The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-12-08

movement, and that the conference is
| now an assured fact This government
will do everything in its power to secure
| the success of the conference to the end
that substantial progress may be made
in the cause of international peace, JUS
tice and good will
In the conclusion of this subject he
says:
I have dwelt much on the dangers
to be avoided by steering clear of any
mere foolish sentimentality because
my wish for peace is so genuine and
earnest; because I have a real and
great desire that this second Hague
conference may mark a long stride
forward in the direction of securing
the peace of justice throughout the
world. No object is better worthy the
attention of enlightened craftsmanship
than the establishment of a surer
method than now exists of securing
justice as between nations, both for
the protection of the little nations and
for the prevention of war between the
big nations. To this aim we should
endeavor not only to avert bloodshed.
| but, above all, effectively to strengthen
the forces of right. The Golden Rule
should be, and as the world grows In
morality it will be, the guiding rule
of conduct among nations as among
individuals; though the Golden Rule
must not be construed, in fantastic
the police power. This mighty and
free republic should ever deal with
all other states, great or small, on
basis of high honor, respecting their
| rights as jealousy as it safeguards its
! own.
The Monroe Doctrine receives
lengthy consideration, as does also the
appeal of Santo Domingo for assist
ance which the president believes 1T
is our duty to give.
In treating of the subject of the
army and navy the president favors
a change in the method of promotion.
He would promote officers on merit
instead of by seniority, believing that
this method would be conducive to bet
ter efficiency than the one now in
vogue. He also recommends an in
crease in the coast artillery; the gar
risoning of considerable bodies Of
troops at one place, and for an in
crease and reorganization of the med
ical service in both the army and
navy.
Naturalization Laws.
Legislation in line with the recommends
tons of the naturalization commission ap-
pointed by the president last March is
asked for. These recommendations are
given as follows:
First. A federal bureau of naturaliza-
ton, to be established in the department
of commerce and labor, to supervise the
administration of the naturalization laws
and to receive returns of naturalizationS
| pending and accomplished.
r Second. Uniformity of naturalization
certificates, fees to be charged, and pro-
cedure.
Third More exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth. The preliminary declaration of
| intention to be abolished and no alien to
| be naturalized until at least 80 days after
thu filing of his petition.
Fifth. Jurisdiction to naturalize aliens
| to be confined to United States district
courts and to such state courts as have
jurisdiction in civil actions in which the
| amount in controversy is unlimited in
cities of over 100000 inhabitants the
| United States district courts to have ex-
| elusive jurisdiction in the naturalization
of the alien residents of such cities.
Public Land Laws.
Recommendations for changes in the pub
lie land laws are made, and in this connec-
| ton the president says:
The creation, of small irrigated
| farms under the reclamation act is a
| powerful Offset to the tendency of GER
tain other laws to foster or permit
| monopoly of the land. Under that act
! the construction Of great irrigation
works has been proceeding rapidly and
successfully, the lands reclaimed are
eagerly taken up, and the prospect
| that the policy Of national irrigation
| will accomplish all that was expected
| of it is bright. The act should be ex-
| tended to include the state of Texas.
The reclamation act derives much
| of its value from the fact that it tends
| to secure the greatest possible num-
| Der of homes on the land. and to Gre
ate communities of freeholders. in part
| by settlement on public land, in part
C11h wi nf 10 crn
| private holdings before they can get
water from government irrigation
works. The law requires that no right
| to the use of water for land in private
ownership shall be sold for a tract
| exceeding 100 acres to any one land
owner. This provision has excited ac-
| tive and powerful hostility, but the
success of the law itself depends on
| the wise and firm enforcement of it.
We cannot afford to substitute tenants
| for freeholders on the public domain.
The greater part of the remaining
| public lands cannot be irrigated. They
are at present and will probably al
ways be of greater value for grazing
| than for any other purpose. This fact
| has led to the grazing homestead of
| $40 acres in Nebraska and to the pro-
posed extension of it to other states.
| 1t is argued that family cannot be
| supported on $50 acres of arid grazing
| land. This is obviously true; but
neither can family be supported on
| $40 acres of much of the land to which
! it is proposed to apply the grazing
! homestead. To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un-
wise at the present time. 1t would
probably result on the one hand in
| charging the holdings of some of the
| great land owners. and on the other
| in needless suffering and failure on
| the part Of a very considerable pro-
portion of the bona fide settlers who
give faith to the implied assurance of
| the government that such an area is
sufficient The best use of the public
| grazing lands requires the careful ex-
animation and classification of these
| lands in order to give each settler
land enough to support his family and
no more While this work is being
done, and until the lands are settled
| the government should take control of
| the open range under reasonable reg
ulations suited to local needs, follow
| ing the general policy already in sue
cessful operation on the forest re-
serves. 1t is probable that the present
grazing value of the open public range
is scarcely more than half what it
| once was or what it might easily be
again under careful regulation.
The immigration Question.
Several recommendations looking to
changes in the present immigration laws
are made, and he suggests that United
States government agents pass upon immi-
grants before they leave their native shores
for this country. He also recommends such
changes in the laws as would not work a