East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-02-28
.STOCKMEN PROTEST
IDAHO LAND GRAB

ROESE. Idaho. Feb 2S,--President
Harding was asked, through the med
ium of Idaho's congressional delesa-
tion to veto house bill No. -, by 4
massed assembly of 500 repre- entative
business, stock and sheep men and
farmers held in the house Of repre-
sentatives at the state house recently.
| This action was taken after the
| friends and the enemies of the mea-
| sure were heard in debate that lasted
six hours and during which the
charges were made that the bill con-
; stitutes land steal \ demand was
made for the resignation OF hugh
/ Sproat as president of the Idaho WOO,
| Growers association.
/ Governor Davis, speaking on behalf
Of the people of Idaho, proposed con-
+! yening the legislature in extra session
j that proper laws might be- passed TO
! safeguard the equitable Distribution
of the public lands of the state involv-
j ed in the authority granted by the
measure permitting the placing OF
Northern Pacific scrip on 100000
acres of grazing lands in southern Ida
ho. obtained under a contract held oy
Fred Gooding. Homer Fem and James
Clinton, officers and directors of the
Pioneer Securities company.
The. assembly was one of the most
remarka Bile held in the history of
1 Idaho. due to the prominence of the
! men involved and the deep interest
} taken in the French bill, which gives
sanction to a policy approved by the
! department of the interior. the de.
partment of agriculture and the for
estry department as we'll as the entire
Idaho congressional delegation, to per-
nit the turning back of the govern
ment and its national forests, odd sec
tion land granted to railroads and ac>
centing in lieu thereof grazing and
! non-irrigable lands upon which scrip
< may be placed.
! crawford Moore, president of the
= First National bank of Boise, and
< Scott Anderson, 81 prominent sheep
\ man. and Miles Cannon, state COM
2 missioner of agriculture Of Idaho, led
( the attack on the measure, declaring
Z that it granted an absolute monopoly
Z to n few and is against good public
\ policy.
= They were supported by D. Il. HUB
< bard. speaking in behalf OF the ldaho
! state grange, by cattlemen who
2 charged that the law means the abro'
Z CATION OF the two-mill limit law, BY
= business men and by lawyers
Z The bill was defended by Messrs
/ Gooding, Fem, Clinton and S. w. Nc
Z Clure, ex-secretary of the Nationa
Wool Growers association; Hugh
! sproat, president of the Idaho Woo
Z Growers association; Paris Martin
! an attorney Of Boise, and others.
= Governor Davis, appearing after tn
4 holders of the option had insisted the
! would dispose Of the land coming int
2 their power on equitable terms to a
Z stockmen rather than use it to thel
own advantage, made this offer:
Z "If Mr.. Gooding and his associate
I will agree to assign their options
= will call special session of the leo
Z islature to obtain the lands, make tn
! exchanges and pass such law as
Z necessary to allow for distribute
! of the lieu lands by the state land d
: partment, thereby giving everybody q
Z opportunity to get these lands. II
~ profits of the sale, transfer or q
change of public domain belong to Il
. people of the common wealth and NJ
to indiciduals or q small group Of II
dividuals.' t
Stock operators interested in N
vada and Oregon ranges also declare
"a the bill, if permitted to become La,
lin would open the door for similar e!
Wy change of large quantities of railro
scrip lands in other states. 49,.