The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-10-26
THE SHEEP ISSUE.

NAN hOiehoA 10 dOO OPDOScQ W buc
sheep man, and does not wish to put
a valuable industry out of business,
the charge to which everyone lays
themselves open who mentions the
two mile limit law. We believe
the sheepman has rights-and if it is
necessary to pass laws to protect the
farmer from the aggressiveness of
those sheepmen (there are men in
every line of business who have little
regard for other peoples rights) who
delight to devastate the grassy knobs
nigh the farmers door (and there are
sheepmen who need no law to keep
them away from any farmers COW
range) it is no sign of antagonism to
refer to such laws-and as the repub-
lican party, which is commonly CON
coded to be the sheepman's party.
takes up the two mile limit and puts
a plank in its platform declaring for
the present existing" law, it be-
comes legitimate political topic for
discussion, without confirmed enmity
in the person or persons who may be
sufficiently Interested in the matter
that they look upon that as the burn
ing question. This is said in defense
OF farmers, whose personal interests
causes them to think and talk much
upon the matter and others who talk
1t because it has been made a politi-
cal issue, and who are thus condemn
ed and damned as enemies of the in
dustry by some whose personal inter
ests are just the other way; and it is
not said because sufferer from the
present law has called our atten-
ton to paragraph in the Council
Advance, and said it was not straight
by "a darn sight, and could the Sig
nal tell 'em how it was. -
The paragraph by the unknown
writer in the Advance reads:
I'VE have law which affords
ample protection to ranchers
from the trespassing of sheep, not
only on private property of the
farmer but on the adjacent gov
eminent land, and this law is
accepted by the sheepmen as the
nearest they can hope to have
justice. They are willing to
submit TO its exactions and let it
stand as it is. -
What our friend from up the coun-
try had in mind when he wished the
Signal to tell 'em how it was, - is
made clear by the supreme court de-
cision in the case of Phipps VS..
Grover, case originating at Council.
the place of publication of the AID.
vance, whether or not it is the place
Of residence of the unknown writer.
The PhippsGrover controversy was
aiken to the supreme court by Harris i
Y Smith of Weiser, and the decision {
handed down says:
l. T'Under Section 1910. Rev
st. 1887, which provides that it is
lot lawful for any person owning or
'aving charge of sheep to herd the
anne, or permit them to be herded ON
he land or possessory claims of other a
'ersons, or to herd the same or per Q
nit them to Craze within two miles c
I the dwelling house of the owner or
wners OF such possessory claim IL
not unlawful to drive sheep through
De State, or from one place 20 an
ther' or from one range to another. .
ltinn the State, even though, IN so :
DING they pass within two miles Of v
be dwelling house Of q settler. .
= Driving sheep from one range o
? another Is not 'berdiDg' them. nor d
the occasional eating Of grass as "
hey -, or while stopped for needed q
ast, grazing as contemplated by a
be la~msifers when enacting the 81
bOge statute "a
Upon this decision u fhe count
'ei u % NoT UNLAWFUL 10 10
l'b'p tvo miles ~ they gere passing a
'p~ ono ,eess " seotber wbieb b h
n epig egepi fbpf brings tbe aoobs =,