would pro-
" vide homes for lI,0QO families whereas n
the 1000 900 acres is parceled out IN
y tweDty-section lots II would only provide
i for 700 persOns-WIt should therefore be
n easy 10 determine which would be best
= for the state.
" Homesteads Taken Last Year.
n From an examination OF the records OF
b, the land ofices so far visited and carefully
estimating tho number of homestead an.