The Colorado statesman., 1907-06-22
HOT DISCUSSION
MAIN PART OF LAND CONVENTION
GIVEN OVER TO WESTERN
DELEGATES.
EAsTERNERs' EYES OPENED
1--WE Have Had No Land Frauds Save
Those Imported by The Govern
ment," Says Arnold.

Denver, June 13.-It was a stormy
session this morning; sort of indica-
tion of what is to come. The speakers
of yesterday afternoon had, with the
exception of Senator Teller. been apol-
ogists for the government but today
the tables were turned and the pro-
tests of the ranchmen were sounded
with emphasis. That is where the
trouble began. 1t was impossible to
name any definite action, either for or
against the federal policy. because
wedding out process is necessary be-
fore the accredited delegates can sbe
learned. New tickets arrived just at
adjournment and we're distributed.
Addresses by Thomas j. Walsh of
Montana, c. p. Arnold of Wyoming
and Congressman r. w. Bonynge of
Colorado were the features of the
morning.
Organized permanently, with DR.. ].
NJ. Wilson of Wyoming in the chair,
the convention knuckled down to real
business to-day.
United States Senator Francis E.
Warren of Wyoming, president of the
National Wool Growers Association,
reached Denver last night from Wash
ington. The senator Is very close to
President Roosevelt and is here in the
interests of the administration. Since
Wyoming has sent to the convention
$50 delegates, practically all opposed
TO the public lands policies of the ad-
ministration the mission of Senator
Warren is apparently significant.
81 believe when we have weeded out
the various phases of the big ques-
tions and get right down to the issues
we will find that the West and Presi-
dent Roosevelt are not far apart-that
both are for the settlers and for home
building. ! believe that the results of
the convention will be salutary to the
West; that what will be done will
make for the development of this vast
domain
Secretary of the Interior James r.
Garfield, special envoy of President
Roosevelt, was given the honor of first
addressing the convention yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Garfield is a compar-
atively young man, with head full of
hard horse sense. lie handled himself
well before the big gathering and
talked straight at the delegates. That
he made a strong impression was ap-
parent from the close attention paid to
what he had to say and the frequent
applause of some of his climaxes.
Il am out here to meet and mingle
with you people of the West, so that i
can learn first hand from you the con
ditions and what you want" declared
Mr. Garfield. "If the administration
Is wrong on any OF its policies, want
to know it that ] may correct the
wrong. Let us understand each other.
Il am here to hear the discussions
and to learn what you want. / shall
not have much to say to you, but want
to hear what you have to say. This
convention will do much good in clear
ing up many things and bringing us
all to better understanding"
Richard A. Baliinger, commissioner
of the General Land Office at Wash
ington, followed Mr.. Garfield with an
address upon the functions of his de-
partment. He defended the admins
tration and aroused applause by his
slap at the land spectators who have
been thriving in the West. These
pests, he declared, had to go, and he
told how he had put many of them out
of business.
The sentiment OF the delegates with
reference to the questions that are to
come up for discussion has undergone
some change since the big convention
met There is lack of any fighting
spirit. The delegates have got to-
gether in way and are looking at the
big questions and the administrator
policies with more tolerance, because
they are understanding what the Pres
ident is striving at for the West. They
know that the President wants to
know what they want and that he is
going to give them the relief as far as
he is able under the public land laws.
Among other addresses today, be-
sides that of Congressman Bonynge,
l,,. TNn INt.o,, IL
Mondell of Wyoming and another by
Ethelbert Ward OF Colorado. Senator
Thomas II. Carter also addressed the
convention this forenoon. Following
these addresses there will be a gen.
eral debate, limited to ten minutes to
each speaker This feature of the con-
veption will be full of interest and fire.
MIR. Walsh, the first speaker of the
day, was greeted with wild shrieks of
applause throughout his address,
When he had concluded. Murdo Mac
kenzie demanded to know IL it was the
purpose of the convention to hear only
one side of the question. He declared
that, so far, such had been the evident
intention. Senator Teller replied on
behalf of the program committee, say
ing that 1t had not been by design that
such an arrangement had been made.
He said that the committee had tried
to divide things evenly. A voice in
the back of the auditorium asked II
meeting of the program committee had
ever been called.
1T was impossible to get the men,
bers together" rerlied Senator Teller
"Only the Colorado members gath
cred" Then someone asked IL Senator
Burkett of Nebraska had not filed a
written protect against the program,
and Senator Teller admitted that such
was the case, but said that this was
the only fault found with the schedule.