The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-27
P P|NCHOT IS
EMP Hal |C
Says the Forest Service
Is Attacked by
Monopolists

New York, Dec. 27-.GifTord Pin.
chot. chief forester of the United
States. declared In a speech here 10.
day before a number of prominent
people at the University club, that
special interests had made repeated
attacks on the United States forest
service and these attacks had increas.
cd in violence Just in proportion as
the service had offered effective op.
position 10 predatory wealth. Mr. Pin,
chot said:
The American people evidently
have made up their minds that the
natural resources must be conserved,
That Is good. but 1t settles only half
the question. For whose benefit shall
they be conservation the benefit
of the many or for the use and profit
OF the few? The great conflict now
being fought Will decide. There is no
other question before us that begins
10 be so important or that will be so
difficult TO settle, as the great queS-
ton between special interests and
equal opportunity; the interests of
the few and the many; the govern
ment OF men for human welfare and
government by money for profit. the
men who stand for the Roosevelt pol
icies and the men who stand against
them. This is the essence OF the con-
servation problem today.
Il believe in one form of govern
ment and | believe in the golden rule.
But we must face the truth that mo-
nopoly of the sources of production
makes 1t impossible for vast numbers
of men and women to earn a fair liv-
ing. Right here the conservation ques-
tion touches the daily life of the great
body OF our people. who pay the cost
Of special privilege And the price
is heavy That price may be the chance
10 save boys from the saloons aud
the corner gang and girls from worse,
and make good citizens of them in
stead Of bad.
The people OF the United States
have been complacent victims OF a
system of plunder. often perpetrated
by men who have been surprised be-
yond measure to be accused OF wrong
doing and many Of them who in their
private lives were model citizens But
they have suffered from a curious NOR
al perversion by which it becomes
praiseworthy to do for a corporation
things which they would refuse with
the loftiest scorn to do for them
selves. Fortunately for US, all that
deluSion is passing rapidly away
1t Is the honorable distinction Of
the forest service that 1t has been
moro constantly. more violently. and
more bitterly attacked by representa-
tiYes Of the special interests In re-
cent years than any other government
bureau These attacks have increased
in violence and bitterness just In pro-
portion as the service has offered ef-
fectlvc opposition 10 predatory wealth
The mere successful we have been
in preventing land grabbing, and the
absorption of water power by the
special interests, the more ingenious,
the more devious and the more dan
gcrouS these attacks have boon be-
coming. 4 fayorite one is to assert
that the forest service, in Its zeal for
the public welfare. has played ducks
and brakes with the acts of congress.
''The fact Is tho service has had
warrant of law for everything it has
done. Not once since ii was created
has any charge OF illegality despite
the most searching investigation and
the bitterest attack, ever led to reyer-
sal or reproof by either house OF con-
gress OF by any congressional com.
mittee.
Since the forest service called
public attention TO the rapid absorp-
tion OF water power sites and the
threatening growth OF a great power
monopoly. attacks upon it have In
creased with marked rapidity. l an.
ticipate that they will continue to do
so. sun greater opposition is prom
ised in the near future. There is
only enc protection-an awakened
public opinion. This is why ] give you
tho IN