The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-11-07
LAND QUESTION
Will BE DISCUSSED

tl2 ~ It Important question which
viii be considered at the annual con-
vention of the American Mining Con
gress, which meets at Spokane, Wash
ington, during the week of November
25-29, concerns the future management
and control of the United States west
of north and south line passing
through the eastern border of Colo
rado
Whatever of development and pros
perity has come to this section of the
United States and whatever of benefit
which this section has given to the
nation at large, has come through a
wise and liberal administration of pub
lie land laws designed to offer the
largest inducement to the pioneer.
Under liberal administration of
these laws, these pioneers have devel-
oped civilization second to none in
the world, have provided continuing
stream of gold which has constituted
the basis of our monetary system and
which, during the days of the Civil
war, saved the nation s credit and
made possible a united nation.
In accomplishing these benefits,
very liberal construction has been ap-
Piled to the technical wording of the
statutes, construction seemingly JUS
/ titled by the intent of the statutes
ard the purpose for which they were
lcreated.
This construction, so long followed,
i has been so generally recognized that
the western pioneer has read the law in
the light of such uniform construction
and upon this assumption many enter
/ prises have been predieated in which
millions of dollars have been invested,
only to find that more recent admin
/ istrative policy anticipates the most
strict construction of the law Under
this changed construction from which
there is practically no appeal, many
enormous investments are made value
less and aggravating requirements
create delays which greatly obstruet
and hamper the continuance of the
I enterprises already undertaken and abb
lsolately prohibit all new undertakings.
1t is freely asserted and generally be-
lieved that this administrative policy
carries with it an effort to accomplish,
by indirection, what the law does not
Justify by the most technical construc-
tion, in order to establish new sys-
tenn of land tenures; that through this
Indirect method of withholding from
Eprivate ownership public lands needed
for development of western enter
prises, conditions are being kept in
statu quo until Congress may provide
an entirely new system for control of
the public lands.
Thus far, aside from a general pro-
test, the west has not agreed upon any
definite policy touching this far reach
ing question. 1t is hoped that the reso-
lutions, adopted at the Spokane con-
vention, upon this subject, will create
a fixed policy and that the delegations
from the several western states will
he so representative that the policy
thus agreed upon will have the united
support of the western states. To
this end, an invitation has been issued
to each of the governors of the arid
land states to attend the convention,
take part in its discussions and assist
ir the framing of policy which will
he thoroughly representative.
Governor John F. Shafroth, of Colo
RADIO, win lead this discussion. Gov.
Shafroth has, for years. given this
subject careful consideration and
brings to its discussion the valuue of a
long experience in public affairs, both
as member of Congress and as gov
ernor. 1t is confidently expected that
there viii be a full attendance of state
executives and that through their co
operation the delegations at Spokane
will be so representative that the
policy there outlined will be accepted
as the last word on the subject and
that upon the platform there adopted
an aggressive campaign win he carried
on through which the continued pros
perity of the west will be assured.