Fergus County Democrat., 1912-01-30

ptIuducAI part Vi our CILlZc0Sllp.
"All the people who go to Canad
for the purpose of taking up the pub
lie lands must become citizens or dc
clare their intention to become citi
;zens of the Dominion; but have no
the figures which show the numbe
who actually assume that Relationship
to the Dominion government. l know
that all must do SO before they acquir
title, and vast number of them 6,
there for that purpose; in fact, 1t Il
conceded that the purpose of goin,
to Canada is to acquire title to publ,
lands. All of them who acquire pub
lie land must necessarily cease to b.
citizens of this country. AS / have
said, there must be some powerful
and controlling reason for this emf
grafton"
Senator Gallinger, of New Hamp
shire, interrupted to read official fig
ures showing between July /, 1910, anG
July ], 1911, 90,768 citizens of this
| country went to Canada and only 49,,
O8O from other countries, while dur
ing the five months from July | tC
Dec. !, 1911, 40,0S5 American citizens
and 1S,499 aliens went to Canada.
Provision for Absence.
Senator Borah then continued as
follows:
THE provision of the Canadian law
which provides for the absence of the
settler during the three-year period
for six months out of the year is
most humane and most important. 1t
is almost impossible for one to go
upon the pubic lands and make a
success Of his crop the first year or
the second year That is the nniver.
sal experience and observation Of
those who are familiar with such
settlers upon the public domain to 60
elsewhere, unless they have large
bank account to start with, to acquire
the funds through which to reclaim
their lands and to acquire means for
the clothing and feeding of their fam
lilies. This provision is also impor.
tant in view of the fact that not only
in Canada but in this country there
are many places where the home
steader is entirely deprived of an op-
pOrtunity to educate his children dur
ing the entire five years during which
he may be upon the land. 1t gives to
the hOmesteader an opportunity not
only to replenish his means but to
avail himself of the public schools in
the nearby villages or towns, and it
does not in any way relieve him from
reclaiming his land or from reducing
it to condition wherein it may be a
desirable home. 1t only provides that
he may do SO under such conditions
and circumstances that he may not
be completely impoverished and dis
couraged in doing so.
Should Be Provided For.
Il trust that when the public lands
committee reports a bill upon this
subject, if it does, it will incorporate
into the law an opportunity for the
homesteader to be absent during GER
tain portions of the year. This not,
however, to extend the residence
period beyond three years."
"At the end of three years the home
steader in Canada gets his title Per-
haps most senators who do not repre-
sent public-land states hardly appre-
ciate the import of the statement that
at the end of the time he gets his
title, not three years afterwards or
four years or seven years afterward,
but at the time he has complied with
the terms. That is one of the most
important features connected with the
administration of the Canadian land
laws, namely, that the government as
sumes that wnen man has earned his
title he is entitled to his deed as quick.
ly as if he had paid dollar for dollar
for 1t and had been dealing with indi-
viduals in regard to it. The assump.
tlon that the hOmesteader or the claim.
ant upon the public domain may not
suffer either in finances or otherwise
by reason Of an interminable tie-y:
OF his title from two to five years IS
not indulged in upon the part of the
Canadian government.
Takes No Advantage.
I'm case of sickness upon the part of
the homesteader in Canada the gov.
ernment taxes no advantage Of that
condition. 1t extends his time so that
he may meet the situation. In the
case OF financial embarrassment, or in
case he needs seed to seed the ground,
or in case any conditions arise where
in bona-tide settler is prevented
from going ahead and reclaiming his
land, the Canadian government pro-
vides by law and by regulations for
aiding the settler. 1t goes so far as
to advance him seed, to advance him
money, and to take a lien upon the
homestead or the improvements there.
on, and in almost every conceivable
way by which the Canadian govern.
ment can advance aid and protect the
| homesteader 1t stands ready, under its
laws, to do so. In other words, the
Canadian government wants the set,
tier. and assumes that he is there In
good faith to improve the land, and
extends its power and influence for
the purpose of keeping him there and
helping him to make success. II
does not assume that because a mar
wants a piece of public land he is q
thief. 1t does not proceed upon the
theory that he ought to be driven of