The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-09-01
BALLINGER'S LAND POLICY

BALLINGER'S LAND POLICY
The Ranch believes Secretary R. A. Ballinger
has taken stand in regard to- public lands
that is for the best interests OF the American peo
pie. A Republic can only retain it's existence
when the administration of its affairs is based
upon fundamental laws plainly stated Departure
from that principle has always led to Dictatorship
and thence to Monarchy. Rome, Germany and
France have furnished powerful examples OF the
evils of RELOCATING laws to the rear and forcing
personal measures to the front
Mr. Ballinger has said: Il realize there are
some things in the law governing the disposition
of public lands which ought to be modified and
as soon as l shall have the opportunity l shall
suggest in report to Congress such changes as
appear to me to be necessary. In the meantime
the established policy of the Interior Department
will continue Gross Misrepresentation have
been sent out regarding the action of the depart
ment in certain matters. Criticisms have been
pretty severe from some quarters but, knowing
that | am absolutely right IN the posltlon nave
taken | have paid no attention to them. In time
it will be shown beyond doubt that my course
has been absolutely right"
The New York Times declares that 1T is the
intention of Secretary Ballinger also, to prevent
the monopolization of coal, oil and phosphate
lands and he is preparing to advise the PRESIDENT
as to what recommendations to this end ought to
be submitted in the first annual message to Con-
gress by the Chief Executive Both the Presl-
dent and the Secretary realize that their duty at
this time is to enforce the law as 1t exists and 10
prevent any abuse of it's provisions"
The Chicago Tribune aptly remarks III GER
tain withdrawal orders of Secretary CARRIED were
Illegal as the Acknowledgement says they were,
they ought to be rescinded. 1t is true, as Mr..
Pinchot SAYS, that laws should not have all the
virtue squeezed out Of them by rigid construction,
but the other extreme should also be avoided
Manifest violence should not be done to law,
even to promote good policy.
The New York Tribune also says: president
Taft is wholly unwilling that the law shall be
strained or that the members OF his Admlnlstra-
ton shall exceed their Constitutional and statu-
tory poWers in the effort to prevent the monopo-
lization of water-power sites. He has expressed
himself theoretically in opposition to the PROPOSE
ton that the end justiies the means, and IN the
process of making certain that no executive act
shall be open to the charge of being without legal
warrant number of these sites will inevitably
be thrown open to settlement under the existing
land laws"
The Springfield Republican takes this view of
the case cat the bottom of the difference be-
tween Mr. Ballinger and Mr. Pinchot may be dis
cerned an issue involving this Administrations
attitude toward the law. In Mr.. Bal
lineer should be indicated from the legal point
of view the issue might easily develop into the
broader question of the supremacy of the Tart
methods or the Roosevelt methods in this Ad-
ministration If he is to be servceable, the Chief
Forester must be made to accept Tafts methods
as the most appropriate under a Taft Admnistra-
ton and these involve, of course, the somewhat
slower policy of persuading Congress to change
the laws so that the ends desired could be attained
by strictly legal means"
The New York World looks forward and says:
"Mr Ballinger as Secretary of the Interior had
Mr. Tafts approval when he determined that he
should be guided solely by the law in administer
ing his office He was od-fashioned enough to
believe that there were legal restraints upon the
authority of the President to withdraw lands,