, 1907-04-02
WARNS STOCKMEN
NOT TO INTERFERE
SPECIAL ATTORNEY kNAEsEl
TALKS ON THE FOREST RE-
SERVE TROUBLE.
Speaks of the Andrew Norell Case In
North Park and Says Attorneys Of
Latter Made Him Believe He Was
Martyr-If Conspiracy Act Con-
strued Indictments Will Follow.

That the s~tockgrowers all over the
state who have been holding meetings
and passing resolutions ~condemning
President Roosevelt's forest reserve
policy ARE placing themselves in a
dangerous position and need to take
only one step to carry out their pro-
tests to become subject to prosecution,
is the statement of Special Assistant
Attorney General Ernest Knaebel, ac-
cording TO the Denver Republican.
Does Not Seek Trouble.
"The governments slogan has been
conciliation," said Mr.. Knaebel, land
the administration does not wish to
stir up friction. For that reason l am
rather reluctant to talk Upon the sub
ject, but | believe that the stockmen
should be warned. All l know of the
hostile attitude of some of them is
CLEANED from the newspapers. | have
read the resolutions they have passed
and their remarks in the meetings.
They have inferred that they do not in
tend to abide by the law and mean to
induce others to do likewise. If they
just take n step more and carry out
these implied intentions they will be
subject to arrest under the conspiracy
law, which carries a penalty Of two
years in the penitentiary and fine.
In Danger of Indictment.
If the conspiracy act in the federal
statutes was interpreted the same as
it is in the common law, these men
would be indicted by the next federal
grand jury If they have been quoted
rightly in print. AS l have said before,
the government wishes to avoid fric,
ton, but it does not intend that those
who enforse its law shall not perform
their duties.
Stockmen Are Selfish.
These protesting stockmen are, in
my opinion, selfish, and do not care
for the welfare of the government.
They would, If they could, destroy the
entire forest reserve policy for their
own special interests alone. l have
made a study of this forest question
for years and l do not see how any
sensible person can look at it other
wise than as an absolute necessity,
From personal knowledge know that
the majority and the bigger stockmen
in the state recognize this fact and
uphold the presidents stand.
The Andrew Norell Case.
Last autumn l had occasion to trav'
ell through North park to examine the
case of Andrew Norell, who had been
arrested on the charge of %pasturins
his cattle on timber land without u
permit. His case has been mentioned
by the stockmen opposed to the forest
reesrve plan to demonstrate the fail
offense and on account of this and 9th
err reasons, We had consented to allow
him to plead guilty and asked ~leniency
for him. Before the trial came III
however, the reserve agents allowed
him to take out a permit on the condi
ton that he pay double the usual fee,
and led him to believe that his case
had thus been compromised.
Told Him He Was Martyr.
"In spite of this fact his attorneys
later persuaded him that he was u
martyr and advised him to stand trial.
In view of the agents agreement, the
only course We could take was to en-
ter a nolle PROSE-. I made effort 10
sound the opinion Of the cattlemen in
the park on the trip and every one
demanded that Norell be prosecuted
and pooh-poohed with indignation the
idea of l%eniency."