The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-11
Atty. Knaeble on the
Forest Reserve
Trouble.
Misrsprsssnts Attitude of the
Stockmsn Throughout
the State.

In the issue of April 4, of the Denver
Republican, Assistant Atty. Gen. Knaeb-
el gives out an interview which is in
tended as warning to stockowners in
Colorado. Most of the statements he
makes are not only unjust, but are mis-
representation of the facts.
In the first place the stockmen are not
fighting the reserves, and with but few
exceptions are in favor Of them, but
they do object to the arbitrary rulings OF
the department.. and the Interpretation
of these rulings by the high minded
gentlemen who are placed in charge out
here.
Atty. Knaebel says. among lot OF
other things, These protesting stock
men are, in my opinion, selfish and do
not care for the good of the govern
ment Further on he states, "From per
sonal knowledge / know that the major
ity of bigger stockmen in the state re-
cognize this fact and uphold the presi-
dents hand" In other words the larger
stockmen, the ones the president is SO
anxious to protect, and who are in need
of all the assistance they can secure. are
satisfied with the way things are con-
Quoted, while the protesting stockmen,
who according to Atty Knaeble. are sell
fish, who are the owners Of small bunch
es of cattle; who have homesteads and
cultivated land where they reside; who
build up and civilize the country, are
kicking because they can't destroy the
timber" and because they are expected
to pay toll to men in the forest service.
In the Norrell case Knaeble willfully
misrepresents the facts. In the first
place the government was compelled to
dismiss the case against Norrell bee ause
they knew they had the losing side.
Knaebel says with reference to Norrel
Before the trial came up however the
reserve agents allowed him to take out
permit on the condition that he pay
double the usual fee, and led him to be-
leive that his case had thus been COM
promised. Atty Knaebel was present
when this agreement was made with
Norrell by the reserve agents and tacit-
ly consented to it. SO that any effort on
his part to throw the blame for subse
quent events upon the rangers is rather
small business.
If the government is inclined to deal
justly with all. why were not the people
who grazed their cattle on the Medicine
Bow reserve last summer, without a per-
init, trespassing according to Knaeble,
arrested?
Again Kuaeble tries to create this
impression that nearly all the stockmen
in the Park desired Norrell's arrest and
conviction. To put it in. a charitable
manner Mr.. Knaeble is mistaken. The
North Park stockgrowers who reside in
Denver, etc. undoubtedly would be
pleased to see the arrest and conviction
of many North Park residents who in
terfere with open range but it is hardly
fair to quote these eminently wealthy
gentlemen as authority for North Park
The facts are the North Park stock
owners condemn the action taken by
both Hogan and Knaeble, the later gen
tleman's statement to the contrary not
withstanding.
They are not fighting the government
but they certainly intend to fight for
their homes and property, aud will not
be bluffed by any set of men who wear
"holier than thou" crown and who
interpret the laws according tothe wish
es of the millionaire stockowner.