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Show I FLOOKMASTEES AND GRAZING. ; The annual contention between the big-flock sheepmen and tho little-flock sheepmen as to forest rescrvo grazing privileges, is on this j-ear in rather more pointed and antagonistic form than usual. This contention over the grazing privileges on these reserves has been a sore rpot ever3" j'ear since the reserves were established, and tho grazing privileges priv-ileges issued. Naturally as tho wool interests in-terests expand and as the grazing area docs not expand, the dispute will grow more and more bitter. t appears to be a fact that the Department has haudled these grazing privileges for tho purpose of controlling tho sheepmen's conventions conven-tions and of wresting from the livestock men certain forms of indorsement that would not otherwise bo made. At the wool growers' convention in this city a 3'ear ago, Mr. Pinchol. the personal representative rep-resentative of the President and the chief boss of the ranges, demanded an "about faceV as to tho resolutions to be adopted in that convention. The committee on resolutions had framed up certain criticisms, not to sny denunciations, denunci-ations, of the ioresl reserve polic3- of tho administration Mr. Pinchot heard of this and demanded not only that thore should bo no censure' of the administration, adminis-tration, but that the general policy of the administration should be approved. He enforced his view upon the committee, com-mittee, and upon tho convention, as we i were told atthe lime, ny pressure as to j these grazing privileges. There were grazing privileges to be granted or refused. re-fused. There were concessions that might be advantageous if made, or disastrous dis-astrous if denied. The sheepmeu. con-trar3' con-trar3' to their' inclination and contr.io' to their own viows-as already drawn up, saw the point and were made to reverse themselves, but not withoul a severe struggle. The National sheepmen's con-"; vention held this 'year iu Helena, carried car-ried out vhc original programme as .formulated .for-mulated hero last -ear, denounciug the administration's forest icsorve and grazing graz-ing policies, and demanding the rights of the livestock man to "graze their slock on tho public domain unmolested by thcso irksome restrictions and exactions. Wc regard this struggle between the big-flock owners and the little-flock own- ! crs here as a side contest from the main contention as defeated last year and carried car-ried through this year. The control b3' the administration of these National for- i est-reserves puis the oriicers of the administration ad-ministration in an autocratic control which enables them to bond the livestock live-stock owners, those who -arc obliged to have these- grstzing privileges or go out of busiucss, to an indorsement of- the administration's policies. Tnasmuchas' the oppressions that are now going on and as the exactions of the Federal controllers con-trollers of the ranges ha-vc not in any vcAy lessened, but rattier increased 'in irksomeness, and to the distaste of fhc livestock owners, it warf inevitable that there should bo au outburst somewhere. It came this year among the sheepmeu in Helena. Tt came, also, in a modified form in the convention of the Colorado Cattle & Jlorsc Growers' association, at Denver. Bui in. the National Live-Stock association haste was made to cover up, as far as possible, this action of the Colorado Cattle & TTorse Growers' Association As-sociation by disavowing its censure of tho administration 's grazing policies. The members of the Natioual Live-Stock Growers' association could uot. endure to face the censure of the administration, administra-tion, with the power of its agents in con- j irol of the reserves to deny or restrict I grazing privileges to those who made thcmsolvcs active foes of tho policies represented by thcso administration ngents, and entrusted to their care to enforce.' en-force.' So far as the sheepmen of UUh arc eoncemcd iu their contest as between the lagc owners and the small owners, it seems, to, us that tho only practical thing for them to do is each class to organize or-ganize separate!'. Lot the Jarg owners-organize and-make their showing to a the forest resorvo ngents, and let (hc j small-flock owners also organize "b3' thcmsolves and mako their separate claini for fair treatment ns compared with tho large owners'on these grazing reserves. In that wsiy, it seems to us, both interests would be represented in tho best possible way. It appears that, thcro is no likelihood of tho largo-flock ; owners and tho small-flock owners getting get-ting together permanently and harmoniously harmo-niously in ono organization. Nor do we sno that it is neccssaiy for thcui to do so. Their . interests aro antagonistic. They approach tho subject from opposite standpoints. And inasmuch an taken both together the' have a much larger number of sheep than could be grazed ns a whole on thcso rcscrcs, there must bo somo proportionate distribution of the grazing privileges. Tho small owners, own-ers, as a matter of fact, aro entitled, hond for head, to as much consideration ns the large owners. And it it only by the fair and earnest representation of both, that duo justice can be done to each. And inasmuch as no adherence to or difference from tho administration's policies has an3" business to cut any figure in the matter of apportioning the grazing privileges as between largo and small flocks, we sco no reason why both interosts should not be fairly treated if both interests arc thoroughly organized and make their representations, each for itself. |