The Glenwood post., 1908-02-01
THIS IS What PINCH0T SAID
Concerning Vital Questions In Recent
Letter to Murdo Mackenzie Of the
National Live Stock Assn

, them out. The sheepmen repre-
sent on the overage large owners,
while the cattlemen on the aver
age are small owners. Therefore,
control of the range by the sheep
man means the loss of the range by
the small owners, and its control
by the large men, which is directly
opposed both to square dealing
and to the whole public land
policy of President Roosevelt and
his administration. 1t is some
times claimed that more men are
employed in taking care of say
100000 worth of sheep, than are
employed in caring for like
value of cattle, and that conse-
uuently the sheep are of more
benefit to the country than the
cattle. This argument is fallaci-
Gus. The men who are employed
in caring for the cattle, as "A rule.
are owners of the cattle and
actual homcmakers. The men en-
ployed in caring FOR the sheep are
hired men in the ma aiority of eases,
and many are not homemakers at
all. There are exceptions to this
statement. but it is true for the
West as whole. want to make
it very clear that the fight for
control of the range by the sheep
men, is a fight of the large man
against the small man: of the rich
man with hired help against the
small man who owns his own
stock. AS the president stated in
his keokuk speech. his admins
tration is for the man who pitches
his hay himself.
"The records show that Of the
permits issued for grazing on the
national forests for the last year.
II COS were to owners of less than
40 head of cattle and 4,2S4 from
fl to 100 head: l,5Sl from lOl to
200 head. and 1.0S9 for over 2lN
head. And of the permits issued
for grazing sheep and goats, l,794
were for less than 1000. 1.459
from l,OOl to $500. AIS from 2.5Ol
to 1000. and 3O6 for over 1000
head.
Proof That Small Owners Are
Owners of Cattle.
This shows conclu>ivcly that
the cattlemcn who Use the ma
tional forests are on the average
much smaller owners than the
>hecpmen. and the same will
doubtless hold true upon the un-
reserved public range. Over
l5, ,OGO of the $4,000 permits issued
last year for grazing on the ma
tional forests were issued to men
owning less than 100 head of cat
tie. or. in other words, 10 actual
bona fide homemakers, who are
looking after their cattle them
selves.
'.It is one of the fundamental
principles of the forest service
that it would rather help the small
man make living for his family
than help the big man make a
profit. This same principle should
be written clearly in any bill for
government control of the open
range.
During the past year the ad-
visory boards of many local live
stock associations have co-operat-
ed with the officers of the forest
service in the adjustment OF graz
ing matters. The results have
been exceedingly satisfactory, and
much good has been accomplish
ed. | wish at this time to thank
the stockmen for the valuable as
sistance they have given us, and
invite the fullest cooperation in
all matters for the betterment OF
the live stock industry.
''PleaSe give my regards and
greetings to the members of the
American National Live Stock as.
sociation and my best wishes for
successful meeting. Very sin
cerely yours. (Signed),
CLIFFORD PINCHOT,
"FOreSter.