Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-26
OPPOSE LEASING OF LANDS
Smaller stOokmen and Farmers Beginning
TO Have Their Say.
LEASING MEASURE FAvoRs BIG OWNERS
Proposition TO Extend and Enlarge
Provisions of Homestead Law Com
idere the Best Thing
for the COuntry

RUSHVILLE, Neb, Jan. 25.-(Special.)-
There seems a desire to agitate the other
side Of the lease law proposition and It is
growing daily. The small settlers of this
part OF Nebraska feel that they have been
heavily handicapped by the Zig stockmeH
who have maintained Hobbies and delega-
lions at Washington, while the great ma
iority of the people here have not been
represented, in spite of the fact that the
Inheritance given by Uncle Sam is grad
ually being taken away from them through
the greed Of the large stock growers. The
settlers here begin to realize that some
thing ought TO be done for them and in
order to express their sentiments they
have circulated the following petition,
which is being extensively signed and will
be forwarded to Washington:
Whereas, An unsatisfactory condition of
Nebraska. they being occupied and used
by a small portion OF our people, not to
exceed 2 per cent; and, further. that any
proposition Of leasing the same does not
permanently and satisfactorily settle the
same; therefore, be II
Resolved, That it is the sentiment of
the undersigned, having a full knowledge
OF the situation, and that the greatest good
may be done to the greatest number, that
be extended so that each person may be
allowed to homestead $40 acres or more
and that those who have heretofore made
tlonal entries to make up this amount, and
that an act Of this kind would MI the graz
Ing regions with bona ide. settlers, who
would acquire title and solve the public
land question In Nebraska.
From the above IL will be seen what the
situation. Is here in regard to both the pub
lie domain and what should be Zone for the
future OF this country to gi7e the great
majority of the settlers a chance TO re-
main here. 1t is felt that It is Infinitely
better TO have a large number Of prosper
GUS small settlers than to have this coun-
try gradually absorbed by the big cattle
concerns, which means depopulating the
country so as to make It practically some
half dozen big ranches.
There Is a determination here to try and
undo some of the mischief done at Wash
ington by the delegations that have gone
there entirely in the interests Of the big
stock corporations, and the proposal to ex-
tend the homestead law will go a long way
to solving the difhculty.
Sheridan County of Same Mind.
CRAWFORD, Neb., Jan. 25.-(speciaI.)-
At a regularly called meeting of stockmen
held here for the purpose Of considering
the advisability Of leasing the public do
main within the state of Nebraska the fol-
lowing resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, we are opposed to any
measure that favors the leasing of the
public lands OF this state, especially the
bill now pending before congress-, known
as senate file $3.50: which has been intro
duced by Senator Dietrich, and we demand
that the public lands be retained for the
benefit Of actual homestead settlement.
Resolved, That WI favor, in place OF
the leasing of the public domain under any
Of the measures now before the public, that
the homestead law be so amended as "a
allow more than 100 acres to be taken under
a homestead entry, and that entrymen OF
only 100 acres In the semi-arid region here
tofore taken be given the balance Of such
allotment.
Resolved. That a copy of this resolution
be sent to the senators and members OF
congress OF this state, and also to the mem
bers of the legislature OF this district.
g. s. SPEARMAN, Chairman.