The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
CLIFFORD P|NCHOT
REOPENS ISSUE
Conservation Policy Is At Va
rance With BaIIinger's
CONGRESS MUST DECIDE
Pinchot Proclaims Policy of Conserva-
ton and Declares that MonopoIies
Are Gobbling Up National Re-
sources of Country.

Washington, November @-Gifford
Pinchot, chief Of the United States for
estry service, has again thrown down
the gauntlet to Secretary of the Interior
Ballinger in the issue between himself
and the latter in regard to the eonserva
ton policy. He declares that Congress
viii have to decide at its forthcoming
session whether the great coal fields of
the country shall continue to remain in
the hands of the people or be gobbled I'D
by monopolies and whether the great
water power sites shall be given away to
special interests or be controlled by the
people.
Mr.. Pinchot makes known his views
upon these two chief sources of the
power OF the present and future" In a
letter to DR.. Lyman Abbott of New York.
IN response to series of questions asked
os the lsttor on The National Conser-
'etton Policy made public todas.
Referring to the development of water
power and coal the government forester
declared that in most cases actual deyel-
opment of the former can best be done by
private interests acting under public con-
troll, but that "it Is neither good sense
nor good morals to let these valuable
privileges pass from the public ownership
for nothing and forever"
In answer to DR. Abbott,s question
What is the danger to the conserya
ton policies in the coming session of Con-
gress?' Mr.. Pinchot declares that II Ia
the privileges of the few which may con-
tinue to obstruct the rights of the many.
and especially in the matter of water
power and coal"
Congress must decide at this session
Mr.. Pinchet says, whether the great
coal fields, still in public ownership, shall
remain SO, In order that their use may
not be controlled In the monopolistic in
terests Of a few.
Congress must decide also whether inn
mensely valuable rights to the use of
water power shall be given away to spe-
eial interests in perpetuity and without
compensation instead of being held and
controlled by the public"
Why is 1t important to protect the
water powerp' asks DR.. Abbott, and in
reply Mr.. Pinchot points out that 1t Is
of the first Importance to prevent them
from passing into private ownership, as
they have been doing because the great
est source of power We know is falling
water.
Under our form of civilization" he
says, ''if a few men ever succeed in con-
trolling the sources of water power. they
will eventually control all industry as
well. II they succeed in controlling all
industry they will necessarily control the
country"
Mr.. Pinchot adds that ne can see mo
reason why we should deliberately keep
on helping to fasten the handouts of
corporate control upon ourselves for all
time. merely because the few men who
would profit by it most have heretofore
had the power to compel IT.
As one of the essential things that must
be done to protect the water powers for
the people, the granting OF water powers
forever either on non-navigable or nav
igable streams must absolutely stop. ac-
cordfhg to Mr.. Pinchot. He declares that
'it Is just as wrong as 1t Is foolish, and
just as needless as 1t Is wrong. to mort
gage the welfare of our children in such
a way as this.
Explaining what conservation means.
MIR. Pinchot declared that 1t stands
against the waste of the natural resources
which cannot be renewed. such as coal
and iron; 1t stands for the perpetuation
of the resources which can be renewed
and most of all, 1t stands for an equal
opportunity for every American citizen
to get his fair share of beneht from
these resources, both now and forever"
In discussing what has conservation
to do with the welfare OF tho average
man today?" 1t Is pointed out that It
Proposes to secure a continuance and
abundant supply Of the necessary things
of life which means a reasonable cost
and business stability. It advocates fair
ness In the distribution of the benefits
which flow from the natural resources"