The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-17

Despite the fact that scores OF pron1i-
nent officials are secretly discussing the
BaIinger Pinchot % Newell controversy.
and are wondering whether or not Presi-
dent Taft viii give the support OF the
administration 70 Mr.. Ballinger. not ono
can be found who dares take an open
stand and offer an opinion as TO the out
come.
Tct in secret the belief IS prevalent that
National Forester Pinchot and Reclama-
lin Chief Newell VIII organize forces be-
fore which the Seattle Secretary viii
have 10 give ground.
That there is bitter politics IN the i'm
broglio is certain. Senators have dashed
IN and taken sides. and President Taft
has had it forced upon him that even
while he plays golf and smiles the smile
OF placid geniaIity there IS a smOldering
volcano beneath him. and the cone is
liable TO blow of al any minute. The
fight Is expected TO come 10 a head dur
ing the sw < around the circle which
VIII be started ere long.
Taft May BE Enlightened.
When he Is IN the Western States, where
reclamation and conservation are better
understood than here. tho President. it Is
+ believed. win dnd that clifford Pinchot
as chairman or the National Conssrva-
. ton Commission is backed by Interests
/ that stand FOR not less than a billion CT
/ dollars. as well as political powers.
Three Western Senators have strongly
protested 20 the President that the time
for checking the Secreta-y's attack on
two Of the most powerful departmental
chiefs has arrived. because the party was
suffering. These Senators called az the
White House prior 20 Nr. Tafts de-
pcrtUre for Beverly.
Mr.. President" one Of the Senators IS
+ reported 20 have said, II have received
telcErams to-day from intelligent men in
my State. who are thoroughly familiar
with the work OF -he Reclamation Serv-
/ ice, and with the plans of Mr.. Pinchot 10
I conserve The natural, national assets.
/ Those men say that II Secretary Balm
/ ser continues his present course We win
. lose every State west Of the Mississippi
River four years hence NY informant.
whom ] regard as a wise political prophet.
said we had already so anEered the peo-
pie of the arid AID seml-arid regions
that the votes Of ten Western states
would be found in the Democratic col
umn. II you want % have everything
west Of the Mississippi go for the Demo
/ Gratis next Presidential election, let Bal
( Iceer continue. That's the message
/ receive"
Mr. Taft promised 20 send for the Sec
retary OF the Interior Department and
/ consult with him
/ He DID. Mr.. BaIiinger was summoned.
1 The charge has since been made that
/ though he was then ordered 10 withdraw
/ certain Montana lands from public entry
/ that they might be kept out OF the grasp
OF the water corporation. they were not
/ Withdrawn for nearly two months and
1 that during that interim jeremiah Collins.
/ land aGeut FOR the company, fled an en-
/ try at Bozeman, Mont, taking a small
( tract Of land. which save valuable water
/ power sites and practically clinched the
/ monopoly.
Birth of n Water Trust.
there have been yards OF charges and
( counter charges placed in type and thou
sands who have fuu faith in the Wis
dom foresight, and sincerity Of purpose
I Of President Taft have scofed at the
charge that q water power trust was be-
ing born.
And yet that charge was not merely
made more than a year ago. but evidence
was adduced 10 prove It. It was shown
that many men Of wealth were reaching
for lands. which once procured will make
il possible 10 inaugurate a system for
taxing the poor man that will render
other trusts modest by comparison. q
To any student OF economic conditions
who has given even a casual thought 10
the RooseveltIan policy OF saving the n
land waters the soil. the forests, and the
minerals for the generations TO come. Il
IS held to be plain that coal viii soon be
too scarce and too expensive for general
use. The power of the future will be
electrical energy generated by the flowing
streams. and the richest power sites
along any streams in the West are along
the rivers which irrigate the public lands
I Director Newell has been striving q
wrench from the deserts and make into
farming sections.
On the Missouri River in Southwestern
Montana there were q score OF these sites
/ President Roosevelt and Secretary Gar
field sought 70 save such Of them as had
not been seized, but the trust had already
procured many Of the sites. II has OBJ
tained others since President Roosevelt
retired from office. and il now controls
rights which give II practical control OF
1850 square miles Of territory.
without water or power this land 8:
useless. Il VIII give life 20 the sage hen
the rattlesnake, tie scorpion, and tht
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