The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-03-05

Truth maintain, unawed by Influence
and unbribed by Gain.
Recent discussion Of the land question
has brought out the fact that almost
every person is III favor Of some form Of
government control. either state or nat
ional. All realize the necessity of pos.
session under the law. in order that there
may be permanence in the stock bust
ness and greater progress in the state.
Ten years ago Hon. Elwood Mead
made canvass of the stoekmen of the
State and found them about ten to one
in favor OF lease law. In 1898 Gov.
w. A. Richards made q strong srgu
ment before live stock convention in
Denver in favor of turning all the gov
eminent lands over to the states. Mr..
Richards said in closing his excellent
address: In my judgment the time has
arrived when the United States should
retire from the public land business;
when the public land states should claim
the right to be placed on an equal foot
ing with the original states in all resp
ects Whatsoever and make a united ef-
fort for the oession ofall the public lands
lying within their respective borden.
Mr. Richards at that time ably advo-
Gated the leasing Of the lands under
state law. and the expenditure of the
money derived therefrom in the build
ing Of reservoirs and the reclamation Of
lands susceptible Of irrigation. Since
the government has taken up the mat.
ten Of reclamation, it is not known to
what extent his ideas along that line
may have been modified, but it is known
that he Joined in an able report upon leas-
ing made by the public land commissi.
on, ct which he was an honored member.
This land commission also made a can
vass Of tie stockmen Of the public land
states end found them ten to one in fav-
or Of leasing.
More recently such men as Senator
Warren, Judge Carey. Robert Taylor.
Luke Voorhees,. Colin Hunter, E. 1. Pat.
rick and hundreds of others, comprising
practically all Of the cattlemen and full
ly fifty per cent Of the sheepmen, have
shown an active and favorable interest
in the leasing question. Editor Barrow
Of the Budget says that everybody. on.
gagged in the stock business wants some
form Of lease law in order that his
holdings may be benefited and protected
Even Governor Brooks. who made
such strong plea in opposition to gov.
eminent control ct the Laramie sheep.
mans convention says that he favors
state control and state leasing Of the
public land provided that the govern.
ment would turn them over.
AS Governor Richards said ten years
ago. tbs present control of the public
domain is benefting no one but the
owners Of a few nomadic herds. who
would be much better of with some
kind Of title other than that acquired
by forcible possession and retained by
the aid Of Winchester. There must be
legal possession before the greatest good
can come to all our people.
In the northern part of the state the
sentiment in favor Of legal possession is
just as strong as it is in the southarn=76I
an excellent discussion on this subject,
the Sheridan Post re&Ghes this conclu.
sion:
Senator Thomas 81. Carter Of Montana
has been commended for bill intro
duced, in which provision is contain
ed giving to the states in which the
land leased is located, fifty per cent Of
the fees" r}
III the Carter bill is good thing, is
not the administration idea a better
one, that all, over the necessary expen-
'ses. IL any. goes to the states"
THE facts are. that out OF the present
forest reserve fees, ten per cent only,
goes to the states. and ninety per cent
to the government; but all Of the bills, |
amendments, or measures proposed by
the administration. provide for only q
fee or rental charge. large enough to in.
sure payment Of the expenses of the sci.
ection and conduct Of the lands; all
Of the balance, II any to go to the states
Tho presidents announcement that
the time had come when some form Of
control must be exercised over the vac
ant lands Of the west. was never truer
than 1t is today.