The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-09
Prominent WoOlgrower of Idaho
Condemns System Which
Has Prevailed.
NUMBER OF REGULATIONS
ARE SEVERELY CRITICISED
Leasing Rules Bear Down Hard
on WoolgrOwer Who Has Es-
tabIished Business.
(By a Staff Correspondent

portant DISCUSSIONS oil the forest stu"
alton as il relates TO the woolgrower
aud his industry was contained in d
paper read in the convention this after.
noon by Peter G. Johnston of Black
foot City, Idaho. Mr.. Johnston dis,
cussed the grazing regulations of the
forest service, and the cutting of tim.
ber. He declared that the leasing sys.
tom, as Ii now operates, works a great
hardship to the flockmaster who has
worked for years to establish his bnsi.
ness.
Mr.. Johnston wanted a committee ap.
pointed to inquire into the price for
which the timber is marketed Mr.,
Johnston says that he is not inclined to
impugn the motives Of Clifford Pinchot.
believing them to be high, but the ad.
mnistration of the forests is not a
theoretical one, but one of decidedly
hard and practical character. Mr.. John
ston s address follows;
Attitude Clearly Defined
The subject / shall attempt to address
you upon is one which. in order TO have
clear understanding OF. it will be nee
essary TO state the attitude or the Ma,
tional Woolgrowers toward the national
forest reserve In the past. I know of no
better way to do this than TO quote
resolution which was unanimously adopt
Ell at the last TWO conventions "nlCn
were held, one in Pocatello. Ida, and
the other In Helena, Mont. This reso-
luton is as follows: I'VE are unquali
fedly in favor of the preservation of the
est reserves out OF timbered areas with
in which timber may be cut only under
government supervision. without how,
imposing the burden OF forest preserva-
tlon upon the livestock industry" From
this resolution It Will be observed that
the National Woolgrowers endorse most
heartily and are unqualihedly in favor
of the preservation of the public for
ests, and the extension OF the same
where the land included is timbered
area.
Al the Helena convention, the Nation
al Woolgrowers asked for the prompt
elimination OF the non timbered lands.
realizing that If this action were taken
by the forest department the lands suit
able for agricultural purposes would be
free for the homesteader TO take advan-
tage OF.
Another resolution passed at the Po-
catello convention is as follows; I'VE
reiterate our opposition to any change In
the present law governing the public
which shall promote the interests and
welfare OF the bona flde homesteader."
Woolgrowers On Record.
From this 1t can be plainly seen that
the National Woolgrowers place them
selves on record for the settlement OF
agricultural IanuS anu ask iOf the ellIfll-
nation Of such lands from the forest re-
serves In order that the said lands might
be placed under the present United
States land laws, which. after all, in
my Judgment. are the most wholesome
that have ever existed. There Is no
doubt that the United States homestead
law is the best land law we have ever
had and. notwithstanding the hue and
cry OF dishonesty connected with it,
believe that taken as whole there has
been as much honesty and integrity
manifested 1aIl.s In the purpose OF the home
there has been, or Is: in acquiring title
to other possessions by any Of his fell
low American citizens So much for the
with reference to the national forests
and the settlement of the country.
While it Is true that we have gone on
record as to our purpose and that too
in this very public manner. we have not
always enjoyed the confidence OF some
OF our leading men as TO the truthful
ness Of our assertions. A notable in
stance of this is found In the statement
made by ex-President Theodore Roose-
welt, in letter TO Senator Warren of
Wyoming. in which he says: The OPP
comes primarily from the big men who
I Craze wandering locks OF sheep and do
not promote the real settlement OF the
country These are the men whose In
terests are diametrically hostile to those
Of the home maker. who wish TO eat out
and destroy the country where he de-
ElrcS permanently 10 i've ana VINO, when
they have. thus ruined the land of the
hoInesteader and small stockman, move
elsewhere TO repeat the process OF devas-
tation. Many of the sheepmen who arc
permanent dwellers In the land sympa-
thize with our movement Others. un-
fortunately, sympathi0e with their no.
madic brothers, the ultimate result OF
whose actions is to destroy the coun-
try"
In False Light.
Such statements as this place the
woolgrower in false light and are re-
sponsible for much unjust criticism upon
people @ ' not in anu possession M eA Of the ~ facts @
concerning IT. The woolgrowcr has been.
and Is, a hone-builder. and there Is sub
gtantial testimony of this in many OF
4egion. For example, take Salt Lake
Hounty. and note the settlements: Dra-
Per, Taylorsyllle. Mill Creek and the two
cottonwoods: also Davis county, in such
settlements as Bountiful Kaysville and
Pennington All these and your beau
tIful city OF Ogden have received the
by the beautiful homes, business build
lngs and bank structures that belong 10
the progressive woolgrowers that live In
your midst.
The assertion of the ex-president that
the land of the homesteader has been
ruined by the woolgrower is little far
fetched. In my. own experience cover
ing a period of twenty-five years. the
lands which were sheep-ranged at tho
beginning of that period arc now In
many instances dotted with the prosper
GUS homes OF the settlers, villages have
been built and thrived from the sup
port received from the sheep husbandry
and the woolgrowing industry has con-
tributcd its quota TO the prosperous con-
ditlons that. have been enjoyed by tho
settlers, and II has done its share tr
make possible the building of homes
schools and churches, and thus bring
about that condition OF community in
terest and well being that makes III,
pleasant and worth living.
Grazing Regulations.
The regulation OF grazing and the al
lotment OF ranges occupied by the wool
grower has been beneficial when carried
out with due consideration of the Inter.
ests OF the parties concerned. The for
estry service has. however ATTEMPTED
much In the policy OF regulation that ha.
been injurious rather than beneficial
Much has been said about the little mar
and the. care for him and starting hin
out In business at the expense OF tn,
larger holders. and tbs Ealicy OF the for.
est service has been 10 reduce the hold
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