The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-28
rnE cAREY coMEpY.

a broad gauge, honorable stand on
the Carey land question which has
recently received some richly de-
served airing. The Examiner up
holds Governor Morrison in his
efforts to protect the Carey land OPP
orators from any loss which may
grew out Of the ruling Of the Com
missioner of the General Land Office
while at the same time preserving |
the spirit and the letter OF the
Carey Act itself. The Examiner
refuses to join with some other
Democratic papers in trying to make
political capital oft of situation
for which the Governor is in no
wise responsible, and which he is
seeking 10 ameliorate without sacri-
fcing the public welfare or working
hardship on the promoters of arid
land reclamation. The Examiners
position does it great credit, and
word of commentator is due 1t.
THE TRIBUNE is thoroughly con-
WINGED of the integrity of Governor
Morrison's motives and we make
no question but that the people of
Idaho are equally convinced. New
ertheless, we believe he was be-
guiled into an extravagant estimate
of the damage which the Commits
sioner's ruling would do to the
legitimate interests of construction
companies. We don't believe there
was any occasion for any represent
alive of the State hurrying down to
Washington. We don't think there
was any need of doing anything,
except, perhaps, standing pat
Every last one of the Carey land
operators knew that the State law
was in conflict with the National
law, long before the Commissioner
of the Land Office did. They al
knew that they could not gel the
land they were after without doing
it fraudulently. They were out fol
a big graft and the only thing they
could possibly lose was the graft
They knew we'll enough that thu
legitimate part of their undertaking
would be in nowise effected. They
knew they would get pay, with biz
profit, for building the bitches,
the land was worth retaining
Everything was thoroughly under
stood.
1t was through the influence G
Carey Act operators that the Idah
-. law was doctored so as to make
graft possible. Everybody cor
nected with Carey land development
knew all about it, and everybod
kept profoundly still for the reaso
that everybody had finger in til
molasses jug. Their chance wa
that the Interior Department woul
not tumble until patents had issue
to the State, and from the State I
the grafters, and the land sold
actual settlers. If disclosure cain
prematurely, they were all rig'
anyway. The cry about stoppin
work and arresting development
all bunkum. It is raised to furnis
a pretext upon which to secul
more profitable contracts from ii
State. They say now, 1--WE we
figuring on getting about so p
cent of the land, and if we don
get it we must be recompensed
some other way" That is lii
asking the State to make good
them the amount they intended
steal. OF course, the Carey lal
boys are disappointed. So is Il
gold brick man when policemt
catches him in the act of succs:
fully working hayseed. But Il
body goes to Washington to pie
the bunkosteerer's case, Meth
does the bunkosteerer sue the Ct
: for damages caused by interferen
with his enterprise. And WI
would you think of a mayor W
would become alarmed because h
q dozen bunkosteerers threatened
60 out of business? We think I
Governor made mistake in goi
to Washington because-but co