The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-03-10
SEN. BORAH
GIVES VIEWS
Is Not in Favor of the GAO
Acre Homestead Bill

of the Recorder shows where he stands
The letter in full follows:
My Dear Mr.. Parkhurst:
l am exceedingly interested in you
letter of recent date which receive'
this morning | am interested, o
course, in what you say with reference
to the small farmers fight to get hi
stock on the forest reserve for | hav'
received great many letters from th'
small farmers advising me as to how
they have been dealt with in this mat
ter. Please call upon me to serve yol
in this respect in any way | can ant
feel free to advise me as to how | car
best serve you.
But | was particularly interested il
what you said with reference to the
$40 acre homestead bill. You expires:
the view that this bill twill be det
riment to the small farmer for the rea-
son that it will if passed give the big
fellow the whip row on the little fry
inasmuch as they will proceed to select
the best grazing lands and put some
body on to prove up and then buy out
at low price. And they will make
their selections where the best range
can be had and covering the water
priviledges. You further state that
later you will send petition covering
the views of the small farmer.
/ have been arguing this $40 acre
homestead bill from that standpoint
from the beginning and | have not been
misled by the fact that some large IN
terests are opposing it. | have felt
from the beginning and have so written
repeatedly to those urging it that the
result would be precisely as you state
it, to-wit, the large holders and those
particularly equipped to deal with the
situation will go into these places
where the choice lands are and there
select them or secure their selection
and buy up the title. Several to whom
have thus written are with the other
side and they were small farmers in
sisting that it was to their interest
to have the bill passed. 1t might be to
the interests of some few who are pc
culiarly situated but have felt from
the beginning that as a general prop
osition it would work to the detriment
of the small farmer | cannot see it in
any other light. | do not want to be
mistaken about it because | am most
about the small farmer. |
do not say this because think man
with 160 acres may be any better in
dividually than man with thousand
acres, but | have no doubt that it is
much better for the state and for the
to have the small indepen-
dent, thrifty farmer. He makes the
in the best sence of the
term. l was travelling through GER
tain western state three or four years
ago and | drove practically all day in
an automobile and was told at night
that | had been upon the lands of but
three men. How much better it would
have been had | been upon the land
of a thousand men. So | entertain no
doubt that we ought to keep in mind
the interest of those who may be
styled the under dog in the fight to get
hold of the public lands, and | want to
keep in touch with you upon this mat
ter. Of course you understand that
the argument which is being used is
that the large sheepmen are opposed
to this. While some of the large sheep
men are opposed to it of course and for
perfectly honorable and just reasons.
all are not opposed to it as ! have
messages to that effect. But it is not
/ question of particular Individual
hat is for it or against it. We ought
% be able to examine the bill upon its
merits and its probable workings and
Is to who will be benefited and who
will not be and to this end | want all
he help you can give me. AS have
aid before and to others, there is just |
me argument to me in favor of the $40
lcre homestead bill which has appealed
o me and that is that tends to encour-
lge the acquisition of title to these
'ublic lands and in these days when the
disposition in Washington is to tie up
and starve our western
tates to death it is difficult for me to
ote against any bill which gives per-
mission to the acquisition of title by
rivate parties so as to make the lands
ak paying properties for the state.
hat has been the strongest argument
or me in favor of the bill.
Very respectfully,
WIN. E. BoRAH.