The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-08-10
FARMERS WISE ITO
"HERD LAW DANGER
CITY DWELLER IN DARK
Ot1 -. 49,
Fight Against Disguised Fencemeasure Turned to City
and Town. Eleventh Hour Petitions for Bill Circu-
lated in Pett.h Anger by Backers, and
Disclose Strange Things

farmers cattle onto his own property.
1t was shown to be a measure that,
rather than being beneficial to the
small and struggling farmer. would
rob him of his greatest source of sus-
tenance. The average rancher of Colo
.rado can raise on his acres only feed
ing crops. His one. or two or three
cows-which James ]. Hill declared
the salvation OF the country In the
future-are that which stand between
him and his family and hard times
thru periods OF stress and planting.
and failure OF crops Deprive him Of
the opportunity to feed those cattle
on the public domain and he is
robbed of his greatest farming, asset.
He IL forced to build fences about his
own acres. on which he cannot prop
erly feed his own cattle. to keep them
off the lands untitled. lands that In q
Western state only partially settled
are the God-given property of the
man who is struggling to make him
self home. so long IS they remain
open
They Turn Deaf Ear.
And As those things were realized
by the farmers. business men and
stockmen OF the state. together with
the fact that the proposed law would
mean that 5o.000.O 900 acres of unfsnced
lands in the state would be closed TO
grazing: that it would drive from
the state livestock growers and in
consequence deprive the rancher OF
his market for hay and forage crops;
that II would discourage a. long ~ II
remained . state Law the settler from
turning his face towards Colorado:
that depreciation In land values, and
constant raneor and discord between
nsighbors would fall to the lot OF the
state-these things were realized and
ths agriculture farmer. big and little.
turned = deaf ear to the siren song
Of the measures hackers
There was . lapse OF interests
hiatus during whi,h no petitions
vsrs circulated, and the Great Divide
stiiled its ciamorous noise. And then
July 6-there appeared In . Denver
newspaper an editorial Of warning. .
calling attsntl0ha to the tact that.
leaving all other considsrations out
Of II. the sinister Influences behind
the herd Law should build for II oppo-
sition. The editorial challenged the
unselfish purpose OF voiney Hoxgatt
-hs whose record on the state land
board has in II no hint OF burning de-
sire 10 thwart the big cattle owner
or big land owner-and his masters.
Bon and Tam. II pointed out the
dangerous possibilities OF the bill.
IN 1abyish Anger Renew Fight.
And that morning the henchmen of
The Post were summoned. They
secured Denver for siEners-begin-
ming with the employees of The Denver
Post II is easy to get signers in
cities to petitions proposing a Law OF
any kind. no matter how nefarioua.
how ridiculous. how drastic And in
two days The Pos, and Great Divide.
seeking for selfish interests to foist
on the state law disastrous to the
states greatest promise of future
wealth. continuing that effort In q
petulant and pettish fit of anger over
4 competitors honest criticism. garn-
which can by no means be termed
supporters-to its petitions. After the
farmers. dairymen and livestock men
OF the state-those who alone will be
affected directly by the law-had
turned down the dangerous fencing
measure, the city dweiier was turned
to as . means OF saving It from the
limbo OF forgotten thingr. And by
that same ingenious process-imposi-
ton on the voters OF city and town
who. IL is hoped by them. will con-
tinue a negative lethargy concerning
the truth about the measure-The
Post and The Great Divide plan to
force the law on the statute books.
Those opposed to the measure de-
clare all they ask OF the voters OF
Colorado is an impartial study OF the
so-cailed herd Law. a study based only
on desire to cast their ballots to
the end that the greatest good to the
greatest number be done. That kind
81 study will convince. they contend.
those who have given little attention
10 the matter. and those who are hon
sstly the measures adherents, that the
DILL is an iniquitous one. designed and
supported for selfish reasons. Misled
by specious argument, by false state
ment. by confusing clothing OF yer.
biags In which the hackers have of.
tered their measure to the public,
some are sincere in their belief It 10
In reality a herd law. beneficial. II
passed. to the state. II Is to these and
he unthinking and careless the op-
,onents appeal.
As in other campaigns wagod by the
Denver Post. It Il well that particulAl
attention be paid TO = consideration Of
what already has been mentioned
| The Denver Post for Il; Against IT.
Every Organization Made Up OF and