The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-13
Special to Daily Mining Record.

Special to Daily Mining Record.
Cheyenne, wyo., Jan. 29.-The fol
lowing address on The Conservation
OF Our Water Resources was read By
Clarence I. Johnson, state engineer
for Wyoming, at the recent meeting
OF the National Wool Growers asso
citation at Helena. The address Il
pregnant with national interest and
VIII create new impetus to the al.
ready growing popular demand for
less bureaucracy in national af-
fairs:
The first care before accepting any
proposed policy should be to Insure
the protection OF the settler and
homebuilder. Legislation enacted
by the state Of Wyoming relating to
the control OF water resources has
been passed with this fundamental
object always In view. 1t is impos-
sfble for those who have not expert
enced pioneer life. or who have never
made study of conditions under
which settlement takes place to un-
derstand the dfiiculties which con.
front the settler or to formulate laws
or regulations relating to the control
OF our natural resources which will
assist him instead of being detri-
ment to his progress and prosperity.
A settler generally depends largely
upon public officers for advice. 1t is
difficult If not IMPOSSIBLE for him to
present his cause In such a way that
be will be understood unless be is
given an opportunity to do so verb
ally. Rules and regulations made at
Washington are often not understood
even by the local officer who Is charg-
ed with their administration. The
settler seldom sees the local officer and
when he makes an inquiry, the rules
and regulations are generally sent
him without Interpretation. Under
these conditions any policy which
will lead to a Capitalization of control
OF all natural resources at Washing
ton will tend only to increase the
hardships of the settler and render
his conoition less enviable.
In order that we may clearly un-
derstand the present power and in
Iiuence Of some great bureaus at Wash
ington we must study their policies |
and their methods OF securing sup
port. Those who scrutinize the |
papers and magazines OF the times |
cannot fail tn notice that articles |
Identical In purport and language are
published on the same day and In
many widely separated towns and |
cities The reader who desires to
his studies will find that |
these large bureaus at Washington
control press agencies..which are con.
1ucted by men employed at the OK
pense of the government.
These press bureaus are maintained
Tor the sole purpose of advertising
lhe chiefs of the bureaus, creating
public sentiment 10 favor of their
policies and criticising and ridiculing
III persons and policies which in any
way oppose these great administra-
i've machines.
The heads of these press agencies
nay be designated on the pay roll as
or by some other title
which protects the bureau and serves
% mislead the public. BY 20 opera
ion with staff reporters at Washing.
on dispatches indorsing the policies
u the bureaus are sent to the press
# the country. These great bureaus
ave other opportunities for exploit.
ng the chiefs and their policies.
)ertain periodicals have been estab-
ished and have received government
Import for their purpose.
Two prominent bureau chiefs for
everal years co-operate1 with a
BOULDER OF public sentiment employed
y the railroads, and hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars we're spent each
ear In advertising these favored
zen, and at the same time criticiz-
ag and condemnine those who have
Unfortunately nothing but ability
I'd creditable Official record to rec.
masend them. Many publica lions i,
'saed by these bureaus are designed ,
D secure the Endorsement OF the ,
eople, regardless Of the truth or of
fact.
1t would be presumed that the bus. !,
ness OF these great bureaus would
oDsume the time and energy Of any ,
IDlge man charged with such re- :
and that be would have ,
title opportunity or occasion to ap.
cal to public sentiment to obtain ,
npport for his department. Work ,
'eli done is generally recognized,
ven under a republican form of gov
Regardless OF this natural
sumption, these bureau chiefs
pend much OF their time attending
and resorting to all kinds
1 political expedients TO obtain
avorsble Endorsements from meet.
ngs called for the purpose OF obtain.