Show t LegiOn Opposes Opp ses Land Return to Privat Hands Members ot of Vernal's Witbeck Post No 11 of the American Le- Le Legion Legion gion lined up against western wool growers associations this week when they went on record m opposition to the private ownership of federally held lards in the west In a controversy which has raged during the past five months over proposals to re- re return return turn federally held lands In the western states to private owner owner- ownership ownership ship sheep and cattle men have almost unanimously favored the proposals Discussion of the problem was held at the Feb 10 meeting of thE local LegIOn post and the following resolution was adopt adopt- ed The economIc utilization and development o of the arid and and mountainous of the west has proven to p entirely dif dif- different different ferent nature th tl fn n that practiced so effectively In the states lying east of the Rocky Mountains Our general economy and na- na national national security are largely de- de dependant de- de dependant pendant upon the proper conser- conser conservation cons r- r and management of the related reSOurces in the following order of their importance importance tance to the general public In- In Include include clude water watershed protection tion Irrigation future reclamation tion projects timber mineral grazing of domestic stock range for wildlife recreation and In in- in including the inherent right to hunt and fish and Whereas the grazing resources of our federal lands are now being belne utilized to their maximum pro pro- production ti by d domestic livestock lve and so s such h hd hm utilization m o olve is not i being adversely affected by other users there can be no rea rea- reasonable justification for turning our federal landed over to the present and as such Juch t woula would benefit only a very small per percentage ot of those engaged in the livestock and d dC would create no o new values iu C Conver- Conver Conversely sely lely such action would forever preclude the public Including war veterans veteran from right of 01 homestead even under reclamation Uon tion projects and from establishing lishing rights of dis UI controlled use of these lands land would impair watersheds d in damage by Doods flood filling re- re Je with silt and adversely affecting our existing Iniga- Iniga irrigation Uon tion and because of Insufficient Wate wat hereby re- re resulting in untold loss loa Of of crops craps and forage In addition It would U all other public rights aM p i pow pow enjoyed M banner 6 banner In fan favor ot of minoritY group croup against lt the tnt Interests rest en- en eno en o rIng ln and using our public l would be d discrimination the majority of the s |