The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-10-22

cowboys. Actually many stockmen supported his poll
ces. When John Spencer retired as Regional Forester
Sandvig became vulnerable.
By training, years of experience, years of service
Sandvig was a logical successor to Spencer. He wasn
promoted to that position. Regional Forester
from afar installed in the Rocky Mountain area.
Earl Sandvg ordered transferred of the Rocky
Mountain Region-"banshed to Siberia" sug
gested. He didn't stay long the Punishment job; he
employed by FAC. of the United Nations range
management specialist, and important South
American nation to develop range and livestock improve
ment program He merited the recognition that
him, but that doesn't the fact he moved out
of the region where he had shown exceptional courage
carrying out his duties
c. K. Collins supervisor of the Uncompahgre
National Forest in southwestern Colorado His forest
center of attack and abuse poured onto Forest
Service by stockmen Collins had stood with Sandvg
in the conflict. Naturally Collins marked for the
treatment Rumors circulated that if Collins
manned the Uncompahgre forest, he'd be taken for
q ride, gangster STYLE
Another that had substance that the new
Regional Forester pacfied local stockmen by promising
that Collins would be 'banished" Whether the
report of the promise true, Collins banished
He was moved to routine position in another region
Other shifts made in the assignments of who
had been associated with Sandvig.
No organization hold its morale its courage,
do its job against odds in the face of such
The case of Nels Watson, formerly a ranger the
Harvey National Forest in South Dakota, is another
good illustration.
This incident broke into the newspapers but it
locality where happened But here's how those who
know what went on piece the story together
Ranger Watson asked attend the local livestock
associations meeting at Hill City, South Dakota the
evening of April o. 1851 1t is standard practice in such
to also notify the forest supervisors office but
this was not done In incidental conversation, Wat
mentioned the meeting Hugh Martin, the
sistant supervisor Martin suspected something fishy
and went along to the meeting with Watson.
As if they knew what would follow, quite a group of
ranchers walked out. They didn't want rough stuff
Then one stockmen began to pick quarrel with
Watson over letter the had mailed to this
the s-ockman said he had received it. Something
like the following ensued
81 mailed it, declared Watson.
'"Cal liar, will you'll" said the stockman and he
slugged the sitting Watson
AS any red-blooded American would do Watson eaped
up to defend himself Martin got between them. That
broke up the battle. If Martin hadn't been there
witness, and if he hadn't interfered plan up
Watson probably would have carried through Since
investigators couldn't positively prove that
had conspred to intmidate" it was hushed up.
It later learned that the stockman who hit the
ranger had received the disputed letter.
Soon Watson moved out quietly
There was ample evidence in many incidents, many
places, of planned campaign beat down the Forest
Services spirit and reputation.
AS the Republican Convention convened in 1852,
Patrick ]. Hurley Of New Mexico got the platform
committee. Apparently he there for a purpose:
get public lands" plank in the platform. Another
New Mexico delegate Floyd Lee, at Hurley's side
Lee has been of the leaders of the livestock bunch
The Public Lands platform plank begins, eve favor
restoration Of the traditional Republican public land
policy which would provide opportunity for ownership
by citizens to promote the highest land use The "ra
ditional Republican public land policy?
Didn't Teddy Roosevelt fight with all his stout heart
to make the national forests the peoples heritage?
Wasn't Teddy a Republcan-didn't he supply us with
the positive definition of public land policy" we've
had? You know it!
Read again that first statement of the cowboys not
really the Republicans public land plank: which
would provide opportunity for ownership by citizens
That's Juggling the historical facts in one sentence.
The plank continues to ''pledge the elimination Of
arbitrary bureaucratic PRACTICES to flavor legislation
define the rights and privileges of grazers and other
and users provide the protection of in
dependent judicial review against administrative in
vasions of those rights and privileges, and protect
the public against corrupt monopolstic exploitation
and bureaucratic favoritism"
Ye gods! does the say-so of few disgruntled stock
there hava baap EFarhitr h1raa