The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-08-21

Sunnyside, Wash, Aug. II, 1908
Mr.. Deed H. Magyar,
Leavenworth, Wash.
Dear Mr.. Magyar:
Your letter Of recent date enclosing
your editorial upon Mr.. T. D. Rock
wells speech in which he declared his
opposition to President Roosevelt's
policy as to the public lands, and re-
guessing a statement from me as 10 my
position upon that matter has been
forwarded to me here.
In reply I would say emphatically
that am heartily in sympathy with the
presidents policy and acts in regard TO
the public lands and so declared my
self in the original announcement of
my candidacy published several months
ago in the Spokane Spokesman-Reyiew.
The buccaneers Of the public lands,
and the conspirators who have organ
lied gigantic frauds whereby vast areas
OF valuable grazing, agricultural, timber
and coal lands-the common heritage
of the peogle-have unlawfully passed
to private ownership, have been
checked for the first time in their pirat-
ical career by the bold action of PreSi-
dent Roosevelt. These frauds had
become so common and been so long
continued that the public sense of its
own interest had become dulled until
aroused by the splendid action of
President Roosevelt He has broken
up some of these gangs, brought many
Of them TO trial and secured convic-
tions of many of the leaders, and instead
Of being denounced the president
should receive the applause, aid and
backing OF every honest citizen. You
are entitled to the thanks of the public
for the attitude of your paper thereon.
These great natural resources were ac-
quired in peace and in war by the
diplomacy of statesmen and the blood
of brave men, and should be distrib-
uted among the people in the manner
provided by law, or preserved for
posterity.
The water supply for the irrigation
of the vast tracts of arid land in eastern
Washington is in some quarters-such
as the Yakima valley-already taxed to
the utmost with but a small portion of
the lands irrigated, and would soon be
exhausted unless adequate measures
were taken for preserving the sources
OF the streams and storing the surplus
waters against the dry season in the
great watersheds of the Cascade and
Rocky mountains. The advent of the
government into the work of supplying
water to our desert tracts is in my
opinion the most important event in
the development of the vast material
resources of our state. The preServa-
ton of the forests is a necessary Incl
dent of this work and Immediately con-
nected with it. In doing so the gov
eminent has provided fully, under
reasonable regulations, for the full
present use and development of these
forest regions; the mature timber therein
may be bought and removed; agricul-
tural lands therein may be settled and
title thereto acquired; and sheep and
stock may be grazed therein, under
certain restrictions. The forestry de-
partment has printed neat book set
ting forth the privileges of the public
in all these respects within the national
forests.
am in favor OF liberal rules for the
full benefit and use by the people OF
all the products and resources of the
national forests so far as the same is
consistent with their protection and
preservation; and if the restrictions are
found in any respect to be too severe
I am in favor Of modifying them, but
the preservation Of our natural resources
Of land and water and all that in them
is of benefit TO humanity is absolutely
essential TO our well being and pros
perity as a nation; and for the stand
which he has taken to establish and
promote this policy that great tribune
OF the people, Theodore Roosevelt,
will be loved and honored long after
he has gone out Of public office.
Very truly yours,
MICS Poindexter