The Colorado statesman., 1907-05-04
INF PORTANT MEET
GOVERNOR BUcHTEL CALLS GOV.
ERNORS TO COLORADO.
DATE SET FOR JUNE 1920
pose of Discussing Public
Land Legislation.


Denver.-After receiving assuranceA
of hearty support from a majority OF
governors of the western states and
territories, formal call has been is
sued from the governors Office for .
convention to consider the public
lands question. The call was signed by
Acting Governor e. r. Harper, and the
convention is to meet in Denver, June
1Sth-20th
United States Senator Henry M. Tel
Ter of Colorado is made chairman of q
program committee, which includes
senator and representative from each
of the sixteen states and territories in
terested in the convention. Congress-
man Robert w. Bonynge is the asso-
ciate of Senator Teller on the commit
tee. This committee will, within the
next ten days, prepare and issue pub
lie address, in which will be outlined
as fully as possible the purpose of the
convention and what it hopes to accom-
plish. This address will be printed
and distributed over the territory to
be covered
Governor Henry A. Buchtel is chair
man of a committee on arrangements
which will have general charge of the
preparations for the convention. The
Meyer Friedman, president of the
chamber of commerce.; John McDo-
nough, Bulkeley Wells, w. F. R. Mills,
J. l.. Donahue and Fred P. Johnson.
The call was prepared by special
committee appointed by Governor
Buchtel some days ago. Four mem
bers of this committee, Meyer Fried
man, Congressman Bonynge, Fred P.
Johnson and Arthur Williams, met
with Acting Governor Harper and
agreed upon the provisions of the call.
which was then signed by Harper. 1t
follows:
Whereas, the government of the
United States is the owner Of large
tracts of unoccupied lands within the
western states and territories; and
Whereas, under the compact made
by the states when admitted to the I'm
ion, said lands cannot be taxed as long
as they remain the property of the
United States; and
Whereas. the changing conditions in
the western part of the country due
to rapid settlement has seemed to rem
der necessary certain changes in the
disposition of these public lands; and
Whereas, owing to the fact that
these public lands constitute a large
part of the area of the states west of
the Missouri river, in some instances
exceeding half the total area Of the
states; and
Whereas, the enactment by Congress-
of new laws that will hinder the de-
velopment and requirement of title to
these lands by citizens or the adoption
of a policy contrary to that which has
been in effect for so many years, which
has recognized the right of the state to
encourage settlement and development
under the existing laws, might prove
most disastrous to the prosperity of
this section of the country; and
Whereas, the Sixteenth General AS
sembly of the state of Colorado did
adopt resolution authorizing and d.
recting the governor to invite the gov
ernors of other western states to join
Colorado in holding a convention of
representative citizens for the purpose
of discussing the relation of the states
to the public lands; and
Whereas, a majority of the governors
of the states west of the Missouri river
having signified their approval of such
convention,
Now, therefore, by the authority con-
ferred upon me by said resolution, do
hereby call a convention of representa-
tive citizens Of all states and terrific
-ries west of the Missouri river, to meet
in the city of Denver, June is, 10 and
20, 1907. Said convention to be COM
posed of delegates to be appointed as
follows:
The governor of each state and terri
tory to appoint ten delegates at large.
Each chamber of commerce, board
of trade. real estate exchange or com
-nercial body may appoint five dele
gates.
, Each association of stock growers or
lumbermen, and forestry, irrigation,
horticultural or agricultural organiza-
ton, may appoint five delegates.