Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-12-08

Washington, Nov. "a severe
arraignment of the attitude of the
government toward the western
states is contained in letter written
by Senator Borah of Idaho to George
w. Perkins of New York, in reply to
the latter's recent suggestions of
remedies for the high cost of living
problem. Senator Borah declares
that more farms and more farmers
would furnish the lasting cure, and
that the reclamation of the unoccu-
pied lands of the west would relieve
the situation.
The east is called upon to aid in
the work which the west has under
taken. The letter of Senator Borah
follows:
my Dear Mr.. Perkins:
'"I have been interested in your
discussion of the high cost of living
and the remedy. / find myself in
sympathy with your suggestions.
was also much interested in the pres
ident's suggestions to the farmers to
raise more crops. In view of the fact
that the west in political way has
put itself upon the map, ! hope II
will not be considered an intrusion
il II interposes itself into this eco
nomic discussion also.
while considering the wise sug
tions as to central markets, auto
trucks and thorough system Of dis
tribution and the raising of more
farm products, would 1t not be wei
to consider the broader and ever
more lasting remedy of providing fol-
more farms and securing more farm
ers?
I'm the west are millions of acres
of fine agricultural lands dedicated
to no use through a short sighted
policy of the government. In thu
great south are vast areas OF fertile
swamp lands awaiting some practi
cal constructive policy to open then
up to anxious settlers.
"If one will study the figure
showing the rapid increase in popu
lation in our cities and proportion
ately speaking the startling decreas
in our farming population he will
find in such figures a grave menaG
to the happiness and contentment .
our people, menace which 1t ough
to be our every effort to avert. Their
is being brought about a situation
which no system of distribution
however essentially wise 1t may be
Cdu lllliC AlAOA LAoh AlOAAAA4s <Ah
we have been disposed to aceentuat
through governmental action rathe
than to lessen this tendency thus t
build up the cities and retard tn
growth of the producing areas.
"A few years ago under tn
misnomer of conservation we tie
up, Incorporated into forest reserve
and other Withdrawals, millions c
acres upon which nature never gre
a tree and of the finest agriculture
lands. Millions of the same acre
are still locked up.
During the five years precedin
the war in Europe we lost each yea
100000 homesteaders who passe
through the great west and on int
Canada, where they took UP farl
lands, renounced their allegiance
this government and swore alleg
anee to another in order to get thf
of which we had abundance. bl
which through a mistaken policy "
were Withholding from them. The
were unwilling to be subject to tn
surveillance and the persecutiC
which have been visited upon the Sc
tiers of the west for number I
years.
True, we have a law by whiC
theoretically speaking settlers can s
into the forest reserves and loca
agricultural lands. But in its pra
tical working it amounts to an Il
hibition against securing such land
A policy which withholds or di
eourages the bona fide settler in ia
ing up these lands is not simply {
act of folly. il is measured by
effect upon the welfare of our who
people a crime-no other word c;
express IT,
Furthermore. our irrigation e