The Elbert County tribune., 1907-06-27
A MILD REBUKE.
WESTERN LAND CONVENTION OP-
POSES ADMINISTRATION. /.
SECRETARY GARFIELD TALKS
The Committee on Business Brings in
Report That Sets Conven-
ton in Motion,


Broadway took test vote this morn
ing which resulted in 221 delegates fav-
oring a mild criticism of the admins
tration's land policies and 34S dele
gates radically against the govern
ment's method OF regulating public
lands.
The vote came during the considera-
ton of the report of the credentials
committee. A motion was made to
seat the delegates of the American
Live Stock Association, National Wool
Growers, National Irrigation Congress.
Transmississippi Congress and Ameri-
can Mining Congress.
These delegates were. in the main,
the strong administration allies and
the convention voted to unseat them.
The result is that the convention is
now hopelessly in the hahds of those
opposed to the rules and regulations of
the Interior Depar tment.
The resolutions offered to the land
convention by the committee appointed
to draft them administered a mild re-
buke to the admin -stration. They are
not as radical as was expected. There
is little doubt, but they will be adopted,
because on a ;est the administra-
ton forces were beaten by 34S to 221.
The resolutions indorse the present
land laws; declare the lands public
trust to be disposed of to actual set
tiers; ask that foi est reserves be not
created when they interfere with set
Elements; oppose any charge by the
government for water from the re-
serves; ask that present grazing laws
stand; demand that agricultural lands
in forest reserves be open for settle
ment; request the removal of restric-
tions on the sale and leasing of allotted
Indian lands, except such held by full
bloods; request the modification of the
order withdrawing coal lands from en-
try and ask that forest reserves be re-
duced in size.
Following is the report of the com
mittee on the business before the con
vention.
I'VE cordially indorse the active and
successful efforts of the adminil tration
in the enforcement of the land laws of
the country, and heartily approve the
vigorous prosecution of all known vio-
lators of such laws.
Experience has demonstrated the
wisdom of the pcficy of treating the
lands of the Nation as a public trust
to be disposed of in all cases and
wherever possible to actual settlers
for cultivation and the making of
homes. The people OF the West are
unalterably opposed to any change in
this wholesome ard beneficial policy.
Forest reservations should be Gre
ated only where they do not infringe
this policy and do not withdraw and
remove from actusi settlement land
suitable for settlement, cultivation and
the making of homes. Wherever Gre
ated they should be devoted to the
largest and freest use consistent with
their preservation, SO that no natural
resources of any community shall be
taken away further than unavoidably
necessary.
In all cases the rights of the states
and of the people of the states to the
free and unhampe-ed use of all waters
within forest reservations for the bene
fetal public uses OF irrigation, munich
pal supply and the development of
power should not only be permitted,
but encouraged, and no charge should
be imposed therefor or in connection
Herewith, leaving it to the states.
by adequate regulation, to com
pei the furnishing of all such water
and power to consumers and the pub
lie at the lowest possible cost.
I'VE recognize the necessity where
forest reservations are created of the
governments making all such reason
able regulations as may be necessary
to the preservation of the same, and
preventing confiicis in connection
Herewith. This Nation is today strong,
great and prosperous because of the
wide distribution of it's lands and the
natural resources connected Herewith
amongst all the people, and we ask
only of our brethren in the East the
application to us of the national policy
they have wisely applied to their own
interests, their own lands and their
own resources, lledging them our
united and best efforts to the end that
under wholesome laws these valuable
resources shall be kept from the me.
nopolistic control of corporations or
others, to the end that they shall be
owned by, distributed among and at
reasonable rates enjoyed by the whole
people.
Resolved. that we favor the prompt
elimination from forest reservations of
all land not timbercd or suitable for re-
forestation or reasonably necessary to
conserve the flow of streams used for
irrigation in arid sections.
Resolved, That we are opposed to
any change in the existing laws and
customs as to grazing of livestock upon
the public domain outside OF the for
est reserves.
The laws and the rules of the de-
partment should provide that agricul-
tural lands situate within forest res
ervation should be freely opened to
homestead entry and an actual settler
should have the immedite, free and un-
obstructed right of entry under the
homestead laws applicable outside of
forest reservations and all of the pre-
sumptions of law INDUCED in favor of
homestead entrYmen outside of forest