La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1916-08-05

lous ne!ghbor choose 10 drive that
farmers cattle onto his own property.
II was shown 10 be a measure that
rather than being beneficial TO the
small and struggling farmer, would
rob him OF his greatest source o! ses
tenance. The average rancher OF Colo
RADIO can raise on his acres only feed.
Ing crops His one, or two or three
cows-which James J 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 II forced 10 build fences about his
own acres on which be cannot prop
srly feed his own cattle, 10 keep them
off the lands untitled. lands that in a
Western state only partially settled
are the God.given property OF the
man who is struggling 10 make him.
self home, so long rs 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.OOO0OC acres OF unfenced
lands in the state would be closed to
grazing: that &, would drive from
the state livestock growers and In
consequence deprive the rancher OF
that II would discourage as long as !,
remained a state law the settler from
turning his face towards Colorado;
that depreciation In land values. and
constant Fancor and discord between
ncightors would fan 20 the lot OF the
s'ate-these things we're realized and
the agriculture farmer, big and little
turned a deaf ear 10 the siren song
Of the measures hackers
There was lapse OF interest--a
hiatus during which no petitions
we're circulated. and the Great Divide
stilled iis clamorOus noise And then
July there appeared In Denver
newspaper an editorial OF warning. q
calling attention 10 the fact that.
leaving all other considerations out
OF H. the sinister influences behind
the herd law should build for Il oppo
sition The editorial CHALLENGED the
unselflsh purpose OF Voln.y Hogga,t
he whose record on the state land
board has in II no hint OF burning de.
sire 10 thSart the big cattle owner
or biz land owner-And his masters,
Bon and Tam II pointed out the
dangerous possibilities OF the bill.
In eabyish Anger Renew Fight.
And that morning the henchmcn OF
The Post were summoned They
secured Denver for signers-begin.
ming with the employees of The Denver
Post II II easy TO get signers in
cities 10 petitions proposing a Law OF
any kind, no matter how neiarious.
how ridiculous, how drastic. And in
two days The Post and Great Divide,
seeking for selfish interests to fois,
on the state a law disastrou. 20 the
states greatest promise of future
wealth. continuing that .ffoT, In n
petulant and pe,tish M Of anger over
competitors honest criticism. EARN.
cred It's majority OF signatures
which can by no means be termed
supporters-to IT'S petitions After the
[ a.tr
Of the staie-those who alone will be
affected directly by the lav-hsd
turned down the dangerous fencing
measure, the city dwcller was turned
10 n means OF saving 1, from the
iiinbo OF forgotten things And BY
that same ingenious process-imposi.
ton on the voters OF city and town
who. II 10 hoped by them. will con.
tinue a negative ie'haryy concerning
the truth about the measure-The
Post and The Gres, Divid. nan 10
force the Law on the statute books.
Those opposed 10 the measur. DE-
clare all they ask OF the vo,ers OF
Colorado IL an impartial study OF the
so-called herd law. n study based only
on n desire TO cast their ballots 10
the end that the greatest good 10 the
greatest number be done. Tha, kind
OF study will convince they contend,
those who have given it'll. attention
10 the matter. and those who are hon.
cstly the measures adhcren,s. that the
bill II an iniaultous one. designed and
/ supported for selfish reason, N,.,.d