East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-02-07

Signed and VIII Re Forwarded to
the Authorities Through the United
States Senators From This State.
The status of the movement against
the so-called misapplication of the
forest reserve system and regulations
ic indicated by the following from
the Long Creek Ranger:
The protest that is being circulat-
ed against the late addition to the
forest reserve is meeting with sue
cess all over the affected townships
and in fact, Is being reinforced by pc
titions from people living outside of
the reserve who are vitality affected
nations. 1t has been the source of
personal letters from friends of the
Ranger setting forth ideas as to the
best way to present the question and
we have already received corlmen-
dation enough to thank us for our
efforts.
The petitions when completed will
practically contain the names of all
the resident voters and taxpayers of
the addition as well as the majority
of the citizens of North Grant. One
petition is in the hands of Voley Nc
Haley at Hamilton, another with Joe
Jackson in Round Basin, third at
Fox, can be found at Jim Aliens store
and fourth is at Ranger office. Do
f,s ell
live in the reserve and do not fail to
sign a petition that is gotten up for
people who live outside the reserve
if you cannot get on these petitions.
One of these is being circulated at
Monument and If any community
wants a petition to circulate the
Ranger will gladly send one If you
VIII notify the paper.
Already the senators from this state
have been advised of what is taking
place in this county and a duplicate
of these protests will be sent them
ard in this way the protest will sure
ly come to the attention of the auth
critics. The protests will not be sent
in until all are at hand and the pub
ly prspared. In the meantime let
us net let our representatives forget
our grievances.
People Losing Faith In Reserves.
We read in the papers about pro-
tests and objections to the forest re-
serves. It wasn't long ago that every
paper in the land sang the praises of
taa In fO nf lN.a
lority of the people still have faith
in the reserves, but they are the peo-
pie who live away from the reserve.
1t should seem that the reserve was
| created for them and that they are
run in discrimination to the people
who live in this vicinity. We are
afraid that the good they were in
tended to do will he overcome by
abominable regulations and a lack of
consideration for the people who are
directly affected.
We have been told by different
parties that the present condition of
affairs in Grant county is due to mis-
information at Washington and that
a proper stating of the facts would
bring about results. This is what the
Ranger is engaged in doing by means
Of a vigorous position and a statement
of conditions. We have not yet lost
ministration.
People Affected Are Not Unit.
Whereat the Blue Mountain Amer
ican reminds it's readers that. "The
versions of the right and wrong of the
circrmscrlbing of the ranges are as
numerous as the localities affected or
the minds considering the subject"
and adds that the following from the
Prairie City Miner is broad in its
spirit':
Much complaint and frequent pro-
test has been raised regarding the
Blue Mountain forest reserve. To say
that these complaints were ill-founded
would be contrary to any ordinary
sense Of justice. In individual cases,
and perhaps many of them, the re-
serve has worked a hardship and been
the cause of injustice. In instances
1t has effectively put stockmen out
of commission and again in the mat
ter af ranging it has Disseminated
ullltlIly us between IduNe ana
| eign stockmen. The change from a
free-for-all stampede for public grass
to an orderly, well regulated allot-
ment is certain in the ordinary run
of affairs to cause some injustice, but
when it does, it does so because the
machinery operating the reserve has
not had time to become adjusted to
| its work. AS time goes on the exist
ing evils will be notified and each
individual grievance rectified. The
| purpose of the government is not to
| discourage the stock industry or to
work the public lands for the benefit
of few. The policy is to preserve
and protect the forest and the public
range so that it will serve to a better
end than 1t would were II left to a
free-for-all scramble. Wherever the
reserve works hardship or injustice
on an individual or a community let
the matter be taken up by the local
stock organization and presented to
the forest reserve officials and it will
be Siven due consideration. In the
end the policy now pursued by the
government will be of untold advan-
tage to the stock industry in general
| Because there are cases where a Just
grievance is had is no ground for
condemning the plans of range allot-
mont and forest supervision.
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