Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-06-28
A MILD REBUKE
WESTERN LAND CONVENTION oP,
POSES ADMINISTRATION. .
SECRETARY GARFIELD TALKS
The Committee on Business Brings In
Report That Sets convsn-
tIon In Motion.


tlon In Motion.
Denver.-The land convention at the
broadway took test vote this morn
Ing which resulted In 22l delegates fay
oring u mild criticism Of the admins
tration's land policies and 3is dele
gates radically against the govern
ment's method of regulating public
lands.
The vote came during the considera'
tion of,the report OF the credentials
committee. a motion was made To
seat the delegates Of the American
Live Stock Asso0ia.ion. National Wool
Growers. National Irrigation Congress.
Transmississippi Congress and Amerl'
can Mining Congress.
These delegates were. In the main.
the strong administration allies and
tho convention voted To unscat them.
The result is that the convention Is
now hopelcssly In tho hands Of those
opposed to the ru.es and regulations Of
the Interior DcpaI Itmcnt.
The resolutions offered to tho land
convention by the committee appointed
to draft them administered mild re-
bukc to the admin .stration. They are
not as radical ax was expected. There
is little doubt. but they will be adopted.
because on u ;cEt the adminlstra'
ton forces were beaten by 3tS to :sl.
The resolutions indorse the present
land laws: declare the lands public
trust TO be disposed OF to actual set
tiers: ask that forest reserves be no,
created when they interfere with set
Elements: oppose any charge by the
government for water from the re-.
serves: ask that present grazing laws
stand: demand that agricultural lands
In forest reserves be open for settle
mcnt: request ths removal Of rcsiric.
tions on tho sale ana leasing Of allotted
Indian lands. cxccre such held by full
bloods: request the modification Of the
order withdrawing Coal lands from en-.
try and ask that forest reserves be re-
duccd In siHc.
Foilowin. is the report OF the com
mittcc on the business before tho con.
vcntiou.
I'VE cordially iniorsc the active and
successful Efforts OF the administration
In the enforcement; Of the land laws OF
tho country. and heartily approve the
viIorous prosecution Of all known rio'
lators Of such laws.
Experience has demonstrated the
wisdom OF the policy OF treating the
lands OF the Nation as n public trust
TO bc disposed Of In all cases and
wherever possible to actual settlers
for cultivation and the making Of
homes. The people OF the West are
unnltcrabiy opposed TO any change In
this wholesome ard beneficial policy.
Forest reservations should be Gre
atcd only where they do not infringe
this policy and do not withdraw and
remove from actual settlement land
suitable for settlement. cultivation and
the making Of homes. Wherever ere.
atcd they should be devoted TO the
largest and frccst use consistent with
their preservation. so that no natural
resources OF any community shall be-
taken away further than unayoidably
necessary.
''ln all cases the rights of the states
and OF the people OF the states TO the
free and unhampc-cd use OF all waters
within forest reservations for the benc-
iicial public uses q: irrigation, munich.
pal supply and the development OF
power should not only be permitted.
but encouraged. shd no charge should
be imposed therefor or In connection
Herewith. leaving It to the states,
by adequate regulation. TO com.
pei the furnishing of all such water
and power to consumers and the pub.
lie at the lowest possible cost.
I'VE recognize the necessity where
forest reservations are created OF the
governments making all such reason.
able regulations us may be necessary
to the preservation OF the same. and
preventing conflicts In connection
Herewith. This Nation Is today strong.
great and prosperous because OF the
wide distribution OF its lands and the
natural resources connected Herewith
amongst all the people. and we ask
only of our brethren in the East the
application TO us OF the national policy
they have wisely applied to their own
interests. their own lands and their
own resources. rledging them our
united and best Efforts to the end that
under wholesome laws these valuable
resources shall be kept from the mo-
nopolistic control of corporations or
others, to the end that they shall be
owned by. distributed among and at
reasonable rates enjoyed by the whole
people.
Resolved. that we favor the prompt
elimination from forest reservations OF
all land not timbered or suitable for re-
forestation or reasonably necessary to
conserve the flow Of streams used for
irrigation IN arid sections.
Resolved. That we are opposed to
any change in the existing laws and
customs as to grazing of livestock upon
the public domain outside of tho for.
est reserves.
The laws and the rules of the de-
partment should provide that agricul.
tural lands situate within forest res
ervation should be freely opened to
homestead entry and an actual settler
should have the immedite, free and un-
sshS. raast...i EisshS