New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-12

: FTTER FROM PRESIDENT.
Hc frrmgpx Sheep Men-Faror&
leases bn Government.

washington. Feb. 1.-THE governments poll
g., in regard 70 the contro IF grazing land IL
.hs nuhlic domain was considered to-day at a
,,r1o hearing before the Senate Committee on
t,irulr1Ire The hearing was had on an amend
o,t nv Senator Burs-ft. g Nebraska to tre
Agricultural Appropriation biz. authorizing The
-,cre+arv If Agriculture 70 district the unre-
.,--od lands Of The United States and charge
-easauahle fees for 2razIus.
The cattle men 7yerc represented by members
=, The American National Live Stock Associa-
tim and spoke for the measure. while the
sbeer men, represented by members Of the Ma
t,oDsI Wool Growers Association. opposed it.
letter from President Roosevelt. addressed 10
Senator Warren was read. II Endorsed the pol
,cv IF general control hy the government Of all
grazing lands insisted upon the protection Of the
boroesreader and arraigned the sheep mon So
vsrcly.
The cattle men and sheep men criticised each
other and defended their own motives. The
cattle men admitted that they had violated the
lsv. and the sheep men asserted that it was
necessary for feuceTs Of public lands 10 make
+beir uea.e with .her government. FOR ,roy
would he convicted If over brought 20 trial"
A. Roa~lnlan u Helena. Mont. asserted
that every cattle man had violated laws I'm
gro TO fencing.
~vhy. f. you want to -, I'd, list % yiolators
tusr take the membership Of The cattle mems
associations" ne said
It " Gray of Gurnison Col. spoke in favor
OF he leasing system To- project small raisers
~ cattle IN Colorado against Utah sheep raisers
Who he said. brought in large hocks that quick
" reduced ranges 10 8 condition where cattle
starved We have 10 Eight these sheep men
or gel nothing he said We faint them. ~
course
r. cd Of NF
manned aud destroyed. has been left across
the country from California 70 Nebraska as the
result - difficulties Of cattle men" said Robert
Taylor. Of Abbott, Neb. in pleading for the
enactment 81 such q law is provided for in
he Rurkett amendment
Tho Presidents letter to Senator Warren fol-
lows:
The White House
Washington. Feb. II. 1907
Ny Dear Senator Warren: in accordance with
ou~ recent conversation. ! am very glad 10
send YOU this short statement of my position
regarding government control of the range.
am fully in accord with your view that the
local control Of The range should he in the
ing. and believe in fun local participation I'm
the management Of range. OF course, YOU musr
NOT divide the responsibility 70 a point where
You can hold no one responsible. hut co-opers-
10u between the stock men and the govern
neHt's officers is absolutely essential.
The grazing fee should be a small one. and es-
rr'ialiy 50 A. first am not anxious that the
government should get net revenue from
grazing ou the public range. but only enough TO
pay for ADMINISTRATION and Improvement, and
any surplus mlgh1 Wei z" 10 the states ana
territories in which the fees are collected.
As soorl - hill for range control IS passed
II goes without saying that such control should
not he taken hUTTiedly. but gradually. as graz
ing districts can he organized There is one
prime essential in this policy Of range control
the hornesteader must he protected IN his rights
10 create q home for his family. and he must
have whatever range rights are necessary for
that purpose
1t is unlawful at present 10 fence the public
domain. Ali fences unlawfully maintained will
have to be taken down Unless Congress takes
action to leEaliZe reasona bic AID necessary fenc-
ing through government control % the range
there viii be 2 very serious loss % stock men
throughout the West. whose business in very
many cases cannot be conducted without fenc-
ing and this loss viii often fall hardest on the
small man.
rannot consent 70 clause continuing for
var or for any length Of time, the present
Illegal fencing
The utmost 7 7vlu consent TO. 80 far as my
power extends in the matter e legislation is 70
continue sHcn fences as in my judgment are
right and proper fer me 10 continue Ny first
care IS Tor The hOm-steader and the small stock
MAJ The opposition hav@ - our proposal
uG.t comes primarily from the big men who
Craze wandering hocks or sheep and who do not
promote the real settlement Of the country.
These men are the men whose interests are
dramatically hostile 10 those OF the hOmemaker.
who Hish 70 eat out and destroy the country
Nhe'e ne desireS permanently 70 live. and who.
when Jlev nave thus ruined the land Of the
h0mes1cadeT and small stock man. move else
NfeTH 10 repeat the process OF devasta ton.
MANY 0f the sheep men who are permanent
dvelleTS ia The land sympatllize with our move
uaIf. Others. unfortunately, synpathizc with
rrair noUadic brothers. the ultimat" result II
whose actions is 10 destroy the country.
i must be distinctly understood that the OPP
position 10 the proposed measure for govern
rneur control IS opposition aimed at the interests
of the homemaker, Of the homestcader. Of the
small stock man. % the large stock man who
desires that the country shall become better
and not worse, and that - - ia the interests
only 0f those who think that by continuing the
present system they Win be- able to mouOpoliZe
an improper portion of the public domain and
vino quite Indifferent 70 whether In the
-ong nun They destroy n. Sincerely YOURS
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.