The Coconino sun., 1925-08-07
WHY NOT BE FAIR ABOUT IT?

Senator Ashurst makes the sweeping statement
that the forestry bureau has practically ruined
the cattle industry in Arizona" Henry poses as
Arizonas cowboy senator. 1t he ever roped a
calf it was quite some time previous to his reach
ing mans legal estate.
Senator Ashurst winds up his wallop at the
government in general and the forest service espe-
cially, as per towlt
RED tape, prolixity, delay, huge expense ac-
counts, ukases, and prurient itch for favorable
mention are its gods
Henry hates publicity.
The senator knows just as we'll as do the gen
eral run of sheep and cattlemen that the greatest
disaster that could happen to the stock industry
would be the throwing open of all national forests
as free public grazing grounds to all comers.
The senator knows or should know, that many
stockmen made fortunes even since national
forests were established. He should also know
that many milionaires were made during the
past ten years-and many went under when the
big slump came after the war.
The editor of The Sun is now and always has
been an active, enthusiastic friend of the sheep
and cattemen as well as the lumbermen.
We differ from Senator Ashurst in not having
any political axe to grind.
We believe the stockmen of Arizona merely
want square deal and a proper adjustment of
their range rights.
Prominent sheepmen who went over the range
and range problems with Chief Forester Greeley,
men who had put in a lifetime at the grazing
game, frankly acknowledge that Colonel Greeley
was big man and was broadmnded in his recon-
mendations. In fact Colonel Greeley had recon-
mended the remission of grazing fees before the
senatorial press agents found it out and claimed
the glory of having smoked the bureaucrats
OUT
The cottonmen sheepmen, cattlemen, ranchers,
businessmen at large and, yes, horsemen with
horse sense, all realize that we went through
World war and came out with enough bond issues
and war equipment to finance and fight couple
more fair-Sized wars. -
The big slump came when we had to pay
An acre of cotton land in the Salt River valley
that had been selling for $500 or more had to go
back to $500 to $500. Cotton wouldn't bring S1.25
or better any longer. The quartermaster's de-
partment had contracted for more than they could
find room to dump.
The forest service makes mistakes. The in
vestigation on the ground by the senatorial COM
mttee composed of Senators Cameron and
atmosphere greatly.
The laws governing bureaucracies which the
senators ranped about, are all governed by laws
made by senators and congressman.
Just as a matter of fairness and to show good
faith, it would be splendid idea to do some of
this "ramping' in the halls of congress where our
laws are made-laws that these bureaucrats are
sworn to uphold
Senator Ashurst evidently desires that our war
spending debauch should be forgotten that the
drought and slump after the war should be over
looked.
It il fair enough to make the forest service the
goat for its share in the blame and demand cor
rections, but why shouldn't senators at least
attempt some action against these nefarious laws
in congress where they supposed to have in
fuence?
Why are they not to blame for allowing such
conditions to exist for so many years when they
have been in office and representing the people of
the state of Arizona?