, 1916-03-09
Republican Discusses Big Homestead Bill.

Mr.. j. G. Underwood of Iron Mountain, a man for whom The
Republican has the highest respect and one who has given the ques-
ton of range conditions a great deal of study, has a communication
in The Wyoming Tribune explaining the position of those stockmen
who re opposed to the 640acre law. In this communication Mr..
Underwood assumes that The Republican is against the stock bust.
ness Ear from It, On the contrary this paper stands for the high
est use of the lands of the state, whether they are in the hands of
stockmen or others. There IAN be n question but that the stock
business will continue to be our paramount industry for many years
to come, if not permanently. Mr.. Underwood also urges that poll
tics be kept out of the argument. 1t is certain that this paper has
never had a thought of politics in connection Herewith. 1t has ad-
vocated the passage of the enlarged homestead law for the sole ra-
son that it believed it was a measure that would do a tremendous
amount of good for the entire people of the west and furnish a n op.
portunity for men of small means to engage in an industry Mr.. I'm
derwood proves SO profitable. The unit of the homestead is now SO
small that it is impossible for a man with limited capital to get a
footing.
If The Republican understands the position of Mr.. Underwood
and he is the spokesman for a large number of men engaged in the
bill. in toto; and, second, if the bill must pass, he is favorable to it's
amendment SO that land classification shall be removed from the
judgement of individuals and placed in the hands of the department
OF agriculture n some other bureau at Washington. Up to the pres
en-. time, with the exception of somewhat general classifcations u-
der the 32O-acre act, the selection of land has been left to the indi-
III n a TO ue It, Upon the homesteader himself was the
responsibility, and We must admit, in spite of the misft laws and
handiOaps thrown in his way, the settler who has populated the west
mas shown rare foresight. MIR. Underwood has not pointed to fail
ure on the part of the homesteaders of Wyoming, and an exceedingly
large percentage of them had no considerable means when they made
their settlement.
1t is still urged by Mr.. Underwood that there would be a large
falling of in the production of live stock should the 64Oacre bill be-
come a law, for the reason, as he saws that the nraseot VINO of
stock would not dare to take the change of stocking up during the
evolutionary period aud would rush their stock to market. He saws
the bankers would call their loans and make it necessary for stock
NN S' No"h ialel tndn 10 DulNl III IDS lB the same aTQu-
ment that was used against the 6i0-acre law in Nebraska; it is the
same argument that vas used against the 800 acre law when it was
passed In both cases, 80 far a any statistics are at hand, the num-
Der of livestock grew and the value of all other property increased
under the operation of those statutes. The population increased
fully so per cent.
How the question of politics can enter into this particular mat.
tr Is ard to see. The bill that passed the house of representatives,
IN III essential particulars, was the same bill which passed that BODY
more than a year ago and would have passed the Senate had it not
bee TO the opposition at the last minute of Senator Walsh, a mi.
honaire stockmen of Montana. 1t 5 a bill that was endorsed bv
hundreds who examined it in all the public land states. 1t was
framed In the interior department, advocated by the commissioner of
Il genera ONCE and received the hearty approval of the Sec
rotary OF the interior. Governor Kendrick, in his campaign for of
ice, advocated a 640-acre bil-he really claimed to be the foremost
mn In 1T advocacy Throughout Wyoming the papers, democratic
and republican, supported the idea with considerable power. The
agencies that have had most to do with the furherance of the meas.
ure to Its present position before the senate committee on public
lands have been OF the democratic party. If republican papers sun
port 1t because they believe it is meritorious certainly they cannot
De accused of craftsmanship. They want to because they believe it
Will develop the state and bring to them a greater measure of pros-
perty, something they have waited and louged for these many years
"yomlngs greatest need is more men and women who will make
ther permanent homes among us. An enlarged homestead law