The San Francisco call., 1903-01-16
STOCKMEN FAVOR
PROPOSED PLAN
OF PRESIDENT

KANSAS CITY, Jan. 15.-The National
Livestock Association in itS annual con-
vention here this afternoon by a rising
vote adopted resolution indorsing Presi-
dent Roosevelts suggestion that Congress
appoint commission of experts to settle
the range problem, which for years has
been bone of contention between cattle
and sheep men. The resolution had al
ready been favorably passed upon by the
executive committee a substitute for
a resolution presented yesterday by A K
Robertson of Texas, which favored the
leasing of public lands for grazing
The question was opened by the reading
OF paper by John p Irish of California
in line with the resolution. Colonel Irish
was unable to be present and his paper
was read by the secretary. 1t was as fol-
lows:
The campaign Of education begun by this
association at Its meeting in Fort Worth, ana
actively prosecuted by various livestock Or
ganizations in the West has produced the eX-
ts re me eo9hdry Is ps1er nicb are
yearly abridging the most economical produe-
tlon OF cattle and sheep. That production was
upon the semi-arid regions OF the West where-
IN 1t is estimated there 100000, 600 acres
for which grazing will be the sole use 1t is
the larsest, and was the best, stock range IN
the world Its forage has been destroyed and
It's potential wealth has disappeared through
Its free use in common by all corners.
About that vast range the East has held to-
tally incorrect ideas. TO the Eastern mind II
has appeared as equal to the prairie land Of
the Upper Mississippi, moist, fertile and ready
Tor the homesteader. Thanks to the light shed
abroad by the advocates Of irrigation. 1t Is
property of all the people. has and will nave
no other use than as the range for focks and
nerds. 1t is nearly fed out The range indus
try is in death struggle.
GOVERNMENT MUST GOVERN
The attempt of some of the grazIers to survive
by unlawfully fencing in the public domain,
and the more reprehensible attempt of others
charity be accepted as the desperate methods
for survival of an industry that has conferred
vast benefits upon the nation. But the Gov
ernment must govern. 1t would deserve the
contempt even OF the benefciaries of its neg
oily of the common property by unlawful in
closure. Nor can the Government much longer
avoid legislation that will enable it 10 punish
the use of the rifle.
The Government should retain public
ership Of the range an6 protect it's forage by
leasing 1t, in suitable tracts TO the hardy men
VINO occupy 1t, who understand il and will take
measures TO renew its grasses and restore its
primitive capacity for carrying stock.
The measure now before Congress was in
trodueed as a means of promoting discussion
OF this policy. 1t was mistaken as hnalfty.
IL was intended TO present the subject in its
broadest scope, and to emphasize prin-
cipIes that are Indispensable in such legisla-
ana the lrrfgator are by that measure given
rights superior to those of the lease-holder.
The present agricultural settler and the future
their welfare and intended to promote the set
tIement or every acre upon which home can
be maintained by agriculture. These features
are insisted on in good faith by every Western
stockman. There here to-day pioneers
Indians and bore Isolation while they were
the skirmish line of settlement and civilization.
They want home in all that vast West
Wherever II can be founded and maintained.
AT the hearings given by the Land Commit
tee OF the House during the last session there
was an absolutely free expression of opinion
pro and con. The whole was printed in a public
document and constitutes ample literature Of
the subject In the time that has elapsed
leasehold policy There have been vast prop
erty losses through the Government doing it's
duty by the removal Of unlawful fences. and,
sadder than this, has been the loss of life in
the many battles fought in the range way.
EXPECTS HAPPY RESULT.
We may count ourselves happy that the
country has a Western man for President. He
is as typical a Westerner as we who were
edge of the physical and social ana Industrial
conditions of this vast region where our homes
and treasures are. He appreciates the diff
hcultfes in the way of that comprehensive re-
form of the land laws that will add the range
as a distinct class and put its potential wealth
under the protection of the law. He recon-
mends that the task of doing this be given
over to an expert commission, which will nat
urally report its conclusions in the form OF an
act of Congress. We should here support the
President in seeking such a commission Let
Congress authorize him to appoint it, and out
OF his suggestion will issue the greatest and
the happiest result that has ever followed land
legislation since the republic became the great
est landowner on the planet.
A lively discussion followed. e. \. Har-
ris, a member of the executive commit
tee from Iowa. talked at length in oppo-
sition to the resolution. He argued that
this question. which was of the greatest
Importance TO the farmers of the West
and Middle West, was being manipulated
The supporters of the resolution, he as
serted, were Juggling with President
Rcosevelt's name in order to curry favor
Jerry Simpson, former Congressman
from Kansas and now from Roswell, n
NJ, ridiculed the stand taken by Harris
and favored the resolution. did also
Delegates Williams of West Virginia and
Gelfelder Of Nebraska. Then, upon the
motion of John ID. David of Idaho the dis
oussion was closed. When the resolution
was put to vote it was carried by a
large majority, the delegates rising.
Another important resolution adopted
asks Congress to give the Secretary of
Agriculture power to order the disinfec-
tion of imported skins and hides at the
different ports of entry, and also to desig-
nate the ports at which hides may be
brought into this country.
Other resolutions favor a 15-cent duty
on pelts, picked hides and skins, which
are dutiable because they are partly
manufactured" and indorse the proposed
! livestock exhibition at the ST. Louis
worlds fair.