The Washington times., 1914-05-08
COLORADO'S OBJECT
LESSON.

real trouble thai has caused the
labor war in the Colorado coal
fields?
Anybody who will examine the
Colorado situation carefully and with
open mind must come to the con-
clusion that Colorado and Mexico
present a parallel of economic con-
ditions and causes, and that in truth
there is wonderful similarity be-
tween conditions in the two COM
munities.
Monopoly of the land and the
natural resources is the basis of the
trouble in both Mexico and Colorado.
Americans in general have in the
last three or four years gathered
enough information about Mexican
conditions to have a reasonably ac-
curate understanding of the condi-
tions in that country. They are able
to appreciate that the land of Mexico
, is held by comparatively few peo-
pie, for the purpose of exploitation;
and that the control of the land be-
comes the means through which they
are able also to control and exploit
the people-the unfortunates who
have no land. These are the poems;
and the poems object to being thus
reduced to the estate of chattels. and
revolt.
That is very easily understood. 1t
is fair statement of conditions as
they existed in Ireland under the
regime of almost exclusive alien
landlordism; as they existed in
France before the revolution. 1t is
perfectly plain that such conditions
can only lead to social disturbance
of sort absolutely menacing to the
security of all society.
Why not, then, little more &C
curate appreciation of the fact that
these are the same conditions that
exist in Colorado? Why not, in view
Of their existence there, a more in
telligent willingness to accept those
measures that look to betterment?
Why not, in short, willing accept
ance by the public land States, Colo
rado among them, of the conserva-
tion program that would put an end
tc further monopolization of land
and its resources?
Secretary of the Interior Lane has
worked out, as result OF the studies
and Investigations of the last few
years, a set of conservation meas
ures that he is fighting desperately
TO have passed at the present session
OF Congress. These include:
The Alaskan coal land leasing bill.
A general leasing bill for oil, coal
and phosphate lands in the United
States.
Water power bill dealing with
power on the public lands.
Bill for extension of time to set
tiers on irrigation projects.
The radium bill.
All but one of these measures have
been reported from the Public Lands
Committee in the House, and two of
them have been reported from COM
mittee in the Senate. If they can
be got up. they will pass. Of this
the greatest confidence is expressed
by the men who have taken most
interest in behalf Of these bills.
Why not, then?
The answer is that too many men
from the Western States, the very
ones that have seen labor wars time
and again because of these monopo-
listic conditions, refuse to permit the
laws to be passed that would then
put to end the bad conditionsl 1t
seems difficult to understand such
a blind opposition, yet it is the fact.
There are indeed some broad-visioned
Wcsterners, who appreciate these re-
lationships and know that these
measures ought to be passed; but
the fact remains that the men from
the public land States have consti-
tuted the backbone of opposition to
this ENLIGHTENED legislation. They
have insisted that it would prevent
or hinder development; yet all ex-
perience, as with the ranges inside
the national forest areas, has proved
the contrary. 1t is much more likely
that development would be pro-
noted: and. moreover, that it would
be rightly directed development.
Governor West Of Oregon, who has
had the experience Of executive in
public land State, has in recent
interview set down the proper view
on these matters in an interview
which might we'll be brought to the
attention of every Senator and Con-
pressman from State west of the
Missouri. He takes up the Colorado
mining war, and shows exactly how
it has resulted from monopolistic