The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-08-18
PROTEST AGAINST
GOVERNMENT POLICY
IN LAND DISTRICT
Governors of Two States With
Senators Formulate State
ment to President.

AAetNAp ~ 49, - A" @r
n here yesterday afternoon OF the
governors of South and North Dakota,
Senators Gamble and Crawford, Con-
gressmen Martin, p. d. Norton. of Het-
finger, N. D., n Logan Berry, OF
Lennon, the last two representing the
commercial clubs in the Lennon IA
district, resulted in decisive action in
protest over the conditions brought
about through the withdrawal of 200
townships in the district from entry.
Delegates Are Named.
p. d. Norton and Logan Berry were
delegated to present to President Taft
the following statement:
We LAY today been in conference In the
city Of Huron upon the urgen request OF
IL commercial and homestead clubs of the
Dakota to consider the serious nature Of
the situation In which the homesteaders
are placed In that district, In part as the
result of the recent order of the depart
executive order Of July z, wing
from entry, sale and disposal certain lands
In said district and other districts SINH
larry situated.
The situation from the standpoint Of the
homesteaders is really critical. Droughts
have prevailed during the present season,
resulting In widespread crop failure, caus-
Ing many more settlers than otherwise
would have don SO to offer Communication
proof In order to obtain prompt title to
their lands. Action upon several hundred
Of such proofs had been delayed hereto
fore In the department and now. since the
PRONUNCIATION of the executive order re-
ferred to the local officers have adopt
ed the practice Of suspending all horle-
structions should be issued by the inferior
department as to the scope and effect Of
the orders referred to.
Conclusions Set Forth.
We have considered the various acts Of
congress and the said order with great
care, and as a result make the following
suggestions and recommendations:
!. That neither the order of withdrawal
pairs the rights Of BONA fde homestead
settlers. Such settlers have full right to
make combinations. proof and entry
and to receive patent promptly unless
their lands are classed as coal lands or are
protested as containing coal, in which case
they can accept a patent reserving the
coal to the United States or can have OPP
p~ortunity to disprove the allegations Of the
upon q patent without reservation.
z That lands embraced In lawful home
eteads initiated prior to the date Of the
order Of withdrawal are expressly except
ed from the force and effect of the with
drawal order by the terms Of the conserva-
ton act Of June rs, 1910, and are in no way
affected thereby; that there Is no author
ity or justification for the suspension of
acton on Communication proofs upon such
homesteads, but they should pass prompt
~ to approval and certificate of final en-
80 ahbSS oihNS Wy iiauo VI tilC IL
regularity.
8. That it is manifestly unjust to bona
ide homestead settlers to suspend action
on their homestead proofs II they are will
ing to accept the limited patent with coal
reservation, as provided In the act Of June
", 1910. 1t is also unjust to delay acton
indefinitely. on final proofs protested for
the alleged GOAL character Of the lands.
Hearings should be provided promptly In
such cases, in order that the nature Of
the patent in each case ma be ascer-
tained with the least possible delay.
T. That all final or Communication home-
stead proofs where protests have been
made solely on the ground that the land
contains coal and the homestead settlers
have filed consent to accept title with the
Goa reservation, should be released i'm
mediately from suspension and be passed
Tor examination and approval for patents.
AS there are several hundred cases of this
character said to be under suspension, we
earnestly suggest that this recommended
ton be especially considered for immediate
action.
s.. We recommend also that the classif-
cation contemplated by the presidents
withdrawal order OF July 7, 1910, should be
made with all possible speed and that an
adequate force for this purpose should be
put into the field Immediately.
Very respectfully,
Governor of the State of North Dakota.
r. s. Vessey,
Governor OF the State of South Dakota
Robert J. Gamble,
United States Senator, South Dakota.
Coe /. Crawford,
united states senator, South Dakota.
Eben W.. Martin,
Representative, South Dakota.
p. d. Norton,
Delegate Commercial and Homestead
clubs, North Dakota
Delegate Commercial and Homestead
clubs, South Dakota.