, 1907-04-30
Torms Of Subeoelptlon
MR.. MONDELL'S POSITION.

under discussion, The Republican has
had several queries as to the exact po-
sition of Congressman Mondell upon
that matter. While much has been
published relating to his opposition to
what is now known as the forest re
serve permit system and the Burkett
bill, his attitude toward an equitable
leasing proposition has not, SO far as
We are advised, been given to the pub
lie.
The best index to a mans position
upon public questions is his public ac.
ions and his public utterances. AT
one time Mr.. Mondell introduced n
leasing bill that was considered a good
one, but later he considered the time
inopportune for its passage and he did
not press its consideration.
In letters he has indicated that he
favors leasing. provided 1t can be lick
ed into such shape that 1t will be
equitable to the rangemen of the west
and particularly of wyoming. Febru-
airy 9, in a letter to the editor of The
Republican, Mr.. Mondell said:
II have long been inclined to think
that some sort of a limited leasing
proposition under the interior depart
ment might be carried out which
would enable the department to grant
limited leases to an extent and in a
way that would not interfere with set
Element and development and yet
which would protect and aid the stock
growing industry. If l have grown
somewhat ,skeptioal in the last two or
three years of the possibility of enact
ing satisfactory legislation along these
lines. or OF administering them. it has
been because whenever we approached
the detail OF such u measure it has
seemed utterly impossible to reconcile
widely divergent and conflicting views.
and our efforts in the committee on
public lands, in which the matter has
been gone over pretty carefully several
times, has made 1t very apparent to me
that the very large stock outfits OF the
country. while few in number, are
strong enough in influence to defeat
any legislation along this line which
did not go SO far as to arouse the an.
tagonism Of the great body OF stock in.
terests and thus prevent the enactment
OF any legislation"
Again, Mr.. Mondell says: your let
ter further assures NE of what l have
been confident all the time, that we are
really not very far at variance on the
leasing proposition"
Further along the same line on
March s, Mr.. Mondell wrote:
Relating to the agitation oyer the
control of the range, l think II is un-
fortunate that the people have not
clearly understood just what was con-.
templated by the legislation urged by
Mr.. Pinchot. l have always been more
or less in sympathy with the idea OF
giving q man who is attempting to de-
velop a ranch, the opportunity of Sc
curing a fixed tenure on at least a
limited amount Of grazing land, al
though notice that every time We ap-
proposition the difficulties Of carrying
it II multiply"
From the foregoing it can be- clearly
and fairly concluded that Mr.. Mondell
has favored and would favor a leas-
ing proposition that would give to a
man struggling to conduct a live stock
business in localities where there was
a great quantity of public land unfit
for other than grazing purposes a linn
tied amount thereof, subject to the land
laws. 1t may also be concluded that
he would oppose any Legislation that
would give to any set of men a monop-
oily of the range. Again, there is no
question but that he is in opposition
to the forest reserve permit system be-
ing extended to public domain, as per-
haps nine-tenths of those who have
studied the question are. But it is we'll
to state in this connection that such a
policy is not ut the present time being
advocated by the national administra-
ton, Mr.. Pinchot or anyone else, so
far as The Republican is advised. This
point is made very clear in the inter.
view with Senator Warren, given to
the people through the columns of this
paper.
A careful analysis of the situation
discloses the fact that there is very
little difference. if any, in the attitude
of Mr.. Mondell and the great majority
of those who are now advocating a rea
Sonable leasa law