The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-08-19
DAKOTA PROTEST
GOVERNORS AND soLOhS PETL'
TON PRESIDENT TO MODIFY
EXECUTIVE ORDER.
LANDS ALONG THE BORDER
Dractic Ruling Seriously MShacss
Lennon Observation-Disclosures Ur9-
ing Changes in Conservation
Is Sent to Washington.

Huron, s.. D. Among those az
tending the conference here to dis
cuss recommendations TO President
Taft and Secretary Ballinger for mod
ifcation Of the rules governing an
order withdrawing from homestead en-
try certain lands in Perkins and Hard
ing counties claimed to be underlaid
with Ignite coal, were Governor Yes
soy, Senators Crawford and Gamble,
Congressman Martin, Governor Burka
of North Dakota, Logan Berry OF Lem
mon and D. P. Norton Of Hettinger.
The conference resulted IN sending
to Washington by Governor Wesley,
Mr.. Norton and Mr.. Berry the follSW-
ing recommendations:
We have been in conference In the
city of Huron, upon the urgent request
Of II commercial and homestead clubs
of the Lennon land district In North
Dakota and South Dakota, to consider
the serious nature OF the situation In
which homesteaders are placed In that
district in part as the result OF the
order Of the department OF the date
Of July 81 and executive order u
July z, withdrawing from entry. a
and disposal certain lands In said dis
trict ard other districts similarly situ-
ated.
The situation from the standpoint
of the homesteaders is really critical.
Drouths have prevailed during the
present season, resulting in wide
spread crop failure, causing many
more settlers than otherwise would
have done so to offer Communication
proof IN order to obtain prompt titles
to their land. Action upon several
hundred of such proofs had been de
layed heretofore in the department
and now since the PRONUNCIATION Of lac
executive order referred to the local
land officers have adopted the prac-
tice Of ~suspending all homestead Al
ings and proofs until definite instruc-
lions should be issued by the interior
department as to the scope and effect
of the orders referred to.
committee WAKES oh8SC6llOVSs
I'VE have considered the various
acts of congress and the said order
with great care and as a result make
the following suggestions and recon-
mendations:
"First-That neither the order of
withdrawal o the law under which
it is made impair the rights Of bona
fde homestead settlers, such settlers
have full right 10 make Communication
proof and entry and to receive patent
promptly unless their lands are classed
as coal lands or are protested as con.
accept a patent reserving the coal to
the United States
"Second-That lands embraced In
lawful homesteads initiated prior tc
the date of the order of Withdrawal,
are expressly excepted from the force
and effect of the withdrawal order by
the terms of the conservation act Of
June %, 1910, and are in no way af
fected thereby, that there is no au
thority or justification for the suspen
sion of action on communication proofs
upon such homesteads.
"Third-That it is manifestly un
tust to bona ide homestead settlers Il
suspend action ON their homestead
proofs if they are willing to accep'
the limited patent with coal reserva
tion as provided in the act of June %
1910. 1t is also unjust to delay actor
indefinitely on final proofs protested
for alleged coal character of the lands
"Fourth-That all final or commute
tion homestead proofs were protest.
have been made solely on the grounc
that the land contains coal and the
homestead settlers have filed consen
to accept title with coal reservation
should be released Immediately from
suspension and be passed for examin
alton and approval for patent.
"Fifth-We recommend also tina
the classification contemplated by thu
presidents withdrawal order of Jul,
Z should be made with all possibl,
speed and that an adequate force fol
this purpose should be put into tn,
field Immediately.
(Signed) John Burke, governor o
the state of North Dakota.
"R. S. Wesley. governor of the state
of South Dakota.
Robert j. Gamble, United States
senator from South Dakota.
Zoe /. Crawford, United State,
senator from South Dakota.
"Eben w. Martin, ~representativ,
from South Dakota. 4
"P. ID. Norton, delegate commercial
and homestead clubs, North Dakota
Logan Berry. delegate commercial
and homestead clubs, South Dakota.
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