The Coconino sun., 1920-10-08
GOVERNOR BOASTS LAND GRABBERS AND THEIR
 OFFICIAL ACCOMPLICES Continued from Page 1.)

Continued from Page 1.) directed to make no more such leases, although by that time about million acres had passed into the hands of these big outfits by this method. 1 then endeayored too the can cellation of these second leases, that the dummy leases might mature in their regular order, and the tracts thus tied up then be put up for open competition. As a matter of fact, these leases had been going as mat ter of course to the old holders with out competition, usually at Sc an acre, or only about per cent on the states minimum valuation of $500 per acre. people of the state were demanding
 That conditions in the land depart ment had become intOlerable, and the relief was fact recognized by three members of the land board, MT. Simms, candidate for governor, not in- cluded, who on May 3rd, 1920, de- manded the resignation of Land Com missioner w. A. Moeur in the follow ing letter. Mark we'll the language they use, the reasons they give for present attitude:
 State Land Department
 Hon. w. A. Moeur, Confidential. State Land Commissioner,
 Phoenix, Arizona.
 Dear Sir:-
 This communication is for you alone.
 The dissatisfaction throughout the state and the numerous complaints coming daily to each of the under signed against the administration of the state land department, has been borne patiently by each of us, with the daily hope of overcoming said com plaints. That hope is now abandoned and the complaints against the land department an6the actions of some of your subordinates within the last few weeks, have rendered it impossible for us to postpone any longer this letter which is addressed to you with the ut most courtesy. That courtesy which is due to you cannot pedmit us to re- frain from announcing that present conditions as to the administration of the land department can no longer be condoned.
 We realize that your coalition of health has caused you to leave to others in the service many things which would have received your of- ficial attention had your strength en- abled you to give it such attention. Our associations with you and your subordinates have made plainer day by day the necessity of this letter. We appreciate your worth as a citizen and an official, but we know that your physical condition has prevented you from giving that close attention which your official station requires, in super vising the acts of your most respon- sible subordinates.
 The undersigned have consulted at numerous times together, with the hope that the deplorable conditions ex- isting in the land department might be overcome without the necessity of the request which we now make, but that hope has now been totally overcome. The state land commissioner holds merely at the desire of the appoint ing power, tO-wit:, the state land de- partment, composed of the five state officers mentioned in the public land code. A change can be made at any moment.
 From the foregoing you will under stand the necessity now existing which calls upon us to request your resigna- tion. It is needless for us to express the feeling of regret which you know possesses each of us at this moment.
 The members of the state land de- partment are wholly responsible for the administration of the department as you are well aware, yet we feel that our friendly relations with you should find expression as above set forth.
 Most respectfully,
 STATE LAND DEPARTMENT.
 (Signed) Jessie L. Boyce,
 Wiley Jones,
 Harry s. Ross.
 Moeur refused to resign and still fills his swivel chair, backed now and sustained by the men who demanded his resignation.
 My contention is that these lands should be administered so as to bring the greatest possible revenue to the people of Arizona to whom they be- long, to offer the greatest opportunity to full settlement, home building and development along agricultural lines. With the invention of the gasoline en- zine and with modern pumping ma chinery it has become possible to cul- tivate lands heretofore deemed valu- able for grazing only. This sort of de- velopment not only serves to create much greater taxable wealth and brings in much greater revenue to the people of the state who own the lands, but likewise results in greatly increas- ing the population, thing much to be desired in state like Arizona, now so sparsely populated.
 Leased in Perpetuity for Song.
 How can these lands be made to produce large revenue for the sup port of our public schools and our uni versity and normal schools and for the education of your children and mine? Certainly not by tying them up into 8 few vast estates and leasing them for song for an indefinite period.
 My fight is to obtain for the people of this state the greatest possible rev. enue from these lands and an oppor-