The state herald., 1907-06-28
A Mild REBUKE
WESTERN LAND CONVENTION oP.
POSES ADMINISTRATION. :.
SECRETARY GARFIELD TALKS
The Committee on Business Brings In
Report That Sets conven-
tion In Motion.

| Denver.-The land convention at the
Broadway took a test vote this morn
ing which resulted in 221 delegates fav-
oring 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 hands Of those
opposed to the rules and regulations Of
the Interior Department.
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 lest the administra.
| ton forces were beaten by 348 to 22l.
The resolutions indorse the present
land laws; declare the lands a public
| trust to be disposed OF to actual set
| tiers; ask that foiest 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 tho removal OF restric-
tions on the sale and leasing OF allotted
Indian lands, excerC 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 inIorse the active and
successful efforts OF the administration
| In the enforcement of the land laws OF
the country. and heartily approve the
vigorous prosecution Of all known yio-
lators Of such lawr.
Experience has demonstrated the
wisdom OF the policy OF treating the
lands OF the Nation as n public trust
TO be disposed Of In all cases and
wherever possible to actual settlers
for cultivation and the maidnk OF
homes. The people OF the West are
unalternbly opposed to any change in
this wholesome ard beneficial policy.
| Forest reservations should be ere.
ated only where they do not infringe
this policy and do not withdraw and
remove from actuhi settlement land
suitable for settlement, cultivation and
the making OF homes. Wherever ere
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 unayoidably
necessary.
in all cases the rights OF the states
and of the people OF the states TO the
free and unhampe.cd use of all waters
within forest ryations for the bene
fetal public uses o. irrigation. munici
pal supply and the development oil
power should not only be permitted
but encouraged, aud no charge should
be imposed therefor or In connection
herewith. leaving II To the states
by adequate regulation. to com
pei the furnishing of all such water
and power TO consumers and the pub
lie Mt the lowest possible eos,.
| "Aa faearutya Iha uanaEaigN WHARF
forest reservations are created OF tn,
governments mal,iEg all such reason
able regulations as may be neccssar,
TO the preservation Of the same, ant
preventing conflicts In connection
herewith. This Nation Is today strong
great and prosperous because of IN,
Wide distribution OF It's lands and th'
natural resources connected herewith
amongst nil the people. and we ash
only Of our brethren In the East tn,
, application 10 us oi the national polio,
they have wisely applied TO their owl
interests, their own lands and iheil
own resources. rlcd.ins them oul
united and best Efforts 10 the end tha
| under wholesome laws these yaiuabl,
} resources shall be kept from the mo
nopolistic control Of corporations o.
| hiH'iNs W inf 'nu inNi iNfN Hnull "
owned by. distributed among aud n
reasonable rates enjoyed by the whol'
people.
, Resolved. that We favor the promp
elimination from foiost reservations o
, nil land not timbertd or suitable for re
forcHta,ion or reasonably necessary I.
conserve the now u streams used 70
, irrigation In arid sections.
Resolved. Tha, We ar- opposed I,
, any change In the existing laws an,
customs aH 10 grazing of livestock upoi
, the public domain outside ~ tho for
est reserves
The laws and the rules of the de
, partment should provide that asricni
: tnrnl lands situate within a forest res
, -ryaiion should be freely nprn.d I,
homestead entry and an actual settle
should have the immedtc. ffeo and IN
obHtfnoiod right of entry under III,
Z homestead laws applicable outside q
!, forest reservations and Nil of III. pre-
Z aump,ionh of law indulRcd In favor o
, homestead ontrymcn outside ~ forrs
II | t.s.fNugiaa. NhnuIa ut.xan d. nj. "a,