Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-12-06

further its aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement, and that the conference is
now an assured fact. This government
will do everything in It's 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 dweIt 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 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 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 b1oodshed.
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
manner. as forbidding the exercise OF
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 1t safeguards its
own.
The Monroe Doctrine receives
lengthy consideration. does also the
appeal of Santo Domingo for assist
ance which the president believes it
is our duty to give.
In treating of the subject of the
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 recommended
tons Of the naturalization commission APP
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.
Second. Uniformity of naturalization
certificates, fees to be charged, and pro-
redure.
Third. More exacting qualifications for
citizenship.
Fourth The nreJip,ipary declaration of
intention to be abolished and no alien to
be naturalzed until at least 80 days after
! the filing of his petition.
| Fifth. Jurisdiction to naturalze aliens
, to be confined to United States district
courts and to such state courts as have
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 Jaws are made, and in this connec-
! ton the president says:
The creation of small irrigated
| farms under the reclama ton 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
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 it's 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
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 a tract
| exceeding 160 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 a family cannot be
] supported on 100 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 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