, 1908-02-15
Terms Of Subscription.
BUDGET SAYS EVERYBODY FA
VOR LEASING.

Because Governor Brooks and other
prominent stockmen have a considera-
BILE quantity of grazing land leased from
the state, both the Cheyenne Tribune
and Laramie Republican try to make
it appear that they are Inconsistent in
their opposition to federal range rule.
II Is well 10 remember that fed.
eral range rule and small areas
Ct state land offered for lease
are two widely separated propo-
sitions. If the government pro-
posed to give the arid states a few hun
bred thousand acres of public lane
with permission to control and lease
il for ever, everybody would hail the
proposition with glad acclaim. Every
body wants TO lease 4 little land-ev'
erybody recognizes the advantage OF
proprietorshlp over n guaranteed range,
and is willing to pay a reasonable fee
for that privilege. A limited lease law
which while providing Tor an open
range also provided Tor h"ome-control
lease of lands proportionate to present
holdings, would not only enrich the
states and prove u blessing to every
body in the stock business, but 1t would
receive the unqualified endorsement
Of everybody concerned. This Is the
sort of a lease law of which Governor
Brooks and thousands of other Wyo-
mingites have made use and which
they heartily approve and would gladly
see extended in its scope so hat ev.
crybody who warts a little more range
could get it.-Douslas Budget.
We cannot agree with the Budget as
10 everybody favoring the very reasona-
Bile lease law it advocates. Everybody
having more than a personal, selfish
interest in the disposition of the pub
lie domain would agree that the policy
set forth would lie for the benefit of
the state, but 1t Is not the policy advo-
Gated by the leading sheepmen of Wy
oming. They oppose all forms of fed
eral leasing. In their resolutions
adopted at their meeting at Laramie
they said: 1T would be impractical
BILE to lease government lands UNDER
ANY FORM OR DEVICE, and that to
do So would practically ruin the stock
industry of the state, working particu.
lar hardship to the smaller stockman
and the home.builder and retarding the
development of Cur state
That is far different from the policy
suggested by the Budget and which it
says is heartily approved by Governor
Brooks. The governor has repeatedly
expressed his disapproval of any form
of federal leasing, limited or other
wise, and so far as this paper has
been able to judge Of his opinion by
his published statements, he would not
favor a turning of the lands over to
the states for such disposition as they
might see fit to make of them. Mr..
Fuller made such a recommendation
in one of his reports to the governor.
but it was not fayorably commended
by the chief executive. The COVER,
nor has time and again stated that he
favored a "letus-alone" policy. He
stands for the resolutions adopted at
Laramie, and they oppose federal leas-
ing under any form or device.
Practically all the streams, springs
and water holes have been covered and
there is little Left to enter except the
grazing lands. Ii they are to be set.
tied at all, it must be through some
law that will give the venturesome in
Gividual a show to make a living.
limited lease law such as the Budget
suggests would moi only enrich the
states II prove n blessing 10 every
lody in the stock business but it
would bring peace to the great stock
ranges of the west. A broader lease
law would accomplish even more.
The Budget is not far from fairness
and equity in this matter, but it does
not stand on the platform advocated by
Governor Brooks and the other gentle
men who voted for the Laramie ESQ.
buttons by a long shot.