, 1908-06-08

TO OLSON
Continued from page H.
owning and controlling large areas OF

Our committee on public lands IN Tire
house had a striking object lesson Of
the influence of some large stock in.
terests on efforts to remedy condi-
tons so as to give to all engaged In the
industry, large and small, a reason
able and proper preferential right TO
their immediate surrounding territory,
in the legislation we considered IN
the 58th congress, looking to a moder-
ate and well guarded lease law appli-
cable to western Nebraska. The bill
which the committee drafted and
agreed upon as a proper measure of
experimental leasing legislation was
II that affords ample protection to
all, burt the Legislation was not salts
factory to a very few large interests,
with the result that they finally sue
ceeded in creating such a sentiment
against the measure among all classes.
including many small stockmen, that
acre homestead law was passed in lieu
of the legislation proposed.
The fact which above all others rem
ders it difficult to satisfactorily ar
range for exclusive and preferential
rights on grazing lands, is that there
still remains very large areas of lands
used for grazing which it is believed
will ultimately, through irrigation or
without, be made vastly more produc-
tive by some form of cultivation han
they are in their natural state, and
the danger of checking, retarding or
preventing such development as would
come in the natural course of evolu-
ton, is one which presents itself forci-
blv to those charged with RESPONSE
bility of legislation.
That the exclusive use of the lands
surrounding their farms and ranches
at any fair rental, would be helpful
and beneficial to many stockmen, there
can be no question. AS a small cattle
man, l am one of those who would be
SO benefited. 1 would be very glad in
deed to pay what most people would
consider a high rental considering the
character of the land, for the exclusive
right to Craze even the very indiffer-
ent and sparsely erased lands ada.
ent to the little ranch owned by my
self and associates, but l must OF
course, look at this whole matter from
the broad standpoint of the interest OF
our people generally, and also, IL !
shall do my duty, from the stand
point of that upbuilding and develop
ment of our common wealth In which
we all have a Common interest.
l have no doubt but what you are
aware Of the fact that for many years,
I was inclined to the opinion that 1t
might be possible to work out under q
carefully guarded law, a system un-
der which preferential rights to use
the lands Immediately adjacent to
their farms n ranches until such
times as such lands might be demand
ed for further settlement, might. be
accorded to stockmen. / have not al
together lost faith in the possibility Of
the development of some such system;
but, on the other hand I have been
compelled as one charged with respon-
sibility to guard what l considered the
best interests of all of the people of
the state, to oppose the plans recently
promulgated for the establishment of
a system of federal range control plac-
ing the rights and interests of all
practically in the hands of n man, as
a system calculated to prevent de-
velopment, to breed discord and dis
sention, to beget favoritism and ulti-
D,o+ol, 10 not p~nr,nlioto1v IN hnnoAt
large powerful influences to the detri-
ment of the small stockmen.
While | am not prepared to say that
some modified, definite, well-defined
congressional leasing system might
not be worked out, at least in certain
gress to that end so long as the fed
eral range control system is agitated
by powerful influences, and any sys
TEN which gives preferential rights to
the use of grazing lands is of doubtful
propriety and ~advisability until it
shall have been determined that the
lands in question are in fact only fit
for grazing purposes.
The more / study the question the
more l am inclined to the view that
even as to the grazing lands a system
under which they may be purchased in
reasonable areas in fee, on easy terms,
is one more in the interest of the small
stockman at least, than n other,
though with the absorption into pri-
vate ownership Of practically all of the
lands in any given region which may
be made more productive by cultiva-
ton than they are in their natural
state, II the settlement upon them
of such population as they may de-
Gently support, the question of what
distribution or disposition shall be
made of the remaining purely grazing
lands will be comparatively simple.
l desire that you and your neighbors
will fully understand that l fully ap-
preciate and sympathize with the diff
ficulties under which your industries
are carried on, and this knowledge and
sympathy arises not only from my in
innate acquaintance with conditions
but from my own personal experience.
and so far as it may be possible for
me, in view Of my responsibility to
all of the people Of the state and to
that steady growth and development
which is the wish and desire of us all,
l shall endeavor to do what ! to
- 49, a.