Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-18
PUBLIC LAND
CONVENTION
Called to Order in Denver at
1920 a. m. by Gov. Henry A.
ButChel of Colorado.
SENATOR CARTER CHAIRMAN.
In His Address as Temporary Presid-
Ing Officer Went Over History of
Development of the West

Denver June 1S.--Called together
for discussion of public land questions
with view to formulating policy
and urging legislation in accordance
herewith, nearly LOCO representative
citizens representing all the trans
Missouri states, met in convention at
the Broadway theater In this city to-
day. From Washington have come
James r. Garfield, secretary Of the
interior; clifford Pinchot. chief Of the
forestry department; L. IL. Newell,
head of the reclamation service, rep
resenting President Roosevelt and
prepared TO give all possible inform
alton as to the policy of the adminis-
uatlon REGARDING the control and reg
ulatlon Of the public lands.
The badge worn bv the Colorado
delegates was designed 10 furnish the
keynote OF the convention.
II is inscribed as follows Public
lands were extended for home build
ers. We oppose interference by gov
ernmnt buraus under autocratlc
rules and regulations"
United States Senator Thomas H.
Carter of Montana, who was chosen as
temporary chairman in caucus last
Hl6AAAt AAlnAAt NAt AOllpMlIE statement
today before the convention assembled
regarding the position of President
Roosevelt on the public land quest
ions.
The president is lrrevocably op-
posed. 1t seems 10 the continuance of
the free and unregulated range. but
Is not absolutely committed to any
particular scheme for the accomplish
ment OF this purpose. This is what he
Informed me- The policy as ] am in
formed by him is the regulation of
the public ranges Of the west by the
government.
THE president added that IL it was
found there We're any harm rules m
force IN the administration of the poll
lcies, these harsh rules. net the poi
lcles, would be modified"
add public land conventional Denver
GOV. Henry a. BuChtel OF Colorado
called the convention to order at 10: 30
O'Clock. U, $. Senator Henry NJ. Tel
Ter Of Colorado nominated Senator
Thomas 5. Carter OF Montana for tenn
porary chairman, ana he was IMAM
imously chosen.
George $. Walker OF Cheyenne. sec
retaTy OF the National Wool Growers
association, was made temporary sec
rotary.
Senator Carter, in his address as
temporary chairman went over the
history of the development of the west.
He expressed the opinion that the day
OF the great open range is past. lie
said among the questions to come be-
fore the convention was whether the
lands of the United States shall be
made source of revenue by requiring
permits for the use OF the public range
or whether the leasing system shall
prevail. He said that the federal
government as a land owner had just
as strong q right as private individuals
and no stronger.
Continuing, Senator Carter said that
he had asked one delegate to serve
on a committee and he had refused
saying he had cattle on "a public forest
range. and If he voted against the in
terests OF the forestry bureau, his cat
tie would be driven from the reserva-
ton. Several delegates called out
that that was true and MIR. Carter said
he wanted to puncture that bubble at
this point. II any forest ranger should
attempt to Interfere with any citizen
on account of his use Of free speech,
he declared Mr. Pinchot would dis
miss him. Mr.. Pinchot, who was upon
the platform, endorsed the statement
of the senator by holding.
Partisan politics must be barred from
the convention, the chairman contin-
Ued He closed by saying that what
ever course might be adopted to be
right by this convention. win become
new law If necessary. and action
would he taken II action is demand
ed.