Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-13
LESS DESIRE To FIGHT
Promoters of Denver COnVen-
ton Not So BeIIigerent.
PRESIDENTS AIDS ACTIVE
Preparing to Defend the Administra-
tons Land Policy.
PRESIDENTS AIDS ACTIVE
ELEMENTS OF THE OPPOSITION
Secretary Garfield Explains His At
titude-Gen. Wilson's Recollections
of Senator Foote Of Mississippi.
RY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
There has been an impression that the
"public lands convention" which Is to be
held in Denver June is, 10 and 20, will be
a rather sensational event. limitations nave
been received here that the political oppo-
ncnts Of the present administration ana the
western senators. representatives, ana
others who are dissatisfied with President
Roosevclts policy concerning the public
lands. the coal fields, the pastures and irS
riEation enterprises in the west would I'M
dertake to chastisc him and secure radical
resolutions in favor of a change. l am as
sured. however. that any efforts on the
part of Senator Teller. who seems to be
the leader of the opposition. and other
prominent men to annoy the President Will
be met with vigor and determination. While
adverse criticism cannot be prevented, no
formal censure of the administration pol
ley concerning the public domain Will be
adopted without very lively scrap
There has been a good deal OF polltlcs
in the movement from the beginning, ana
the program committee is composed OF per-
sons unfriendly to the laws as they stand
TO the policy of the administration IN en-
forcing them and to the President PERSONAL
". The cattle men, the timber thieves,
the coal-land grabbers and various other
gentlemen whose plans have been inter-
fered with by the Interior Department ana
the courts for the protection of the pubic
domain have also been anticipating an OPP
portunity TO get even, but l am told that
there is recently a spirit of moderation pre-
vailing among those in charge of the con-
ventiOn. and 1t may not be as sensational
as some people have expected.
Object of the Convention.
The convention is called by the Governor
of Colorado and the preparations are being
~, 10 500
of Denver of which Arthur Williams is sec
rotary. The Colorado legislature last win
ter passed a series of resolutions directing
the governor of that state to invite the
governors of other western states TO JOIN
Colorado in holding a convention OF repre-
sentative citizens for the purpose OF dis
GUESSING the relation of the states to the
public lands, and, if possible. to agree upon
a policy TO be urged upon Congress In rela-
tion to the future administration OF those
lands"
The call of the governor sets forth first
that the United States is the owner of
large tracts of Cnoccupied territory within
the western states over which Congress has
absolute control and administration, but
such lands not subject to taxation and
do not produce any revenue for the main
tenance of the governments of the states
in which they lie. The development of the
western country and its rapid settlement
renders necessary many changes in the
methods of the disposition of these lands,
and the governor declares that Congress
should revise the laws so that this devel-
opment can be promoted and settlement en-
Outraged Therefore he called the conven-
ton. and the governors of all the western
states have already appointed ten dele
gates-at-large. Each chamber of commerce,
board of trad real estate exchange, min
ing exchange and every other commercial
body in the states where there are public
lands has been invited to appoint five
delegates, and each association of stock
growers. farmers, lumbermen, irrigation
companies and other organizations having
large interests was invited to send SINH
lar number.
The federal government will be repre-
sented by James Wilson, Secretary of Agri-
culture: James r. Garfield, Secretary of the
Interior: Clifford Pinchot, chief of the for
estry bureau; Mr.. Ballinser. commissioner
of the general land office; Mr.. Smith, chief
of the geological survey: Mr.. Newell, chief
of the reclamation service, and others. The
Importance of the gathering from the Presi-
dents point of view may be inferred by
the heavy artillery he is sending into the
field