The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-25
DEFEAT IT. CRY
Homestead Idea Not a Good
Declares Smythe.
PRINCIPLE Is ALL RIGHT
But the Communications Clause
Causes an Injustice.
For the Eagle:

or tne Eagle
For more than forty years the phrase,
Homestead Law" has been pleasantly
familiar to American ears. II opened a
way for millions of people to get a foot
hold upon the land. The idea was that
as long as there was any portion OF the
public domain fit for agriculture. and not
otherwise appropriated, any citizen, or
even any alien who had declared his in
tention TO become a citizen, might obtain
160 acres OF it by fling his claim, paying
certain nominal fees, and settling upon it
TO make his home in good faith.
1t was a beautiful act of paternalism-
Uncle Sam. the rich and loving father,
dividing his estate among all his children,
natural and adopted. And the plan work
cd as beautifully as it sounded, so long as
there were forms to be had in that part
of the public domain which receives a
good annual rainfall Practically the last
of such land has now passed away from
the government. There is a vast empire
yet left-an empire in which tens of mil
lions viii sometime dweIl-but every acre
of it must be irrigated before it will be
fit for homes. When this Is done. one
acre will be equal in productive capacity
to four acres depending on rainfall.
TO BUILD A HOME.
The central thought in the Homestead
Law, as its name implies, is that a family
shall settle down TO the enjoyment of an
independence from the permanent filling
of the soil. When it is used for any other
purpose it becomes a missioner and
disgrace.
The law sought to make sure of the
peYmanence of the settlers home by pro-
viding that he should live upon and cult
vate his homestead entry for five years
before getting final title. If family
could remain that length of time on a
quarter-section, it would certainly become
established and attached to the soil. In
the view of the lawmakers, neither less
nor more could be asked as demonstra-
ton of good faith.
But the Communication Clause goes very
far to nullify this wise provision of the
law in regard 10 a five years continuous
residence and cultivation. Under this
clause, title may pass to the settler at
the end OF fourteen months, on payment
of s1.5 per acre.
CHANCE TO EVADE THE LAW.
The Communication Clause IS entirely I'M
necessary to the settler who intends 10
comply in perfect good faith with the
letter and spirit of the Homestead Law.
While it would be going too far TO say
that no one has ever awaited himself OF
this means of shortening his residence up
on the land for worthy purpose, it is
81, 6oa L oh iNfs- mi IN
those who wish TO evade the real intent
of the law.
There is a great struggle for valuable
pasture lands in the west. The country
continues to grow, and with it the de-
mand for beef and mutton. The public
pasture available for livestock does not
grow, but becomes relatively less. Stock
men see the shadow of coming changes
in land laws when they will no longer
be able to use the range without restrlc-
tons and without price. Naturally
enough, they desire to make themselves
secure in the possession of as much good
grazing land as possible. There is a way
in which this may be done, and this is
by means of the Homestead Law and
convenient dummies" to make entries
under it.
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES OF TODAY
LARGELY FRAUDS.
As the law requires actual residence. it
is desirable to have the required period
as brief as possible. Residence upon it
is usually nothing more than a bluff"
A claim shanty IS erected and the owner
does wei if he Steps there as often as one
night in six months. Five years resi-
dence would give title for a nominal price
but the claimant would rather commute
after fourteen months and paw SIS per
acre. Having obtained title. the entry
man can Immediately sell his land to any
one he chooses-which is frequently the
Individual or corporation for whose bene-
fit his fling was really made In such
cases the money has been advanced by
the interested parties. while the man who
has loaned his rights OF citiznship re-
ceives a modest stipend for the accom-
mediation.
Considered as a home-making PROPOSE
ton, the whole proceeding IS farce.
The Homestead Law IS all right, but the
Communication Clause is all wrong. The
honest settler does not need II: and the
country does not need the other kind OF
settlers. The President has urgently de-
manded the repeal OF this feature OF the
law. aud bucked by an enlightened and
insistent public opinion, his advice ought
speedily to carry with congress.
WILLIAM Z. SYMTHE-