Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-02-18
100000 Acres
More to Forest
IN STER0TYPED FORM. CON
GRESHAM SMITH SAYS
NOBODY OBJECTS
(From Wednesdays Tribunel

Copies OF the Congressional Re-
cord reaching Lewiston reveal that
under authorship of Congressman
Addison I. Smith, Idaho's wilderness
is to be increased by 100000 acres,
az provided By a bill which passed
the house January IL. 1t is an ad-
dition to the Lemhi forest reserve
in the eastern part of the state.
The argument made Tor the bill is
OF the same stereotyped order, and
especially when western man is
found fathering measures of this
kind measures of character that
have now placed over one-half of
the state of Idaho under federal
domination.
|. Congressman Gard asked Con-
gresham Smith: What is the ad-
vantage. may | asked, If this bill is
passed by the house, that acerues
either public or private?"
Mr.. Smith replied: well, 1t l.
valuable to the government in this
way: Lands in forest reserves that
are good pasture bring revenue to
the federal treasury, whereas If they
are out on the public domain they
bring no revenue. II is an advan-
lbSS To TIE SlDclAnleH bl Tie country
because the lard embraced within
the forest reserves adapted to graz
ing is taken care OF and guarded
and rowing bands Of sheep on the
public domain will not tramp down
the pasturage within the national
forest It is not only an advantage
to the government to have land
within the national forest, but also
to the advantage of stockmen living
in the vicinity of the national forest
and it is on their earnest petition
that the bill was introduced. There
is no objection to the bill by the
stockmen or from any other source. =
The debate thus runs along and
of course the bill finally passes by
unanimous vote.
The viciousness of this continued
seizure of Idaho's resources, taking
them forever from utility by the
people of the state and booming the
remaining portions of the common
wealthto a constant increasing tax
alton that all the wisdom of Solo
mon could not void, is in the re
peated statements of the conserva
ton subterfuge that there is NJ
objection to the bill
Congressman Smith has no auth
ority for that statement. The rec
| pie of Idaho for instance have m
party platform. was not discussed II
information on the subject Sucf
purpose was not written in an,
party platform. was not discussed II
! in any party convention, was no
argued from any standpoint. 1t Il
a subject that Idaho public men AM
Idaho politicians have never dis
| cussed with Idaho people. There Il
not an Idaho public man at Wash
ington or at the state house in Bois'
now prpepared to discuss the matte
from the Idaho standpoint. Idaho
| con .ingent at Washington Is dom
| mated by the theories of the eastern
conservationists, are cowed by PIN
chot and like fakirs, while Idaho
recurring state administrations al
fall under the influence of the FED
eral brigade at Boise or at othe
conservation centers. AT this tim
at Boise while the citizen who goe
there to offer some suggestion d
to the vital problems affecting til
! welfare of the school child, develop
ment of roads or some other matte
pertinent to the states wellbeing,
branded as an obnoxious lobbyist
the federal forest brigade are no'
there in force and in honor, and
is assured. all may have no doub
: some further pan for domfnatin
Idaho will be realized by them In tn
i interest, of course always OF "th
| people"
Every sane citizen In Idaho VIII
has given study or even transfer
thought to the subject and who
not governed by that peculiar an
bition that leads men into publ
: life and as peculiarly leads them d'
vious way. knows that federal ae
ministration of forests-everythin