The Monte Vista journal., 1915-03-27

ample of the way Colorado's Sena-
tors secure results when they put
their shoulders to the legislative
wheel
AS have stated before. this was
the most important piece OF land
legislation put through Congress In
recent years. Thousands of settlers
throughout the West will benefit.
The bill as drafted by the Interior
Department was so liberal that l
very seriously question if it would
have passed the House in the ordin-
airy way without amendments intend
ed to devitalize it. Shafroth realized
this and determined to attempt the
unusual-offer it as an amendment
to an appropriation bill.
A single objection would have de-
feated the plan. but the Senator's
earnest plea for the settlers. COM
bined with his personal popularity,
triumphed. Once the relief measure
was made part of the appropriation
bill it was easy for the Western
members of the House to smooth the
way for its passage through that
body.
Senators Thomas and Shafroth
are comparatively new members of
the Senate. but through the sheer
force of their ability and industry
they are already recognized leaders.
on every big issue that comes before
alton to say that If it had not been
for their unfaltering loyalty, Presi-
dent Wilson's program of tariff and
currency legislation would have
either failed or been emasculated.
In the next Congress, 1t is safe to
predict, they will be even more in
fluential.
Retirement of Ferguson
The retirement of Congressman
Harvey Ferguson of New Mexico de-
prives the West of one of its ablest
representatives in the lower House.
He will be remembred as the author
of the 160acre or grazing" home
stead bill.
After a very hard fight he sue
ceeded in putting this bill through
the House but 1t died in the Senate.
1t will be reintroduced inthe next
Congress and in all probability will
pass, as Ferguson has dulled the
edge of the opposition. Then some
one else will claim whatever glory
attaches to the enactment of the leg
islation, but those who are familiar
with Fergusson's militant and per-
sistant Struggle to aid the settlers
will always hold him in affectionate
esteem as statesman who served
his people faithfully and well.
Vrooman and Graves
1t is announced that Assistant Sec
retary of Agriculture Carl Vrooman
and Chief Forester Graves will make
an extended tour of Colorado during
May and June. These gentleman are
the chief executive officers Of the fed
eral forestry service and therefore
have jurisdiction over about one
fifth of the surface of our state.
Viewed from that angle, their visit
is a notable one and may be produc-
tive of important results to Colorado.
Vrooman is looked upon as one of
the live wires" of the Wilson ad-
ministration. He comes from Him
ois. is Democrat of the most pro-
gressive type. has written half a doz-
en- books on travel and political econ
omy. has circled the globe SO many
times he has lost count OF his trips
and incidentally-just incidentally
is one Of the wealthiest farmers of the
middle West. He has turned forty,
and is SO full of energy and ideas
that he promises to revolutionize
the work of the Agricultural Depart
ment.
Forester Graves is another young
man Of great promise. When he sue
ceeded Clifford Pinchot as head of
the Forestry Bureau the West re-
ceived him coldly. and imagine he
was just little suspicious of the
West. All this is gradually chang
ing. Graves knows more about the
West. than he did five years ago, and
Westerners have discovered that the
frank. clear-eyed young man is not