Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-10
For Roosevelt Policies as
Against New Regime.
DIFFERS WITH BALLINGGER
Chief Forester and Cabinet Mem
Der at Odds.
BALLINGER STANDS BY LAW
Open Warfare Is Expected as Re-
suit of Formers Speech at
Spokane Today.

Special Dispatch to The star
SPOKANE, WASH August 10.--Declar
lug that he stands firmly for the Roose-
welt policies and that to follow blndly
the letter of the law the form OF an
institution, without intelligent regard,
both for its spirit and for the public wei
fare Is very nearly as dangerous as the
disregard for the law altogether Clifford
Pincho., chief of the bureau of forestry,
created a sensation at the irrigation con-
sress here this morning.
His sneech is regarded by many as a
direct attack upon Secretary Ballinger OF
the Interior Department, who is well
known as a firm advocate of the strict
Interpretation and enforcement of the law
under all conditions.
Secretary Ballinger will be here to-
morrow and his arrival is awaited with
keen interest. 1t is thought that he will
make a reply to Mr. Pinchot. and that
that difference of opinion and methods
of the two men, who have had mlsun-
derstandings for several months, Will
lead to open warfare.
Mr. Pinchot is regarded by many of
tire officials of the departments as the
foremost champion of the Roosevelt
Ballinger is looked upon as an equally
enthusiastic advocate of the new
regime.
Mr.. Pinchot said, in part:
Equality of Opportunity.
The first thing we need in this coun-
try, as President Roosevelt so we'll set
forth In that great message which told
what he had been trying TO do for the
American people, is equality of oppor-
tunity for every citizen. No man should
f.S nd olIphf n ask for
any more. Equality of opportunity Is
the real object of our laws and institu-
lions. Our institutions and our laws are
not valuable in themselves. They are
valua BILE only because they secure equal
ity of opportunity for happiness and well
fare OF our citizens. An institution or
a law is a means. not an end, means TO
be used for the public good, to be modl-
fed for the public good and to be interp-
reted for the public good. One of the
great reasons why President Roosevelts
administration was OF such enormous
value 10 the plain American was that
lie understood what st. Paul meant when
he said: The letter killeth, but the
spirit giyeth life To follow blindly the
letter of the law or the form of an in
stitution, without Intelligent regard both
for its spirit and for the public welfare,
is very nearly dangerous as 10 dis
regard the law altogether What we
need is the use of the law for the public
good. and the construction of it for the
puDli. welfare.
1T goes without saying that the law is
supreme and must be obeyed. Our civil
liza ton rests on obedience to law. But
the law is not absolute 1T requires to be
construed. Rigid construction of the law
works, and must work, in the vast ma
lority of cases. for the benefit of the men
who can hire the best lawyers and who
have the sources of Influence in lawmak-
ing at their command Strict construction
necessarily favors the great interests as
against the people. and in the long run
can not do otherwise. Wise execution of
TIE Law must consider what the law
ought to accomplish for the general good.
The great oppressive trusts exist because
of subservient lawmakers and adroit legal
constructions. Here is the central
stronghold of the money power in the
everlasting conflict of the few 10 grab,
and the many to keep or win the rights
they were born with. Legal technicalities
seldom help the people. The people, not
the law, should have the benefit of every
IpItht