Albuquerque citizen., 1907-10-12
SPEECH Of \. 0. BURSUM
To THE WOOL
GROWERS
One of the Finest and Most
Interesting Addresses
Delivered Before the
Convention.
IDEAS ADVANCED IN
STRONG MANNER
Matters Vital to Sheep Raisers
Were Discussed BY Man Who
Has Had Great Practical
Experience In
Industry.

The speech of Hon. H. o. Bur-
sum, of Socorro, at the Wool Grow
ers' convention, when he responded
10 the address of welcome, was one
of the best of the several excellent
speeches delivered before that body
and it was certainly a splendid ex-
position of the ideas with which
sheep raisers are most concerned,
delivered by a man who has won his
way to the top rank among the great
sheep raisers of New Mexico from
the bottom. He has had experience
in every line of sheep raising and is
qualified to talk sheep and wool to
any expert. hence the wool growers
gave him marked attention. FIRE.
quent hearty applause greeted him
during the speech and its close was
the signal for a great ovation.
Mr.. Bursum spoke as follows:
Mr.. Mayor:
On behalf of the New Mexico
Wool Growers association i take
great pleasure in accepting the gen.
erous hospitality and welcome ex-
tended in behalf of your magnificent
city. The sheep herder on account
of his occupation is brought perhaps
closer to nature than any other class
of our citizens His duties take him
upon the hills and prairies, noun
tains and valleys, with nothing save
the heavens above as his shelter and
the fieecy animals under his care
and protection, together with the
trusted shepard dog as his compan-
ions. Therefore this genuine hospi-
tality, this welcome extended to eur
association by the city of Albuquer--
que Is douhly appreciated. Tt shall
be our pleasure during the intervals
between the deliberations of this
convention to participate with you
and your people in the many attrac-
tions of the big fair. and when we
have adjourned, we shall carry with
US pleasant memories of the splen-
did entertainment and welcome re-
ceived at the hands of the great con-
Yention city of Albuquerque.
Fellow Wool Growers: There are
number of matters of vital inter-
est to the wool growing industry in
New Mexico. The wool growers have
been extremely fortunate during the
past few years in obtaining excellent
prices for their products, and through
the good offices of Almighty Provf-
dence in giving to us the best range
we have had for years, and this fact
taken in connection with the salts
factory prices, has made the busi-
ness of the sheep grower extremely
satisfactory and prosperous, but at
this time there seems to be threat
ening cloud which might result in
the withdrawal of the privilege of
free public range which the stock
grower has heretofore enjoyed 1t
is currently believed that another eff
fort will be made to pass a lease law
or to provide such Legislation as will
enable the land department to have
com plete control of the public do
main 1t has heretofore been the
policy of the east to undertake to
educate the west upon matters which
were of supreme Importance to
western Industries. 1t seems to me
that the time has now arrived when
the west should educate the east up
on matters of vital importance TO
us. OF course there may be differ
ences of opinion as to what consti-
tutes a proper policy with reference
to our grazing lands. l am willing
to concede that the interests who are
government control and regulation
of the public domain are doing so
i'm entirely good faith. There is,
however, in my judgment, no rea-
son, no precedent and certainly no
equity, for the enactment of such a
law. Since the organization of these
United States the necessity for such
a law has never arisen. Every state
in the union, except the state of
Texas, which owns her own lands,
has been settled up without the aid
of the lease law. 1T has been uni
versally conceded, by precedent by
custom and equity that the pioneer,
the first settler, Is entitled to the
free use Tor paSturage or the puDllc
domain surrounding such settlement.
Many of these settlers and pioneers
during the early days and first stages
of the development of the frontier
have risked their lives, suffered de-
privations which naturally come TO
the settlers of the frontier, and In
many instances have sacrificed and
shed their blood at the hands of the
savage Indian in order that their
children and successors might be
permitted TO peaceably occupy and
enjoy the benefits of such settle
ments and build up an Industry
which would provide for them a
livlihood and materially contribute
towards the commercial wealth of
this territory and thereby make
profitable use of the pasturage on
our public domain which could not
help but redoured TO the benefit OF
all OF our people.
If these pioneers are not entitled
TO the free use of the range, in Gods
name, who is? Can ii be possible
thai the government should take
charge Of this matter for the pur-
pose OF revenue! 1 take it that no
such policy is intended.
1t has been contended that lease
law is necessary in order to protect
the range from over-pasturage. My
friends. who would you be more
willing to trust, TO whose judgment
would any sensible man be Wiling