Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-02-07
WANT PUBLIC LANDS
Big Stockmen Who Would Fence
in Public Lands.
OPPOSITION TO THE GRAB.
Senator Hale Explains Why His Colleagues
Often Change Their Minds-The Warm
friendship Of EIkins and Reed.

Friendship Of Elkins and Reed.
Washington. Feb. 3.-tSpecial. 1.-The
stockmen of the western plains do not
yield gracefully to the e-ncroachment
Of settlers. First there was trouble
about the fences which the settlers
erected. then later the stockmen fenced
of large portions Of the public domain
for ~pasturage, and the settlers caused
them to abandon them. Years z the
settlers forced through a bill which
prevented fencing and the unlawful
occupation Of public lands. Under this
law the settlers have made trouble for
the big ranchmen. The law never was
very rigidly enforced heretofore. but as
settlement advances the land officials
have been called upon to have the
fences removed. Now there Is an eff.
fort being made to have the law amend
ed In special cases SO that fences can
be maintained, but with very little
uccess The big ranches must give
way to the individual settlers.
Changed Their Minds.
Senator Hale explained the other day
how IT happened that senators saw
things from different points of view In
the matter of cloture and the previous
question. He said:
Everybody who has been in the sen.
ate any length of time cannot fail
sometimes in rather amusing fashion
to see how senators change their minds
according to the situation. l know
commiserated the senator from Massa.
chusetts. Mr.. Lodge, at the last session
when he had in charge the Philippine
bill. Managing ii, as he did, with great
good nature and good sense and not, to
use his word, harassing anybody, still
at times he felt very inpatient, and
he thought we ought to have a rule to
bring senators right up to the ringbolt
and make them vote. ] used to say to
him: That Is the side of the question
Just now. Some time there will be
positions and conditions when you and
/ will not feel as we do about this mat
ter The general good sense of the
senate settles all those questions"
Reeds Last Talk.
One of the last public men with whom
Thomas b. Reed conversed before he
went TO his room to die was Senator
Elkins. There was a strong bond of
friendship between these two men.
Each admired the other and for rea-
sons that can easily be understood by
those who knew both of them. Reed
did not like humbug, and he never
found any of it in Elkins. The wit,
brilIiancy and even the cynicism of
Reed were enjoyed by Elkins; but, more
than all else, the breadth of his views
on all public questions made the ex-
speaker particularly admired by the
West Virginia senator. They disagreed
decidedly on politics years ago. Elkins
was always the fast friend of Blaine.
and Reed and he did not hitch on that
proposition. Later Elkins' friendship
and admiration for Harrison did not
meet with the approval of Reed, but
aside from these differences, more per-
sonal than political, these men were
very warm friends
Talked of Public Questions.
Among other things that were talked
about were the many public questions
Of the day. Elkins bad not read the
last article of Reed on trusts and tar
if, and it was these objects that came
uppermost in the conversation. Reed
commended Elkins for his course on
the Cuban bill, hut he could not under
stand why the bill should he defeated
and the treaty ratified. Both were at
lacks upon the tariff, and this. Reed
declared, was unjfstifiable under pres
ent conditions. Reed was also OPP
posed to too drastic immigration leg
i~slation and was commenting Elkins'
course in that regard and urging him
to continue. "But | do not like to be
in all these fights, contendlng with
many men of my W party" said
Elkins. Il had to fight the Cuban bill,
l fought with you against the Spanish
war, and am now fighting this bill.
In many cases of this kind" said Ell
kins, Il find myself at the apex of the
triangle"
About 5urnham's Speech.
Senator Foraker was temporarily in
charge of the statehood bill. Il would
like" be said ito have the senator
from New Hampshire go on 50 that be
may conclude this afternoon"
ut hardly seems worth while at this
late hour" said Senator Aldrich, who
wanted to gain time, "and | think We
had better adjourn so that the senator
from New Hampshire can have q
chance to 20 on in the morning"
when he is fresh" remarked Gal
linger, BurnhHm'S colleague
lie will Then be fresh, assented AL
drich
Il would like to Accommodate sena
tors remarked Foraker, hut for hours
he has been impatient to resume He
has had ouly Our days, and | insisI
that be shall have another day"
nE.vnr AIR
GrA .rt CplriId. until tht