Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1905-12-08

further lis aims We assume hat, all
civilized eovernmsnts WiA seif ne
movement and that the conference =
nov an assured fact Th's ~ugtrn.1e nt
viii dc everything IN its power 10 -. re
The success o. he conference 20 ne ed
that substantial ~ gress may nade
IN the Co Zee OF International ptacs.- us
tee and good viii
In the conclusion OF this subject he
says
! have dweit much on the dangers
to DE avoided by steering clear 81 any
mere foolish seniim- ntallty because
my wish Tor peact j. 80 genuine and
earnest. because have a real and
great Ges.f, that this second Hague
c0nferenc- may mark long stride
forward in the direction Of securing
the peace @: justice throughout the
world No object Is better worthy the
attention o. 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 ~ war between the
big nations To this aim we should
endeavOr not only 10 avert .bloodshed.
but. above all effectively TO strengthen
4 the forces Of Fight. The Golden Rule
should be and as the world grows in
. morality II will be- the guiding rule
I Of conduct among nations as among
individuals: though the Golden Rule
must not be construed. in fantastic
manner as forbiddinc the exercise OF
" 10 ...A
! free republic should ever deal with
all other states great or small on a
basis OF high honor. respecting their
rights as jealousy as II safeguards It's
own.
The Monroe Doctrine receives
lengthy consideration as does also the
appeal o. Santo Domingo for assist
ance which the president believes II
is our duty 10 give.
In treating OF the subject Of the
army and navy the president favors
change IN TIE 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 al one place, and for an in
crease and reorganization OF the med
ical service in both the army and
navy.
Naturalization Laws.
Legislation IN lire with the recommends
tons Of he naiura. ization commission sp-
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. 10 supervise the
administration Of the naturalization laws
and 10 receive returns OF naiural!zations
pending and accomplished
Second Uniformity OF naturalization
certificates. fees TO be charged, and pro-
vedure.
Third. More exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth. The preliminary declaration Of
Intention 70 ne abolished and no alien 10
be naiuralized until at least 20 days after
the filing Of MS petition.
Fifth Jurisdiction to na;urallze aliens
TO be confined to United States district
courts and 20 such state courts as have
jurisdiction in civil actions In which the
amount in controversy Is unlimited in
cities Of over rocco inhabitants the
United States district courts TO have ex-
elusive jurisdiction in The naturalization
Of the allen 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 10 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 irriga ton
will accomplish all that was expected
Of II 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 IL tends
TO secure the greatest possible num-
Der Of homes on the land and to ere
ate communities Of freeholders. in. part
by settlement on public land. in part
by forcing the subdivision OF large
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 tract
exceeding 100 acres to any one land
owner This provision has excited &C.
tive and powerful hostility. but the
success OF the law itself depends on
the wise and firm enforcement OF Il.
We cannot afford 60 substitute tenants
for frceholders on the public domain.
The greater part Of the remaining
public lands cannot he irrigated They
are AZ present and will probably al
ways he OF greater value for grazing
than for any other purpose This fact
has led TO the grazing homestead OF
$40 acres in Nebraska and 10 the bro
posed extension Of il TO other states
II is argued that a family cannot be
supported on 100 acres Of arid grazing
land This is obviously true: but
neither can a family he supported on
$40 acres OF much Of the land to which
II is proposed to apply the grazing
homestead To establish universally
any such arbitrary limit would be un-
wise AT the present time II would
probably result on the one hand in
enlarging the holdings Of some Of the
great land owners. and on the other
in needless suffering and failure on
the part OF very considerable pro-
portion OF the bona fde 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. II Is probable that the present