Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-06-27
NOT so. RADICAL
Public Lands Convention at Denver
Adopted a Series Of ResOlu-
lions and Adjourned.
FORACTUAL SETTLERS FIRST
Favor Foreut Reserves for Non.AgrI
cultural Land-A Free Range
on Public Domaln-The Pres
Ident's Letter.

Denver, June 21.--The first public
land convention ever held came to ar
end late Thursday afternoon with the
adoption OF q series of resolutions
which were not so radical as expected
A letter from President Roosevelt was
q feature of the session. The resolu
ton over which was the most dis
pute reads:
Eve oppose any change In the exist
'ing laws and customs as to grazing
live stock upon the public domain
outside of forest reserves" The resolu-
tons say that experience has demon
strated the wisdom Of the policy OF
treating the lands of the nation as a
public trust to be disposed of in all
cases and wherever possible to actual
settlers. The people of the west are
uialterably opposed to any change in
this wholesome and beneficial policy.
Forest reserves should only be created
where they do not infringe on this
policy. In all cases the rights of the
states and the people Of the states to
the free and unhampered use OF all wa
tiers within forest reservations should
be not only permitted but encouraged,
and no charge should be imposed
thereon. The necessity Of forest reser-
vations lis recognized and reasonable
regulations by the government recon-
mended. The resolution, however, ia
vor the prompt elimination from forest
reservations of all lands not timbered
or suitable for reforestatlon or reason
ably necessary to conserve the flow
Of streams used for irrigation. 1t Is
especially urged that the reports of
special and secret service agents Of the
land department and Of the depart
ment of agriculture shall be made un-
der oath. A modification of any exist
ing orders which prevent bona fide
filings on any Of the public coal lands
10 demanded The national irrigation
law is heartily endorsed.
It is asked that congress legis-
late appropriately with respect to
school lands In reservations so that
each state deprived Of these lands
may receive Its full quota of lands or
its equivalent, for the purpose for
which they were originally intended.
It is finally demanded that In states
wherein forest reserves are situated
and not desired and are excessive, the
reservation should be reduced to rea.
sonable limits whether the land re-
stored contains timber or not,
Secretary Garfield made a lengthy
argument In support of the position
assumed by his department He read
a letter from President ROOSEVELT
which was addressed to Secretary of
Agriculture Wilson, when 1t was ex-
pected he would be present at the con-
ventionto be held at'Denver. The pre-
sident in discussing an advance pro-
gramme of the convention says; THE
discussion of the general
subject in this paper contains several
to which desire to call
your especial attention, as they not
misrepresent the attitude of
the administration, but portray that at
titude, as the direct reverse of what
II really is,
1.-THE first and most important Of
these miscellaneous is to the effect
that there has been change In the
public land policy of the government,
which change will result in depriving
the western states OF the right to set
lie the public lands with citizens. This
allegation directly reverses the actual
facts. The course the government is
now pursuing Is toNcarry out the ira
ditional home-making policy of the
United States as to its public lands.