The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-09-15

our land policy should be the making
and maintenance OF permanent, pros
porous homes. Land monopoly and
excessive holdings must not be toler-
ated.
Third-Settlement must be encour-
aged by every legitimate means on all
land that will support homes. Thus
the tillable land in public ownership
within and without the national for
ests should be disposed of in fee sim
pie 10 actual homemakers, but not to
spectators.
Fourth-The first and most needy
thing to do for our cultivated lands is
to preserve their fertility by prevent
ing erosion.
Fifth-The nonirrigable arid public
grazing lands should be administered
by the government in the interest of
the small stockmen and the home
maker until they can pass directly
into the hands of actual settlers.
Sixth-Rights TO the surface Of the
public lane should be separated from
rights to the forests upon 1t and the
minerals beneath II and each should be
held subject 10 separate disposal. The
timber and stone act should be re-
pealed.
As to Our Minerals.
Ftrst-Those still remaining in gov
eminent ownership should not be sold.
should be leased upon terms IA
for their development up to
the full requirements OF our people.
Until legislation 10 this effect can be
temporary Withdrawals OF
and containing coal. oil. gas and phos-
Ihate rock are required in order to
speculation and monopoly.
Second-lt is the clear duty Of the
ederal government, as well as that Of
he states in their sphere, to provide,
through Investigation, legislation and
equation, against loss OF life and
taste OF mineral resources in mining. |
he recent creation OF a national bu-
eau OF mines makes a real advance
the right direction,
Regarding National Efficiency.
First-The maintenance of national
nd state conservation commissions
) necessary to ascertain and make
ublic the facts as TO our natural re-
ources. Such commissions supply
fundamental basis for cooperation
the nation and the states for
development and protection of the
oundation of our prosperity.
Second-A national health service
needed to act in cooperation with
Imilar agencies within the states for
purpose of lengthening life. de-
suffering and promoting a
igor and efficiency of our people.
These are not all the things for
.hich conservation stands. but they
some OF the more important.
Hiding Behind States RIGHTS.
In the effort to conserve our natural
we recognize that combina-
ons against the public welfare which
beyond state lines can be met
rectiyely only by agencies equally
ipable OF operating across such
Jundaries. II is clear that the con-
oil Of interstate commercial power is
only by the use of interstate
power. We are opposed to the
of state jurisdiction at the
spense of real control by the people
yer monopoly as in the casa of water I
.
While ] do not believe that the 7
ate alone can carry out the conser-
alton programme in the face of in
attacks upon 1t ! do not fail
recognize the great and useful part d
.hich the states must play in this -"
reat movement for the permanent o
elfare OF all our people. Also | APP L
now. as ! have always done,
lat In much of the work ahead Co a
between the states and the I,
alton Is an essential condition Of sue :
ess. But when | see the special In .
attempting to take refuge be- D
Ind the doctrine Of states rights I I