The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-06-13

ney General McDougall went to
Washington to confer with the
president on the matter and to
endeavor to come to settlement.
President Conferred With.
The conference held at that
time won the president over to
ldaho's contention through the
representation made by the gov
ernor and attorney general. Mr.
McDougall made a strong point of
the fact that the lieu selections
that had been made in the st.
Joe national forest before it was
created into reserve, were ON
an average with other selections
and the land the state wished to
secure was only on an average
with other land in the forest. Mr..
Potter had made the remark that
Idaho wished to relinquish worth
less land in the southeast and
secure for it the best white pine
land in the world and Mr.. Me-
Douglas answer was in reply
to query from the president on
this point. 1t made a hit with
the chief executive. When the
president asked Governor Hawley
ii it was true the state was en-
deavoring to relinquish worthless
school lands and that the state
had selected the very best timber
lands in lieu thereof, the Idaho
executive caused not little mer-
riment and drove his point home
when he said that he did not kno,
if that claim was true or not, but
added that if Idaho's state land
selector had not selected the very
best lands for the public schools
of Idaho, there would be a va
cancy in the state land depart
ment when he returned home.
Mr.. Potter admitted that when
the states land had been includ-
ed within the reservation the
state had not been warned and
Mr.. Fisher admitted that had
the proclamation creating the re-
serve not eebn issued, under the
law Idaho's right to the land
would be absolutely valid. Presi-
dent Taft then declared that it
was evident the law came before
the proclamation and concluded
with the significant remark, eve
cannot afford to play Injun with
Idaho" From that time ON the
local state officials knew the pres
ident was with them. An agree
ment was reached for the presi-
dent to issue an amended procla-
nation giving the state its land.
Fisher Blocks Way.
A year passed and nothing was
done. Secretary Fisher had come
between Idaho and it's rights,
state officials here declare. A
few weeks ago the state land
board decided to again send re-
representatives. to Washington to
find out the trouble and push
Idaho's claims. Governor Haw-
ley, Attorney General McDougall
and State Land Commissioner Da,
made up the party. Another con-
ference was held with the federal
officials. Associate Forester Pot
ter stood ready and willing to
carry out the presidents wish.
Secretary Fisher stood in the
way. Finally it was decided to
rush the settlement and Potter
agreed to attend to it. Governor
Hawley and Attorney General Nc
Dougan went on to Philadelphia
and New York but left Mr.. Day
behind to close the details. Had
he not done so Idaho would not
have secured the settlement today
it is now believed by state Off
Gals. Secretary Fisher was again
apparently blocking the matter.
He hedged at completing the de-
tails with Mr.. Potter. Finally
Commissioner Day served notice
he would give the secretary I'M
til l O'Clock on an afternoon to
decide to close the papers and
send them to the president, and
he succeeded in overriding Fish
er's opposition. These papers con-
tanned the order referred to in tn
telegram received today which
was signed by the president.