, 1904-04-07
MAXWELL SMOKED OUT.

Maxwell has been smoked out. He
has conducted for several years what
he has termed the National Irriea-
ton association Ostensibly this as
sociation has had for its object the ed
ucation of the people of America along
lines favorable to the reclamation of
lands in the arid states, but actually
the purpose of Mr.. Maxwell and his
propaganda has been to create senti-
ment favorable to the repeal OF all TIE
land laws except the homestead act,
When the reclamation act was un
consideration it will be recalled that
ne found fault with every proposition
made by the men of the west till he
found that its passage was inevitable
and then he turned squarely around
and tried to take credit for a large
share OF the great work performed. At
the session Of the Irrigation congress
at Colorado Springs he was routed by
the Wyoming delegation and at Ogden
Mondell and Shafroth were able to de-
feat his plans, although the fight vas
the hardest ever waged in a conven-
ton Of like character. 1t is said by
those present that Congressman Mon
lcll made the greatest speech of his
life. Certain it Is that he presented in
a logical and forcible amer facts and
figures that proved to the convention
the fallacy of the Maxwell position.
From the Ogden congress the scene
of conflict was transferred to the con-
gress of the United States and mean
while Maxwell continued mis- cam
raign of education" Through a liter
AIRY bureau he has sent articles to the
papers of the entire nation. He has in
his service very clever correspondents
and right in the midst of interesting
articles on irrigation it has been their
custom to insert statements to the eff
feet that the only way in which the
best interests of the people of the ma
ton car be subserved is by the repeal
of the desert land act, the timber and
stone act and the communication clause
of the homestead act.
The voice has been the voice of ia
cob. and the hand of Esau never came
to view openly till Maxwell came be
.lplt the Nolllllllltt oH nIlSdlltI, VI
which Mr.. Mondell is the able chair
man. Searching questions by the
chairman and by Mr.. Hitchcock of Ne
braska brought to light the source of
the funds with which Maxwell is car
rying on his compaign. Several trans
continental railroads were c%ontribut-
ing s 1000 each per annum and other
contributions run the grand total to
$500 0 for Maxwell's bureau. And &C
cording to his testimony, they place
no restrictions upon his operations.
He is at liberty to do as his own sweet
will dictates. By the repeal of the
land laws the present financial inter
ests of the people who have employed
him could be best subserved. and to
this end he has spent their money.
In the investigation before the house
committee it was brought out hat
the contributing railroads hold two
and one.half million acres of forest
reserve lieu lands that may be ex-
changed for vacant lands beyond the
of the reserves wherein they are
located. Even the uniformed person
can readily see that the repeal Of the
land laws would make it very much
harder to secure title to public lands
and therefore enhance the value of all
lieu land scrip. An advance of the
small sum of one dollar per acre would
be a tremendous gain. From the a
row standpoint of present gain the
railroads are not to be blamed for TAX
ing the position they have. although
the policy is short-sighted in the ex.
IRENE. In the long run. the settle
ment Of the west under the laws
sought to be repealed would bring
more to the railroads than the ten
porary advantage gained through the
sale Of the lieu lands. Again. it is not
certain that the railroads have had
full knowledge of Mr.. Maxwell's real
purpose. He says they were in the
dark as to his movements and that he
has been given a free hand. II this
is true. then they should be e%nlighten-
ed and their attention called to the
great benefits the people of the west
rave derived through the operation of
the laws sought to be repealed, and for
which purpose their money has been
spent.
Mr.. Maxwell says: Il am now 60
ing to start a crusade against the land
laws in earnest. l expect to have a
fund Of 100000 yearly to help me Sc
cure the reforms for which I am fight.
ing"
1t is we'll that he has come out into
the open. 1t is easier and more salts
factory to fight an open enemy than
one carrying on a secret campaign.
From this time on the people of the
west will have the sympathy of the
people Of the east to a greater degree
than formerly. and MaXwell's literary
bureau will be looked upon as a pure
promotion scheme for the sake of the
money there is in 1t.