The Elbert County tribune., 1914-04-17

The resolutions were adopted after
a weeks consideration of the ques-
tions both in meetings of the COVER
nor's conference and the sessions of
the irrigation conference called by
Secretary of the Interior Lane
A committee of three governors
Spry. OF Utah; Oddie, of Nevada. and
Ammons of Colorado was appointed to
present the views of the Western gov
ernors to President Wilson. Secretary
of the Interior Lane and other federal
officials at Washington
Resolutions Of Governors.
The resolutions follow:
I'VE, the members of the Western
Governors conference. in convention
assembled at Denver. Colorado, April
Z, 8, o. 10 and IL. 1914, do hereby adopt
the following resolutions:
Conservation. /.
I'VE believe in c6nservation--in
sane conservation. We believe that
the all-wise Creator placed the vast
resources of this nation here for the
use and benefit of all the people-gen-
erations past. present and future, and
"hiiC VIC Otitft au6
and protection should be given to the
rights of those who came hereafter.
We insist that the people of this day
and age should be given every reason
able opportunity to develop our won
derful resources and put them TO n
beneficial use.
State Control.
THAT IL is the duty of each and
every state to adopt such laws as will
make for true conservation of our re-
sources, prevent monopoly and render
the greatest good to the greatest mum
ber: and that as rapidly as the states
prepare themselves to carry out such
policy of conservation the federal
government should withdraw its sup
ervision and turn the work over to the
states.
Settlement OF Our Lands.
believing that those who control
the soil control the nation and that
the most blessed nations are those
where the ownership of lands is In
many hands. we insist that in the man
agement and sale of our public lands
both the federal government and the
state should maintain such policy
as Will make for the rapid settlement
OF all vacant agricultural lands.
Desert Land Act.
Resolved. That this convention rec
commend to Congress amendments o
the following nature to the Deser
Land act:
Q) That the entrymnn's proof O
citizenship in the state wherein he
makes desert land filing, be changed
from the time OF filing to the time o.
proving up.
"t2) That the requirements of rec
iamation be enlarged to embrace the
alternative proof Of cultivation by the
actual growing OF crops by dry farm
methods on double the acreage re
quired If by irrigation.
Homestead Entry.
I'VE approve the plan now before
| Congress- to permit homestead entriei
by persons over eighteen years of age
Water Power.
Whereas, Congress has declared
the water of all lakes. rivers and othe
sources of water supply. upon the pub
lie lands and not navigable, shall re
main and be held free for the appro
priation and use of the public for ir
| rigation, miniag and manufacturing
| purposes, We insist the Federal gov
ernment has no lawful authority t.
exercise control over the water of ;
state through ownership OF public
lands.
| I'VE maintain the waters OF a stat,
belong to the people of the state ant
that the states should be left free t
develop water power possibilities an,
should receive fully the revenues ant
other benefits derived from such de
velopment.
| Precious Metals.
I'VE reiterate our expression con
tanned in Article 10 of the 1913 reso
lutions, referring to the reopening o
mineral land. and In addition woult
urge that the revenues derived from
the sale of such lands should be uset
for the reclamation OF the arid landi
OF the West
| Grazing Lands.
I'VE believe grazing lands should bs
disposed OF through an enlarged home
stead act giving the settler sufficien
ground to enable him on livestock
basis to support family.
Summer Homestead Law.
I'VE favor the passage of summel
homestead Or pre-emption law, per
mitting land not valuable for timber
minerals or agriculture. but suitable
for summer homes. to be acquired II
not to exceed forty-acre tracts fol
summer homes. The entryman sboult
not be required to be resident of tn,
state in which the land is situated
and suitable improvements OF the val
ue OF $500. and three years summe