The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-11-03
HERD LAWNOT UNJUST
Should Be Given CAREFUL Con-
sideration By Every Voter

lawn IN your 'front.' YARD, fllled WIN
bulbs and flowers, and supposing that
your neighbours chickens came over
and filled their craws? Would you be
displeased?
Supposing that you had a nice garden
In your back yard and the aforesaid
chickens came over and scratched up
your plants and raised havoc with
your prospective crop. Would you be
slightly angry?
Surprising you had a five or ten
acre tract. carefully cultivated, and
depended largely, upon the crop as a
means of livelihood. and stray
bunch of cattle should come along and
delAoilsh your fences and destroy your
growing garden truck. Would you be
inclined to be sore?
Surprising that you were the owner
of a quarter section of land; you had
it crossfenced and in cultivation, and
a crowd OF cattle came along, broke
through your fences and devastated
your property. Would 1t jar your
nerves?
Surprising that you paid taxes on
your property every year and that
the present laws afforded you no re-
dress in case of trespass and damage
to your growing crops and holdings.
Would you oppose the present pro-
posed and initiated herd law?
The above are pertinent questions
in the consideration of the initiated
measure entitled An Act in Relation
to the Running of Stock at Large,
and known as Amendment No. 6 in
the forthcoming election on NOvem-
Der Z.
The Denver newspapers and the
OF a q flnndad with
array of articles, foolish and incon-
sistent arguments opposing the
adoption of the herd law, and an I'M
limited amount Of money is being ex-
pended in an effort to confuse the
voters and bring about defeat OF
the proposed law The question natu-
rally arises in the minds OF intelli-
gent voters: Why?
Reading over the proposed law
there seems to be nothing that is not
fair and honest in the provisions con-
tanned. 1t merely provides that the
live stock running at large and the
owners thereof shall be held RESPONSE
BILE for the damages inflicted upon
private property by reason OF trespass.
Ii provides for distraint OF the ami
mails until such damages shall have
been recompensed the owner OF the
property damaged. This surely is not
discriminatory; there is nothing
vicious or revolutionary in the meas
ure. 1t recognizes property rights
and protects the owner of property
and only repeats such sections Of the
statutes as conflict Herewith
1t seems that the main arguments
sc far presented are that the Denver
Post and the Great Divide are the
Of flr.av Ipr I'D 1,ot
should be defeated for that reason:
also because Volney T. Hoggatt, for
,mer state land commissioner, and
present editor of the latter paper, is
an advocate OF the proposed initiated
measure
1t may be admitted that whatever
the Denver Post is in favor of should
be opposed; that that newspaper is
the most horrible and hideous insti-
tuition this side of Hades: that the
Great Divide is also an Infamous in.
stitution, yet its objects are most
commendable in trying to upbuild and
secure the settlement of the vast I'M
occupied public domain remaining in
the eastern and western slopes OF the
continental divide. This territory is
considered, even without irrigation, to
be on a par with the Mississippi and
Missouri valleys in point of fertility. |
With the use of dynamite it's soils
may be made to yield large crops by
conserving the rainfalls and the snow
falls each season. This is scientific |
fact evo.ved by the government ex-
perts and worthy of consideration.
Should the lands of the eastern and
western slopes be exclusively for the
benefit of the cattle baron? Is it the
policy of the people of the State of
Colorado to allow these millionaire
cattle owners the exclusive and privi-
legged right to occupy and possess the
public domain and the private hold
ings Of individuals? That, in a nut
shell, is the aninrus OF the opponents
to the adoption of the proposed initi-
ated measure No. 6, as. it is published I
in the newspapers Of this state accord
ing to law.
If you are content to have your
neighbours cattle and sheep feed upon
your crops or grazing grounds without
permission or recompense. vote
against the herd law; then you
will have just what you want, and
will have no kick coming.
The law is meritorious and de-
serves the support Of every right
minded and honest citizen. The PEG
pie themselves are the lawmakers,
and every voter should read each
amendment before voting for or
against 1t. Laws enacted by a Legis-
lature are considered line BY line and
word by word before being passed,
and the people of this commonwealth
should do the same in considering mi
tiated or referred laws.
The old common law maxim, so
use your own as not to injure an.
other" should apply to the cattle cor
porations as well as the common cfti-
Gems Of Colorado. When you cast your
ballot at the coming election vote for
the herd law.