The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-01-22
OPPOSE RANGE LEASING.
Speakers at Wool Growers Conven.
ton Condemn Proposed Change.

u OIL. FL lc fftU annual
convention Of the National Wool
Growers association was convened
here today, with an exceptionally
large attend ance, said to be the great
est in its history. Addresses of well
come were made by Governor Toole,
Acting Mayor Wendell and President
Pickett of the Commercial club. Re.
spouse was made by +. j. Hagenbarth
of Idaho.
After appointing the usual commit
tees, Western Vice President Wilson
OF Wyoming, delivered his address,
facilitating the members upon the re-
markable showing made in the wool
industry during the year, this being
practically the only industry of ma.
tional Importance unaffected by the
panic.
T. J. Walsh Of Helena, late demo-
cratic candidate for congress, spoke
on Government Regulation of the
Public Range" and delivered one of
the most bitter TRADES against the
administration ever heard here. He
was scathing in his characterize alton
OF h acts Of the administration,
which had followed protests. He said
these protests served only to strength.
en- the purpose of the government to
impose on the industry an obnoxious
system of surveillance.
"This campaign vas inaugurated,"
said he, ito impress the public with
the conviction that opposition to the
contemplated measures for issuing Ii.
censes for grazing privileges was evil
dence of participation in or palliation
OF fraudulent absorption Of the public
domain. The dishonesty Of this meth.
cd OF treatment is most reprehensible,
its purpose being to befog the public
mind.
"The administration has led the un.
informed to believed that the policy
of forest reservation is at stake" he
declared,' which in reality is not
touched at all.'
he said that every argument in
favor of this new departure would
find a hearty welcome ia the west.
lie said that if the proposed meas.
ure became a law, there would be an
abiding fear in the breast of every
stockman who would never know when
through the caprice or arrogance of
an official in charge, his permit would
be taken away, and he thrown out of
business
HELENA, Jan. 15.-The policy of
the national administration with re-
ference to public lands was az ain at
tackled today in the convention of the
National Woolgrowers' association
here, Senator Thomas Il. Carter of
Montana being the spokesman,
through an intermediary, he being un.
able 20 be present. He based his
utterances not upon any political be-
liefs, but was inclined to think that
the president had been ~misinformed
and that conditions had changed
greatly since he was a resident of this
state. Senator Carter said in part:
"The leasing of the public range
does not present a question involving
party politics in any sense whatever.
The subject never has been consider
ed in any national council of any
party. In consequence / do not feel
any sense of party restraint when !
elect to take issue with the announced
policy of President Roosevelt in favor
of leasing the public domain or grant
ing permits to individuals on the un.
appropriated public land of the Unit
ed States.
According to my view the president
has been unconsciously led into an
erroneous conception of the relations
OF the government to the people engag.
ed in developing the new states of the
west. The error may be traced to the
confused idea that an analogy exists
between public land suitable only for
homestead settlement and timbered
lands chiefly valuable for forest
pr%eserv alton and production
Gov. Bryan B. Brook of Wyoming
also delivered a forceful address.
His stand vas in the nature of a plea
for the settler. He said he was vigor.
ously opposed to the Burkett bill and
regulations. He urged all deleg ates
to write their representatives in con-
gress to oppose the measure, and
said that in the interest of the ives,
and the homesteader, political parties
should be forced to take q stand on
the question.
j.. w. Fulton of Helena spoke on
the great possibilities of the angora
goat industry and its rapid stride,
while j. H. Bearrup of Albuquerque,
urged q cooperative wooden mill.
The London auction system of dis
posing Of woods was advocated by f,
OD.- T0l:1zl-i-I:- r