Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1909-01-16
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
THE TILLMAN ROOSEVELT FEUD

The war which is now on between President Roosevelt and Sen
aor Ben Tirman-the war openly declared by Thlman only-s re
grettable and at the same time much good may come OF it, we 40
not believe that President Roosevelt ever had any intention OF she,
ling Ben Tniman out as an object for his attack, for impulsive ana
hasty al the president may be in many instances, he has never
shown himself petty in any particular, or vengeful. True Ihiman,
always the nrebrand O. the senate, and at the same time the pride
and continual apology of South Carolina, has from the time Theo-
doe Roosevelt succeeded to the chair of the lamented Mckinley
who in due time will be regarded our most lovable and capable
president excepting only Washington and Lincoln-continualy bait
ed the chief executive. Tirman is in some degree of the Roosevelt
type, quick, impulsive and striking vigorously; but too often in the
wrong. And it is likely that the quickness of the Roosevetian 1udg-
ment and action, backed as it is by an adamantine determination
based upon a knowledge of its absolute integrity, continually frets
and annoys Tiilman. much the same a s a tight check-rein frets a
high strung and sensitive horse.
When the postal authorities began to suspect that the mails were
being used illegally in connection with certain land deals in Ore
gon, and the investigaton-called the Dorr investigation-was insti-
tuted, it was no fault of the presidents that certain seeming irreg-
ularities in the action of Senator Iilman were unearthed' ne u
was no fault of his that the secret service men, in tracing up the
postal attractions. discovered that Tillman had been trying to ac-
qure certain lands involved in the so-called land grabs Still, it
is but natural that when Roosevelt in the performance of his duty
gave these proofs to the proper authorities - Tillman's own col
leagues-that he might Justify his actions IF receive his just de-
serts, Trlman should believe and state that Roosevelt is making a
personal attack upon him. The public in general will not believe
this, however. and Tinman is weakening his own cause by trying to
yilnfy the president before proving his own innocence.
The good which may come from the embrogho, however, will be
in the direction of attracting general attention and action toward
the land proposition in Oregon, Washington, Nevada and parts of
California. The whole trouble dates from the time when the gov
eminent, regarding all this western country as a wilderness, and
evidently not forseeng the time when there will be use for all good
land within the confines of the nation, gave the transcontinental
railroad companies that famous odd section grant-reserving min
eral lands and providing that a S soon as the roads concerned were
completed, this land should be placed on the market for a sum not
to exceed $26O per acre. Up in Oregon, through some juggling, the
railroad claims that a state provision was passed placing the mineral
rights in these lands in the hands of the railroads, and we have
been told of cases where mines have been developed on railroad
lands, and ore bodies proved up, only to have the railroad companies.
by force of arms, drive the operators from the propertes-when the
railroad would proceed to work the properties. Especially is this
said to appertan to the placer workings in Oregon. Some of that
Oregon land bears some of the finest timber in the world. The
Southern Pacific long since completed its lines through the country.
and is, running transcontinental trains over them, and yet, we are in
formed, these vast land holdings can not be purchased at any price.
The government grant stated explicitly that when the road was
completed these lands must be sold upon demand of settlers at a
price not to exceed $3.50 per acre.
We are informed that application has been made to buy quarter
sections Of this land, and the railroad has refused to sell; that men
have squatted upon these lands, and when the railroad gum-shoe men
told them to- vacate they offered to the railroad the government
fixed price of $3.50 per acre, and more-and we're run from their
homes by force of arms; that appealing to the state courts, no action
has been taken; that the federal courts will not act in the matter;
and that all attempt to bring the matter up in congress has failed.
And from this very reason Ben Tfllman will be a popular idol of
nence, and undoubtedly he knows the innermost secrets of what the
between the government and the railroads to hold these vast land,
mineral and timber holdings, worth billions of dollars, for corpor-
ate and official gain. They know that Tillman is vndtctfve, and that
If he sees his own house falling about his ears, he will see to it that
many another house of cards is torn down, and the truth as to the
railroad land grants so thrust before the public that the authorities
will be forced to act, and the people of the northwest allowed to
come into their own. "'Tis an Ill wind that blows nobody good