Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-05-23
Borah Pleads For Settlers

In speech delivered in the senate
on May IA Senator Borah OF Idaho made
a strong appeal for the enactment OF
lenient land laws in order to relieve the
burden upon the settler and to facilitate
the development OF the remaining pub
lie lands OF the west which are suscep-
tible of cultivation and Improvement.
While speaking particularly with refer
ence to the homestead law. Senator
Borah referred also to other public land
laws, and to the question of conserva-
ton. He paid his respects to those
theorists who have done SO much in
late years to prevent, the passage of
sensible land laws, and maintained that
the average western citizen is a better
conservationist than his eastern brother
who knows nothing OF the practical
working of this recently developed
policy. In part Senator Borah said:
"Mr. President, several months ago a
bill was put upon its passage through
the congress having for its purpose the
amelioration OF the harsh terms of the
law under which the settlers are now
seeking to secure homes upon the pub
lie domain. II passed this body. With
some amendments il passed the house.
1t is now resting in conference, where
it has been for weeks. Its friends are
by no means satisfied with the outlook
for it's becoming law at this session.
1t has been opposed from the beginning
by the secretary OF the interior. 1t has
been sought to be amended and emas-
culated by all that class of men who
proceed upon the suspicion that every
citizen who seeks through months and
years OF adversely and hardship to
carve a home from the desert is a Grim
inal. am sure if these men were there
to see, if they conld know the relentless
way in which the government has pur-
sued the homesteader for years, the
annoyance, the delay to which he is
subjected, the price he pays in labor
and effort FOR his land, that they as
honest and well meaning men would
change their minds"
'There are some few men, Mr.. Presi-
dent, so imbued with the worth Of their
own sclf-sufiicient, all-sufficicnt INSULT
cient knowledge that perhaps seeing
the situation and realizing that there
existed different condition from thai
which they assumed would only irritate
and make revengeful their offended
wisdom. There are few others
whose suspicious natures resent all
facts which do not iii their precon-
ceived determination to adjudge all
men except themselves dishonest. But
il has pleased Divine Providence Ia
aiilict this earth with but few OF either
OF these classes Most men want To
know the facts, and knowing fhe facts,
have the courage to accept them and
be governed by them.
"Now, what are the facts? We are
no longer giving homes upon the rich
prairies OF the great Missippi valley.
Inc settiei Hust now Sceh Iue driu
lands in that country which stood fol
half century marked upon our maps
as the great American desert When
reclaimed, | grant you, these lands are
fertile. When reduced to habitation
concede they make homes as desirable
as anywhere under the shining sun
But it takes labor and much of it, il
takes patience, endurance, more than
most men are willing to give, il neces
states submission to isolation, to ad
versity, to hardship, to depriving often