The Washington herald., 1907-06-20
LAND MEN At ODDS
Charges of Packing COnven-
tiOn Made at Denver.
HOSTILE TO ADMINISTRATION
Indications of Opening Session Point
To Adoption Of Resolutions Con-
demning Leasing and Fencing OF
Public Lands and Withdrawal of
Large Tracts as Reserves.

Denver. June l9-Although Federal Off
cials and other speakers at banquet
rendered land convention delegates last
night urged harmony and getting to-
gether, it is evident that the resolutions
which will be adopted tomorrow express
ing the sentiment Of the convention viii
be strongly INSTRUMENTATION, especial
ly condemning the leasing and fencing
Of public lands and the withdrawal of
large tracts as forest reserves.
The Observation-Disclosures claim that
the government made a futile attempt 70
pack the convention In its favor. On
the other hand it is charged the conven-
ton is really a stockmens meeting and
packed against the administration.
4 genuine sensation developed this
morning when the credentials committee
reported It was discovered that Colorado
had 3q6 delegates. Wyoming l45, and the
balance of the States scarcely 100. The
Roosevelt delegates took advantage Of
this report 20 make objections. They
claimed that the convention was packed,
and that instead of a Western Conven-
tion. it was in reality a Colorado conven-
ton Several of the committee on Gre
dentials protested that the committee had
no right 10 say who should ultimately
vote, but could only report the list Of
delegates present.
Senator Warren Protests.
The row over the report lasted couple
of hours. and at times threatened 10 dis
rupt the convention. During the debate
Senator Warren said,
L came here in the expectation of see
ing q convention from all States and not
Of Colorado people. and ! believe the re-
port of your committee on credentials
should be sent back for correction
The convention finally sent the report
back TO the committee on credentials. di-
recting them TO report every person
whose credentials had been sent TO the
convention. present or absent
Congressman BhonynEe expressed the
sentiment Of many delegates to the con-
vontion this morning when he condemned
the action Of the administration in set
ting apart forest reserves tiye-siNtGs gf
all the public lands in the country, there
by Withdrawing this land from the pos
sibllity Of settlement by citizens and
placing it In the hands Of the government
as a great land owner. % be left 90 the
people as tenants.
After another speech had been made
against the administration policy Murdo
Mackenzie president of the American
Live Stock Association, a warm friend of
Rooscvelts policies. demanded if 10 was
the purpose 90 hear only one side Of the
question He declared thar so far such
had been the evident intention
Divide Things Evenly.
Senator Teller replied on behalf OF the
committee. saying it had not been by de-
sign that such an arrangement had been
made. He said that the committee had
tried to divide things evenly
After some further discussion. order
was restored. and Capt Arnold. iuroduc-
ed as a small ranchman of Wyoming
said.
Wyoming boasts Of 6.o1o.r0 acres Of
wooded area. and the government claims
$4,000 acres in that State Thirty per
cent Of the land which has been put iI
forest reserve is not even wooded area
The Wyoming ranchwan does not say he
is an angel. but if you can find any body
of men under the flag Of more unbiem-
ished reputation, I'd like 20 know IT, We
have had no land frauds in our State.
save those imported by government in
spectors and land agents"