14 PASTURE LANDS AND GRAZING CONTROL 



In order to protect their interests, stockmen organized asso- 

 ciations which were empowered to act either by the persuasive 

 force of the six-shooter or through mediators. The methods 

 of " mediation " are well illustrated by the procedure of a cer- 

 tain organization of the Northwest. Following some desperate 

 engagements in eastern Oregon in June, 1904, an organization 

 known as the " Crook County Sheep-Shooting Association of 

 Eastern Oregon " published the following statement, which is 

 typical of the attitude of the associations during those turbulent 

 times. 



Sheep-Shooters' Headquarters, 



Crook County, Oregon, 



December 29, 1904. 

 Morning Oregonian, 



Portland, Oregon. 



Mr. Editor: — Seeing that you are giving quite a bit of publicity to the 

 Sheep Shooters of Crook County, I thought I would lend you some assistance 

 by giving you a short synopsis of the proceedings of the organization during 

 the past year. . . Therefore, if space will permit, please publish the follow- 

 ing report: 



" Sheep-Shooters' Headquarters, Crook County, Oregon, December 29, 

 1904. — Editor Oregonian: I am authorized by the association (The Inland 

 Sheep Shooters) to notify the Oregonian to desist from pubUshing matter 

 derogatory to the reputation of sheep shooters in Eastern Oregon. We claim 

 to have the banner county of Oregon on the progressive Hnes of sheep shooting, 

 and it is my pleasure to inform you that we have a little government of our 

 own in Crook County, and we would thank the Oregonian and the Governor 

 to attend strictly to their business and not meddle with the settlement of 

 the range question in our province. 



"We are the direct and effective means of controlling the range in our 

 jurisdiction. If we want more range wc simply fence it in and hve up to the 

 maxim of the golden rule that possession represents nine points of the law. 

 If fencing is too expensive substitutes are readily manufactured. When 

 sheepmen faU to observe these peaceable obstructions we delegate a com- 

 mittee to notify offenders, sometimes by putting notices on tent or cabin 

 and sometimes by pubUcation in one of the leading newspapers of the county 

 as follows: 'You are hereby notified to move this camp within twenty-four 

 hours or take the consequences. Signed: Committee.' 



"These mild and peaceful means are usually effective, but in cases where 

 they are not, our executive committee takes the matter in hand, and being 

 men of high ideals as well as good shots by moonlight, they promptly enforce 



