Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-10-27
WHAT THEY SAY

Subscriber: An article in a recent
issue of your paper mentioned the
fact that the local land office was be.
ing deluged with letters from home
steaders asking for leave of absence
for the winter. The requests, it is
thought, were prompted by the fear
Of q possible shortage in the coal
supply. It was stated that the re-
quests were being refused as leave Of
absence could not be granted for triv-
ial reasons. 35. .s..
! fiatter myself that have strong
sense OF justice and the injustice Of
the above appeals to me SO strongly
that,I cannot refrain from giving ex-
preston to my thoughts. And with
out any mincing Of the matter, ]
say that every request like the above
should be granted without a mo-
ment's hesitation, even if it brought
every homesteader in the country in
to town. The homesteader is a hui.
man being with a wife and several
children sharing his tolls. y
If it is not at present a law in
the statute books of our land or a
!, regulation of the department of the
interior that will allow Gods toll
| worn children to seek the warmth,
comforts and shelter more congenial
than the open prairie, there should
/ be and that at once. Though the
president of the United States has
been on the frontier, he has never
had to undergo the privations of the
man with a large family and little
means. 1t is far from my thought.
to cast a reflection upon our presi
dent, but I do think that neithel
Z, he nor the members of his cabine
A really understand what it means t.
i a family of limited means to spent
/ a winter on these exposed frontie
prairies. Had they ever had the ex
perience they would gladly allow tn
homesteader to make himself as con
Portable as he could during the win
ter months and where he please
, and the time should go right alon
L on the homestead. The department
should judge man by his inten
E and the intent is not a hard thing t
J, determine generally, and where til
!, intent appears good rigid constru,
ton of the regulations should not /
!. adhered to. Hundreds Of young me
!. and young women are holding claim
!, Imagine one of these alone on til
8 prairie for days and weeks. Thin
! of the ills of life common to us al
Z even where conyeniences are a
! = about us and then think of what n1s
:, befall the one alone and no he
!. near and then draw your own concl
sions as to the juctice of refusir
a request for leave of absence. I'll
: Egovernment must not think the HON
! steader is the only one receiving be
: eft from his holding down a clail
1T is true he receives a great ben
! ait, but Uncle Sam is equally ben
2 fitted, for every acre of land broug
:. into subsection is of incalculab
3 beneit to the government; and VII
I. but the poor man, can this COVER
= ment get to break the way for q
ilization? The rich man will not q
e and no law car compel him to go.
q is only the poor man, driven by necs
4, sity, that can be depended on
s. pave the way. Western miIlionai.
e have been stealing the public la
Is for years under the eyes Of the q
g eminent. but the poor man, the
le fual homesteader, Is watched a
u double guarded lest ne leaves
~ claim when, God knows. he too of
ID hasn't the money TO take him awt
Is But when he asks so simple a 4
II or, that he may come into to
= ~ Il Is, al IL, .,s !, :, :,