, 1908-04-24
DENVER REPUBLICAN CHEYENNE
CORRESPONDENT REFERRED
TO BY PROMINENT ASSo-
CITATION MAN.
j. J. Underwood of Underwood Refers
to Statements Sent to Denver Pa.
per and Corrects Some Misappre-
tensions Arising from same-Pre.
mature Publication Gave Wrong
Impression of the Facts in Case.
Underwood, wyo., April Il, 1908.


To the Editor of The Republican.
Under late of April u ! notice a
special dispatch in the Denver Repub'
lican from Cheyenne saying that many
Wyoming editors were opposed to the
idea of the Wyoming Stock Growers
association calling a joint meeting of
all s~tockgrowers for the purpose of rec
ommending to congress something in
regard to range control that all can
stand together upon.
On the ground that the homestead
ers, merchants, professional and labor
ing men want a voice in the conven'
ton, it seems to me, Mr.. Editor, That
the correspondent was just a little
premature in his article. First, only
a small number of the papers OF the
state had had time to receive the news
of mis- proposition on April IL, let
alone dig up any opposition to the prop
osition in an editorial way. Second,
the details of the convention were left
entirely to the committee that the
president of our association was au-
thorized to appoint, and at the time
the article was published the names
OF the committee had not been given
out. 1t does not look reasonable h a
editors would oppose a. proposition
until they kney the conditions of that
proposition. AS a member of the res
olutions committee that created that
resolution l think l know the tenor OF
the members, who we're unanimous In
it's adoption. Nothing was said at the
time that would rule out the people
not engaged in the live stock business
We left it to the committee to prepare
the basis of delegates to he cosiyen
ton. While the call Of our resolution
was to cattle, sheep and horsemen the
committee has the discretion to allow
others to come in if it sees fit, but
supposing the committee does not in
clude the homesteaders and Others in
the call, the proposed convention
cannot settle the matter. All 1t can
do will be to recommend to congress
its findings. The merchants. profes'
sional men and laborers have perfect
right to call a meeting and state their
views in a recommendation to con
gress.
Mr.. Irvine has appointed a fair and
representative committee. l bellevet
and / think all conservative men do,that
this committee will arrange a fair and
impartial delegation for h coming
convention. If any particular class
wants a hearing before that conyen
ton | haven't the slightest doubt thai
they will be given ample opportunity
as the idea of the resolution committee
was that all sides should be given
square deal, that all should be heard
and that the delegates should be con
sentative men that would come to the
convention and agree on some plar
that would benefit the whole state AM
not to come there with the idea OF try
ing to win or defeat a leasing policy
At the annual meeting of the Wyo
ming Stock Growers, which had beer
widely advertised and the suggestion
made that leasing would be discussed
/ did not see a single merchant, pro
fessional mar or laborer present t;
listen to the discussion. If these PEG
pie are SO deeply interested, why dill
thew not come to the meeting?
During January and February ! spen'
considerable time in Washington mi
other cities of the east as a represen
tative of the American National Live
Stock association in the endeavor Il
bring the leasing measures adopted by
that association before congress TO
its consideration. After COINS
thoroughly into the matter our com
mittee decided that as the people dit
not understand the provisions OF the
C~urtis-Scott grazing bill that had beer
introduced into congress and as con
gress was not disposed to consider new
legislation at this session we advised
the committees and members Of con
gress that wedid not want a hearing
upon the bill, but would take 1t before
the people to secure their views be
fore pressing it upon their attention.
If the people of the west do not like
Curtis-Scott bill now Is tnelr tlme u
say SO. This convention is being call
ed for the very purpose of letting th'
people of Wyoming state their views
in an untrammeled and unrestricte
discussion.
The time has come when there mus
be some disposition of the remaining
public lands that are only fit for graz
ing. We do not ask that the entire
west shall be put under lease contro
at one stroke of the pen-that would
be an impossibility. 1t must be work
ed out section by section. No bust
ness a be made d success If 1t Is no
under the control of its manager. 4
stock business with its stock scattered
over vast areas is a thing of the past
Iv,,oz r,.rn a., nphnlvfC range and fhf