Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-03-10
RICHARDS CREATES A STIR
Governor Of Wyoming Out in Interview
Antagonistic to Roosevelt.
OTHER MEN FROM sTATENoT IN HARMONY
Nebraska Senators Formally Present
Name of Charles ,. Greene for
Position on the Federal
Bench.
From a star CorrespondentN

| Washington Post from Cheyenne. that not
only Wyoming. but several western states,
would send antagonistic delegations to the
next republican national convention. dele
gates which will oppose the nomination OF
President Roosevelt" caused widespread
| comment today throughout political cir
cles here. The trend OF Governor Rich
ards interview, as published in the Post,
| Is caustic criticism OF President Roose-
velt's policy in causing the withdrawal
from ehtry Of much OF what the governor
denominates the best land in that state
and placing the same ia forest reserves.
! This, the governor states, means restric-
tion OF immigration and II continued would
| keep Wyoming and other states similarly
situated in the class OF arid states.
The governor then gave utterance to the
following bold and unequlvocal statement:
UNLESS President Roosevelt makes a
sudden and radical change in his policy
1t is practically certain that an antagonistic
delegation will go from Wyoming and very
probably from other ctates Of the ives,
where forestration is a paramount question.
as It concerns water supply, the most i'm
portant question with which we have to
deal"
Along the lines of his position regarding
the forest reserves Governor Richards says:
I'VE favor the preservation OF the for
ests, but the object, as We see 1t. and the
desire to be accomplished is to preserve
the trees on the mountain sides and tops.
so as TO protect our water supply. Water is
what we need. We cannot support a
policy which sets apart great areas of land
the only land suitable for settlement so
that eastern pleasure seekers may have a
place to hunt and fish and camp out for .
season. We are desirous Of the preserva-
tion Of people, not animals. We wish to
depart from the arid class and make
Of Wyoming one Of the foremost states
in agriculture through the operation OF
the irrigation law, as it is possible to do.
We want to raise agricultural products, not
wolves. bear and other game for the pur-
pose Of making Wyoming a game preserve
for eastern sportsmen."
President Comes Back.
The correspondent in conjunction with
the interview had with Governor Richards
states in a very modest way that the gov
ernor was one of those responsible for
President Roosevelts attitude on the irri-
cation measure. When Roosevelt made his
tour of the west Governor Richards was
with him for ten days and according to the
correspondent, he impressed upon Mr.
RooseveiJ's mind the necessity OF radical
utterances in favor OF a national irriga-
tion law and that in consequence OF Gov
ernor Richards pronounced views on irri-
cation the president used a great many of
the Wyoming governors ideas in compiling
his message to congress-
When Representative Mondell was asked
today whether Governor Richards reflected
the sentiment Of his state when he stated
that Wyoming would not send a delegation
favorable to President Roosevelt to the next
national republican convention, Mr.. Mon
dell said:
Il do not consider myself commissioned
to speak for the republicans OF Wyoming
relative to their choice Of a candidate for
the presidency in 1904, but the last state
convention of the party, held in July last.
after expressions OF gratitude to President
Roosevelt for his interest in western af-
fairs and his assistance in the passage Of
the national irrigation act, said: We look
forward with confidence and satisfaction to
his nomination and election jR 1904 This
is the last Official declaration of the repub-
licans of Wyoming and until the party
ofhcially declares a change OF mind l am
bound TO believe that they will adhere TO
their declaration. My personal opinion is
that the president has gained rather than
lost in strength with our people since that
time. / cannot see how it could well be
otherwise in view Of the interest he has
taken in matters OF Importance to our peo-
pie and the splendid recognition our state
has had at his hands in the matter of ap-
pointments.
II have not been in sympathy with some
features Of the policy which has been pur-
sued with regard to the establishment and
maintenance Of forest reserves. and have
so expressed myself on numerous occasions.
though / am heartily in sympathy with
conservative forest reserve policy.
Opposes Game Preserve.
But the Objectionable features are GER
tsinly not chargeable to President Roose
welt, though l am aware that certain par-
ties have been inclined to defend rather
drastic action with regard to reserves with
the claim that they were following the
presidents policy. In the matter of Gre
alton Of game preserves in forest reserves
have been opposed to the legislation sug-
gested and some ten days ago l made a
minority report adverse to a bill which had
passed the senate and was before the house
committee on public lands. In SO doing I
did not consider however, that l was on
posing the presidents policy or. as l
stated in the report. do not believe the
president advised or contemplated the leg
islation which was urged and which those
favorable 10 it attempted to bolster I'D by
asserting that 1t was in line with the pres
idents recommendation.
Il have great confidence in W. A. Rich
ards, commissioner OF the land ONCE. and
believe that as far as his views are carried
out in regard to forest reserves there will
be no reasonable ground for complaint rel
stive thereto. The Wild-eyed game prs-
serve ideas that some extremists are ur1
ing and which would nullify state game
laws In the territory affected does not. in
my opinion, reflect the views OF the presi-
dent, and there Is little likelihood OF the
proposed measures being enacted into law. "
Assistant Attorney General Vandevanter.
in common with citizens OF Wyoming gem
orally at the capital, read the statement ac-
credited 20 Governor DeForest Richards.
as printed in a special to the eastern press
this morning from Cheyenne.
Vandeventer Not Talking.
I'm view OF the fact that / am about 10
sever my connection with the Interior de-
partment TO enter upon a judicial career
on the United States circuit bench / do
not believe Il would be seemly for me 70
talk upon this rather startling statement
made by Governor DeForrest Richards OF
our state. / will take the oath and assume