Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-15

character which really renders 1t obi
.gatory on, or proper Tor, Santo domingo
to-pay them in full. But she could not
pay any OF them unless some stability
was assured her government n people.
Asks Support for Treaty.
Accordingly the executive department
of our government negotiated a treaty
under which We are TO try TO help the
m people TO straighten out their
finances. This treaty is pending before
the senate. in the meantime a temporary
arrangement has been made which Will
last until the senate has had time TO
take action upon the treaty. Under this
arrangement the Dominican government
has appointed Americans to all the inn
portant positions in the customs service.
and they are seeing to the honest collec-
ton OF tho revenues, turning over 45 per
cent. to the government for running ex-
penses n putting the other 80 per cent.
into a safe depository for equitable divi-
sion in case the treaty shall be ratified,
among the various creditors. whether
European or American.
This has completely discouraged all rev.
o~lutionary movement, while II has all
ready produced such an increase in the
venue that the government is actually
the American collectors turn over to ii
than IL got formerly when 1t took the
entire revenue; It i enabling the poor
harassed people of Santo Domingo once
more to turn their attention to Industry
and to be free from the curse OF inter-
minable revolutionary disturbance.
1ntl6 IL, VI CohiS So pHkAclllOti " tIC
treaty from dishonest creditors. foreign
and American, ard from the professional
revolutionists of the island itself.
The Army and Navy.
We cannot consider the question OF our
foreign policy without al the same time
treating OF the army and navy. We now
a very small army-indeed, one we'll
nigh infinitesimal when compared with the
army of any other large nation
OF course the army we do have should be
size as Is possible. I do not believe that
any army in the world has a better aver
age of enlisted man or a better type of
junior officer; but the army should be
vision should be made by sufficient anpro-
prlations for of a practical
kind so that the troops may learn how
to take care Of themselves under actual
service conditions.
The number Of posts in whieh, the army
is kept in time of peace shoSia be mate
rally diminished and the posts tina are
left made cQrreSpondingly larger.
To accomplish this end we must have noe
company or regimental gaSrisons, but
brigade and division garrisons.
For a Big Navy.
Our navy must, relatively TO the navies
OF other nations, always be OF greater size
than our army. We have most wisely con-
tinued for a number of years to build up
our navy, and II has now reached q fairly
high standard OF efficiency. This stand-
ard of efficiency must not only be main
tanned, but Increased. 1t does not seem to
me necessary, however, that the navy
sheuld-at least in the immediate future
be Increased beyond the present number OF
units. Whatis now clearly necessary is to
efficient for inefficient units as
the latter become worn out or as IT be-
comes apparent that they are useless.
Probably the result would be attained by
adding a single battle ship to our navy
each year, the superseded or outworn ves-
sells being laid up or broken up as they are
thus replaced.
Public Land Laws.
One again I call your attention to the
condition of the public and laws. Recent
developments have given new urgency to
the need for such changes as viii fit these
laws to actual present conditions. The
honest disposal and right use Of the re-
naming public lands is Of fundamental i'm
portance. The iniquitous methods by
which the monopoltztng of the public lands
is being brought about under the present
laws are becoming more generally known,
but the existing laws do not furnish
of the public lands commission upon this
are wise and should be given
effect.
As to the Grazing Land Claim.
The greater part Of the remaining public
lands cannot be irrigated. They are at
present and will probably always be of
value for grazing than for any
other purpose. This fact has led to the
grazing homestead of $40 acres in Ne
braska and TO the proposed extension Of IL
to other states. 1t is argued that a family
can not he supported on 100 acres of arid
land. This is obviously true; but
can a family be supported on $40
acres Of much Of the land to which it is
proposed to apply the grazing homestead.
establish universally any such arbitrary
would be unwise at the present time.
1t would probably result on the one hand
in charging the holdings of some of the
In ND nAg1nTC and nm tho .nfhnr IN
needless suffering and failure on the part
of a very considerable proportion of the
bona fide settlers who give faith to the i'm
piled assurance OF the government that
such an area is sufficient.
The best use Of the public grazing lands
requires the careful examination and class
ihcation Of these lands in order to give
each settler land enough to support his
and nc more. While this work Is
being done, and until the lands are Get
tied, the government should take control
Of the open range, under reasonable regu-
lations suited to local needs, following the
general policy already in successful opera
ton on the forest reserves. II IS probable
that the present grazing alu Of the open
public range is scarcely more han half
1t once was or what it might easily
be again under careful regulation.
Favors Merchant Marine.
To the spread Of cur trade in peace and
the defense Of our flag in war a great and
prosperous merchant marine is indiSpensi-
Die w SIlOuld nave SlDpS OF our G"H ana
seamen OF our own to convey our goods TO
neutral markets, and in case of need to
our battle line. II can not but
be a source of regret and uneasiness 10 us
that the lines OF communication with our
sister republics of South America should
be chiefly under foreign control. IL is not
a good thing that American merchants
ana manufacturer should have to send
their goods and letters to South America
via Europe If they wish security and dis
patch. Even on the Pacific, where our
Lave held their own better than on
the Atlantic, our merchant flag is now
through the liberal aid be-
slowed by other governments on their own
steam lines. ! ask your earnest consider
alton Of the report with which the Mer-
chant Marine commission has followed its
long and careful inquiry.
The Immigration Question.
The question of immigration is Of vital
interest TO this country. In the year end
ING June 80, 1860, there came TO the United
l,0Z6,V0 alien immigrants. In other
words, in the single year that has just
greater number Of people than came here
during the one hundred and s~ixty-nine
years OF our colonial lie which inter-
yencd between the trst iaaGi4ig at James
town and the declaration OF IuQcpend-
ence. III is clearly Shown in the repors 81
the commissioners genera OF immigration
whIIe much OF this enormous immi-
Is Undoubtedly healthy and natur-
Il, a considerable proportion IS undesirable
from one reason or another; moreover, a
considerable proportion Of IL, probably a
large proportion, Including most of
the undesirable class, does not come here
Of it's own initiative, but because OF the
OF the agents OF the great trans
nortation c~oinpaEics- These agents are
throughout Europe, and by the
offer OF all IND OF Inducements they
Hheedle and cajole man Immigrants, oIten
against their bsst interest, TO come mere.
Tho Chinese Question.
h questions arising in connection