Gilpin observer., 1907-06-20
roosevelt RIGHT
FORMER GOVERNOR COMES TO
AID OF THE PRESIDENT.
FORESTS SHOULD Be KEPT
try Because Of His Re-
form Policy.

OF PRESIDENT Roosevelt as regards the
land laws of the country. He says
that the plans suggested by the Presi-
dent in his speech at the jamestown
Exposition, while they may not be
ideal, are at least an improvement over
what we have now. In discussing the
matter, he said:
mo recent utterance of the Presi-
dent has encountered so much opposi-
ton in the West as his speech at the
jamestown Exposition, wherein was
outlined a governmental land policy,
designed to overcome the abuses
which have characterized the admins
tration of the present one, and pre-
serve for the common veal so much OF
the public domain as may be feasible.
That part of the press which hitherto
supported has united with that part OF
the press which has hitherto opposed
his administration in condemning this
new departure as hurtful, uncon-
stitional, reactionary and altogether
undesirable.
1T Is characteristic OF every an
nouncement by the President of pur-
pose to remedy some conceded abuse
that 1t encounters the violent antagon-
Ism OF the interest or section at which
1t Is aimed, while it commands the gen.
eral support of the rest of the country.
We of the West have applauded his
vigorous crusade against huge trade
combinations, his strenuous regulation
of railway systems, and his persecu-
tion Of all violators Of the laws. We
have commended his insistence upon
income and inheritance taxes, and en-
joyed his fearless criticism of consci-
enceless men, and their more con-
scienceless measures. But now 1t
seems that cur OK is gored. and there
fore have we Joined Tray, Blanche and
Sweetheart, and are with them in full;
cry upon his trail. Why this sudden
change Of western sentiment? Is the
President encroaching on our pre-
serves, that We denounce him?
President Deserves Well
For my Iart. l think the President
deserves we'll of his countrymen, be-
cause his policy OF reform is no re-
specter Of interests or of sections. His
hand is against the wrong-doer, and
the pernicious system, whenever either
may be found; and 1t is not surprising
that he should find it necessary to rem
ovate and il necessary transform the
existing land policy of the government
He has been condemned for Great
ing huge system Of forest reserves
and denounced for advocating the leas.
ing of the pastoral domain. But we
have so plundered our forests and de-
nuded our mountains OF them that our
water supply is uncertain and our
farming interests threatened with the
menace of increasing drouth. Sheep
men and cattle men war against each
other for the privilege of securing free
pasture on The public domain for their
fiocks and herds. A few years ago they
deliberately fenced in and appropriated
millions of acres of the national do
main, used it as their private property,
and there was no one to say them nay
Upon what theory or by what right, let
me ask. can any man claim free pas
ture from the government. or the en-
closure and exclusive use of an acre of
its lands? The President is right, and
has always been right, in his insist
ence that the ragged remains of our
forests shall be kept intact and that
the use of the public lands is as valu-
able to the government as private land
Is to its owner.
Present System q Failure.
THE land system now in force Is ad-
mittedly failure. Under its operation
the most fragrant abuses have arisen
and fourished. Land monopoly has
been established. immense areas OF
coal, oil and timber have been stolen.
would-be settlers have been deported
and murdered, and water rights OF
enormous value secured for song
Federal grand juries have been busy
all over the West in probing land
crimes and indicting land criminals.
Conviction has followed fast on con-
viction. and all good citizens have an.
plauded their President for his cour-
ageous. unflinching and constant at.
lacks upon the corrupting evils that
have SO long entrenched themselves
upon and within the land department
OF the government. And now, because
he proposes to sweep aside a system
that is prolific OF fraud, crime. corrup.
tion and infamy, and supplant It with
something which he thinks is an I'm.
provement. he is denounced as q
usurper of power and violator CT
law. Surely this is not consistent"
"The number and character OF those
who have become advocates OF state
rights under Mr.. Roosevelt's admins.
tration are amazing. Every officer,
stockholder and attorney of every in.
terest in the land fattening on the pub.
Tic, thrifty through encroachment upon
laws. constitutions and customs, hold
ing states in contempt and their courts
In disdain. supporters Of the party Of
Roosevelt for the past forty years. now
clamor for the sanctity and sovereignty
OF the states. One would think the
President had departed from the
beaten path OF precedent. gone outside
the policy and purpose Of his party, in.
no nf hn IN tnu xs,tt,a
out their lines and established a cen.
tralized despotism upon the ruins Of 4
system which no one before him had
ever dared to question. much less to
disregard.
Has Not Exceeded Authority.
Il was reared in the political school
OF state sovereignty and thoroughly
believe in the principle to the extent.