Bismarck Daily Tribune

WHAT THEY SAY

Subscriber: An article in a recent issue of your paper mentioned the fact that the local land office was being deluged with letters from homesteaders asking for leave of absence for the winter. The requests, it is thought, were prompted by the fear of a possible shortage in the coal supply. It was stated that the requests were being refused as leave of absence could not be granted for trivial reasons.

I flatter myself that I have a strong sense of justice and the injustice of the above appeals to me so strongly that I cannot refrain from giving expression to my thoughts. And without any mincing of the matter, I say that every request like the above should be granted without a moment's hesitation, even if it brought every homesteader in the country into town. The homesteader is a human being with a wife and several children sharing his toils.

If it is not at present a law in the statute books of our land or a regulation of the department of the interior that will allow God's toil-worn children to seek the warmth, comforts and shelter more congenial than the open prairie there should be and that at once. Though the president of the United States has been on the frontier, he has never had to undergo the privations of the man with a large family and little means. It is far from my thoughts to cast a reflection upon our president, but I do think that neither he nor the members of his cabinet really understand what it means to a family of limited means to spend a winter on these exposed frontier prairies. Had they ever had the experience they would gladly allow the homesteader to make himself as comfortable as he could during the winter months and where he pleased and the time should go right along on the homestead. The department should judge a man by his intent and the intent is not a hard thing to determine generally, and where the intent appears good a rigid construction of the regulations should not be adhered to. Hundreds of young men and young women are holding claims. Imagine one of these alone on the prairie for days and weeks. Think of the ills of life common to us all, even where conveniences are all about us and then think of what may befall the one alone and no help near and then draw your own conclusions as to the justice of refusing a request for leave of absence. The government must not think the homesteader is the only one receiving benefit from his holding down a claim: It is true he receives a great benefit, but Uncle Sam is equally benefitted, for every acre of land brought into subjection is of incalculable benefit to the government; and who, but the poor man, can this government get to break the way for civilization? The rich man will not go and no law can compel him to go. It is only the poor man, driven by necessity, that can be depended on to pave the way. Western millionaires have been stealing the public land for years under the eyes of the government, but the poor man, the actual homesteader, is watched and double-guarded lest he leaves his claim when, God knows, he too often hasn't the money to take him away. But when he asks so simple a favor, that he may come into town to school his children without having them travel two miles or two and a half, and to warm himself and family by a sure fire and in comfortable home there should be no obstacle thrown in his way and the future would redound with grateful praises for a humane government.