The Ordway new era., 1907-02-22
that tho ru,es adopted By pds bureau y,
A. Wsshington would hersupef'or
,, ,,a..aN hu <xsRf legislature.

sm-toid there Is a disposition amous
NJ many denartments at Washington
10 make themselves strong ana aus
each TO its own power. Ihe i s.iunn
of the bureau that would have eonuo,
OF these public lands would aep.na s1.
npor its retention OF their cohuoi. US
very fact would act as eohs'ane
terrent against the release oi lahus io'
settlement. One OF the main reasons reason,
for The establishment OF our pr,s'n'
form Of government was TO aVoiu hs
far as possible fayoritism, specihl pt'
iIeees or government by discFrllou'
Under the system proposed, We VIII Ee'
turn to all these dangers. bE ,a
ing anything else we must return
the principle of "the King can 90 Nv
wrong" Some OF those VINO nave uou. ~,
business in the forest reserves N"'"
better than that. ,,.. ,o,,
has anyone stopped TO consider nov
this new scheme will eject the couu
ties OF the state? Some OF th~"l u"
sim struggling In their Infancy, ou's
a small portion Of their ihnd IL pa.
ented. Being settled by homcSe,ho. >
in only moderate circumstances, hhHl'
clnIly, their improvements are -,I''
meager. The taxation Is therefor
heavy. Schools. roads and new pup".
buildings are necessary. IhtE u,TN
the assistance OF all the land wllhlh
thcir boundaries, and anything thnl
will tend to hinder the private owner
shin of these lands by actual settlers
will increase the burdens OF these
struggling communities. And what
hurts thom will Iuiurc the state.
Who Is it that demands this change
In our land policy? II Is not tho nome
seeker. for he wants as little Tesiilc-
tion as possihle. There have been no
conventions OF small cattle owners
who demand this change. We have
heard OF no petitions from them, Their
finances limi, them to small holdings
and they are Interested in building up
populous communities and thereby IN
crCasiug the advantages OF education
and society, and enhancing the value
OF their holdings. II Is not the mon
eyed man who settles ON thcs" now
lands. II Is generally someone who
has but little means and who desires
to use that which he has in building
home rather in buying one. The In.
duccmcnt OF the open range for Few
motive for settling up the country. The
big fellows interest Is directly oppo-
site. He wants cheap land. cheap
grass. and lots OF territory. II is too
often the rule that he doesn't favor
tho presence OF the little homestcadcr
within his range. He Is too often in
cllned to the belief that Il would be
doing the settler a real service to pre-.
vent his getting the land The big fcl.
low is able 10 make himself heard. go
to conventions. travel over Into the
next state II need be. and appear be-
fore some land commission and send
committees 10 Washington.
And the worst OF 1t is that the ad-
ministration is being induced to use
the little fellows name TO accomplish
a real Vantage for the big fellow
II the small settler is the real con.
sideratiOn. why doesn't the govern.
ment wait until the small settler
makes his wishes known? The only
thing these homescekcrs are asking Is
that the obtaining Of the lands shall
be easier, not harder. II. at any time
there is a lull in the settlement OF the
public lands. Il is because the laws
regulating settlement are not liberal
enough. The true remedy Is not for
the restriction. but more liberal ex.
tension.
One thing is certain Land is rap.
idly increasing In value The strcnu.
Gus effort TO get possession OF the pub.
nc lands is sufficient evidence OF this
fact. Everybody wants land. and lust
as fast as 1t becomes worth enough to
cover the cost OF settlement. II will be
located by those who are drifting
away from our centers Of population.
Any effective scheme for leasing the
public lands has enough bad features.
but the present one Is the worst that
has been suggested While based in
large part upon the principle that
these lands belong to all the people
of the country. and that those that use
them should pay for that use. there is
no provision for paying the rentals
into the general treasury. and no hone
that anyone will be benefited fnan.
cially except those who get the special
privileges, and the officials who admin.
lister the districts.
know that many people in the East
think the balance of this public land
wills never be good for anything but
grazing. Even the president holds this
opinion because he told our committee
so year ago. They held the same
opinion about some OF our most val.
liable lands at the time they were set.
tied many years ago. They will still
mold the same opinion us to any lands
that may be left ten or twenty YEARS
hence. 1t is the fellow who takes his
chances, settles upon the land, i'm.
proves 1t, and makes his home there
VINO builds up tho country. and adds
to Its business and prosperity.
There is no such need Of haste in
the passage of this measure that II
should be necessary to rush It through
as rider on an appropriation bill be.
1ore thos" most affected can even find
1t out. Surely, matter of so much
Importance should be permitted to
take It's chances on its own merits.
AT 'pDgt II ghnu1J H.,