Gunnison news-champion., 1916-08-04

is 10 be centered the continued rsht
OF farmers organizations and civic
and commercial clubs OF the state
against the so-called "herd-law. peti-
tons for the initiating of which were
filed last week with the secretary
of state at Denver. With surprising
facts CLEANED from a careful checking
of the signatures attached TO the petit
tions. opponents OF the measure say
they are convinced the farmers and
cattIemen thruout the state are al
most unanimously opposed to the pro-
posed law. and that It is the unthink-
ing city dweller that must be ap-
pealed to to circumyent its hackers
purposes.
A checking OF the 10000 names on
the petitions disclosed the fact that
sl2.C0 OF the number were names of
persons living in Denver. persons
who 1t is safe to say have little direct
interest in laws affecting the agricul-
turai districts Of the state, and whom
IL was easy TO mislead with specious
statements that they were giving
their support TO a measure patterned
after the herd laws of other states.
and beneficial TO the new settlers and
the small farmers. And the further
somewhat startling fact that the H..
600 names were added to the petit
lions in two days-July 6 and July Z
many weeks after the first 5000
were obtained. by a whirlwind cam.
paign of hired circulators operating
rom the office OF the Denver Post
and its auxiliary organ, the Great Di-
vide. strengthens the contention that
the farmers OF the state have awak.
ened TO the real truth. to the real
ization that the measure is not in
reality in any way a herd law, but
fence law-which repeals the ef-
ticac!ous fence law already on the
statute books-with dangerous poten-
tialities. with certain assurance OF
harmful effect on tiliers of the soil.
large and small, on the states future
promise Of settlement, on the raisers
Of stock little and big.
Farmers Awake to Danger.
The petitions containing the first
5000 names were sprinkled literally.
1t is pointed out. with the signatures
Of dwellers In the small towns OF
farming communities and farmers.
particularly in the irrigatiny districts.
But that was when the measure. with
its plausibly perpetrated appeal as
proposed law aimed at predatory
cattle barons and sanctuary OF
safety for the struggling small farmer.
was first sprung on the unsuspecting
public. 1t was pictured measure
patterned after excellent herd laws of
other states. 1t promised to drive
grasping cattle barons out OF bust
ness. Painted in glowing colors that
are q habit Of life with the propa-
sanoist campaigns of the Denver
Post was the future OF the farmer in
Colorado once he had taken the child
Of the Great Divide to suckle and sus-
tain.
But thinking farmers OF the state
did not long delay in studying the
seemingly satisfactory measure And
they made discoveries. Within a
short time every organization Of the
state made up of and representing
the best interests OF the farmer and
cattlemen came out In unalterable op-
position to what 1t was plainly eyi.
dent was only another log rolling
scheme OF the Post and its weekly
mouthpiece. Within short time the
measure stood. but wabbled on weak
legs. with the Denver Post cham.
pioning 1t. and against tt
The Farmers Grange. The Farm
ers' Union, The Colorado Stockgrow.
ers' Association, The Colorado State
Dairymen's Association. The Denver
Civic and Commercial Association,
Commercial Organizations Of Cities
and Towns in Every Part OF Colorado.
Business Men and Stock Farmers In
Every Section Of the State.
Appeal Proved Faliselous.
Those organizations had not been
slow to perceive the iniquitous posst
bilities of the proposed law. They
were not long in coming to the con-
vfction that irreparable injury to the
state was sure to follow its enact
ment. Punctured was the bombas-
tically blown bubble Of the Posts ap
peal for a rally against the cattle
baron-it was disclosed that instead
of terrifying and predatory barons
owning great herds and driving to
limbo Of poverty the small rancher
and small stock grower. the average
herd OF cattle In Colorado numbers
only fifty head. The proposed meas
ure was shown mp mot herd law. not
Law similar to the hard Law Of any
state In the union. but fencing law
that would compel every struggling
settler. every owner Of = small farm
IN the state to fence his lands or to
hire herder to protect himself from
unscrupulous men Who by the meas
We's provisions could take advant-
49, Of him. The cuaningly worded
bin makes the farmer liable for dam
ase Il his stock strays on the prop
erty of anothar-and II opens up .
Ainnn1 VISA q 0Ajngp that could han