The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26
PRESIDENT TAFT
UPHOLDS PlNCHOT
Chief Forester Declares He Will Remain in
Service and Continue Roosevelt Policies

SALT LAKE, Sept 25.-As a result
of several long conferences with Chief
Forester Clifford Pinchot here today.
President Taft caused to be issued a
statement in which it is declared that
never at any time during the Ballfnger-
Pinchot controversy has the president
intended to reflect upon Pinchot, and
stand than ever in favor of the Roose-
Welt policies for the conservation of
natural resources. The president indi-
Gates that what is to be done in the
way of reclaiming arid lands must be
done within the law, but he announces
his intention of applying to congress
for such confirmatory and enabling
LEGISLATION as will put the Roosevelt
policies upon the f1rmest possible basis.
Pinchot before leaving tonight for
Washington also issued a statement.
in which he made public a portion of
Taft's letter written to the chief for
ester at the time the letter to Secre-
tary Ballinger was dictated. The presi-
dent said he hoped Pfnchot would not
find reason in the Ballinger letter for
resigning-
PINCHOT WILL REMAIN
Il shall not resign declared Pinchot.
and he added that he was going to
continue to serve the government along
the same line he has pursued in the
past, concluding with the statement
Il believe in equality of opportunity
and the Roosevelt policies, and l pro-
pose to stand for them as long as l
have the strength to stand for any
thing"
Pinchot,s statement was shown to
the president before it was given out.
The presidents statement was as
follows:
In view of the published statements
that the letter of the president TO sec
retary Ballinger was to be CONSIDERED
in some way reflection on Mr. fin,
chot the president today authorized
the publication of the following:
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT
THAT at the time he wrote the let
ter to Secretary Ballinger he also wrote
a letter to Pinchot, assuring MIN that
the conclusions stated therein were NOT
intended in any way TO renect on MN !
that the president deemed Pinchot
continuance in the public service as OF
the utmost value; that he expected TO
continue the Roosevelt policies as TO
the conservation of resources, lncluo-
ing the reclamation of arid lands and
preservation of our forests ana the
proper restriction in respect TO the use
of coal lands and water power sites
as well as the Improvement of our
WATERWAYS. and to ask congress for
such confirmatory and enabling legisla-
ton as would put the execution OF
those policies on the firmest basis; and
that he would deem it a great loss II,
in respect to the matters with which
Pinchot had been concerned, the ad-
minfstration should be denied the bene-
fit of his future service.
The president held long confer
ence with Pinchot at the knutsford
Fifteenth infantry.
WHAT FORESTER SAYS
Pinchots statement, which was made
public at the same time, follows:
"At the suggestion of the president
/ make public the following extracts
from his letter to me mentioned in the
statement he has just authorized:
~ wish you to know that have the
utmost confidence in your CONSCIENTIOUS
desire to serve the government and the
public. in the intensity of your purpose
to achieve success in the matter OF
conservation of natural resources, and
in the immense value of what you have
done and propose to do in reference
conservation; and I am thoroughly in
sympathy with all these policies and
propose to do everything that 1 can to
maintain them, insisting only that the
action for which l become responsible
or for which my administration be-
comes responsible, shall be within the
law. l should consider it one
of the greatest losses that my admins
tration could sustain If you were tc
Sfr
will not think that my action in writ
ing the inclosed letter to Secretary Bal
linger. is reason for your taking a step
of this character
81 SHALL NOT RESIGN
These expressions by the president
which are most kind toward me, and
most favorable toward my work, as
well as the statement authorized BY
him, define his attitude toward the
conservation policies with convincing
clearness. I shall not resign, but shall
remain in the government service.
shall give my best efforts In the fu.
ture. as in the past, to promote the
conservation and development of oul
forests, waters, lands and minerals
and to defend the conservation policies
whenever the need arises. Especially
/ shall continue to advocate the con-
troll of water power monopoly in the
stitutions, laws and natural resources
for the benefit of the plain people.
believe in equality OF opportunity and
the Roosevelt policies and L propose to
stand for them as long as l have the
strength to stand for anything.
CLIFFORD PINCHOT"
1t was thought yesterday that the
meeting here of Taft, Ballinger and
Pinchot might call out some further
statement from Taft.
Pinchot came on especially from Cali
fornia to seek an interview with the
president.
BALLINGER STAYS INDOORS
With the exception of the meeting al
the station yesterday when neither at
tempted to speak to the other, Secre-
tary Ballinger and Pinchot were not
thrown in contact during their stay in
Salt Lake. Pinchot attended several
functions along with the party escort
ing the president today, but Ballinger
pleading a sore throat, remained in
doors most of the time. His private
secretary met him here and he devoted
much of his time to disposing of bust
ness matters.
Ballinger had no comment to make
tonight on the latest phase of the dis
cussion. Friends of both Ballinger and
Pinchot declare that the presidents
statement is such that both of them
can consistently remain in the govern
ment service and work toward the
same ends. Pinchot has declared him.