The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-06-28
NOT SO RADICAL
Public Lands Convention at Denver
Adopted a Series of Resolu-
tions and Adjourned.
FOR ACTUAL SETTLERS FIRST
Favor Forest Reserves for Non-Agri'
cultural Land-A Free Range
on Public Domain-The Pres
ident's Letter.

Denver. June 22.-The first public
land convention ever held came to an
end late Thursday afternoon with the
adoption of a series of resolutions
which were not so radical as expected
A letter from President Roosevelt was
a feature of the session. The resolu-
ton over which was the most dis
pute reads:
I'VE oppose any change in the exist
ing laws and customs as to grazing
live stock upon the public domain.
outside of forest reserves" The resolu-
lions say that experience has demon
strated the wisdom of the policy OF
treating the lands of the nation as
public trust to be disposed of in all
cases and wherever possible to actual
settlers. The people Of the west are
unalterably opposed to any change in
this wholesome and beneficial policy.
Secretary Garfield made lengthy
argument in support of the position
assumed by his department. He read
a letter from President Roosevelt
which was addressed to Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson, when 1t was ex-
pected he would be present at the con-
vention to be held at Denver. The pre-
siient in discussing an advance pro
gramme of the convention says: The
preliminary discussion of the general
subject in this paper contains several
statements to which desire to call
your especial attention, as they not
merely misrepresent the attitude of
the administration, but portray that at
titude. as the direct reverse of what
it really is.
THE first and most important of
these Measurements is to the effect
that there mas been change in the
public land policy of the government,
which change will result in depriving
the western states of the right to set
tie the public lands with citizens. This
allegation directly reverses the actual
facts. The course the government is
now pursuing is to carry out the TIA
ditional home-making policy of the
United States as to its public lands.
AS the men most interested in oppos'
ing the action of the administration
are endeavoring to upset the tradition
al course of the government and are
doing all in their power to turn IT,
public lands over to be exploited by
rich men and powerful corporations
n thnCa
the home-makeTs.
1.-The policy of the present admins
tration has steadily been, is now and
will be in the future, to promote and
foster actual settling, actual home
making on the public lands in every
possible way.
I'VE have incurred the violent hos
tility of the individuals and corpora
lions seeking by fraud and sometimes
by violence, to acquire and monopo-
lie great tracts of public domain to
the exclusion of the settlers. The ben
eficiaries and instigators Of or partici-
pators in the frauds, of course, dis
approve the acts of the administration.
But IL the administration pollcy 10
upset the one man who would be IT.
reparably injured would be the settler,
the home-maker, the man of small
means, who has taken up farm which
he intends himself to work and on the
proceeds of which he intends to sup
port and bring up his family.
LAS to the forest reserves, their Gre
alton has damaged just one class; the
managers and owners of great lumber
companies which by illegal, fraudule
or unfair methods. have desired TO
get possession of the valuable timber
of the public domain, to skin the Ian
and to abandon it when impoverished
well-nigh to the point of worthlessness.