Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-09-03
MCHARG SARCASTIC
Big gun" AT WASHINGTON
SAYS A few Things.
Sends Newspapers Roast on
Roosevelt and His Poicies-It Is
Thought Charges Are of Such Nature
That Taft Will Take Immediate Ac-
tion-Lauds Standard Oil Methods.


Labor McHarg, who had charge for Ma
tional Chairman Hitchcock last year
of the campaign in tho Pacific north
west, acting in conjunction with r. A.
Ballinger secretary of the interior,
speaking recently in defense of the lat
ter, threw off all restraints in de-
nouncing Roosevelt policies as the prod
uct of an idealistic dream. lie referred
to Roosevelt by name, and said: cap
parently he thought he was the Lord.
Anyway, he acted as though he were
for several years around here
Conservation came in for ridcule,
forestry and government reclamation
being condemned as visionary. Among
other things he eulogized the Standard
Oil company as u beneficent creature.
McHarg's statements were given to
the newspapers.
Common comment here is that Taft
must take notice of McHarg's violent
statements. McHarg leaves the depart
mont October l to take position with
a New York firm. Tonight there is talk
that the president will compel him to
leave his Office before the time hereto
fore set, thus placing the administra.
ton right before the country and up.
holding the Roosevelt policies to which
he was pledged.
McHarg in his statements added to
the gravity of the situation by citing
that he was officially placed in charge
Of seven or eight western states by
Hitchcock last year during the cam
paign. His remarks were based large.
y on observations of men he came in
contact with during his visits to the
Pacific northwest.
Mr.. McHarg handled vigorously the
ubject of the uplift movement, de-
'laring that to have directed a govern
nent of uplift among the farmers
vas an insult to the finest element in
he country's body polite, and the
absurdest of absurd dreams"
Plenty of Timber. He Says.
Mr.. McHarg, in the interview, fatty
ontradicted the assertion of the forest
ervice that the lumber supply of the
country was virtually exhausted in
mother generation if the present rate
# cutting is not curtailed.
There is enough timber standing
n the state of Washington alone to
upply this country for so years" he
'aid
criticises Reclamation Service.
Vast supplies remain in other
states, - said the assistant secretary,
sufficient to maintain a supply for a
much longer period, which could not
and need not be estimated" The
abundance of the forests was such
that the alarmists' statements as to
the approaching exhaustion of supply
was utterly unfounded, he asserted.
Furthermore" said Mr.. McHarg,
the forest service has been put in
possession of facts and figures proving
the truth of what say and it has
failed to make them public.
Methods too dreamlike are being
pursued in our forest administration
1t is attempted to designate which
trees the logger may cut down and
winch ne may not cut. No knowledge
OF logging is applied. Men who are
doing the practical developing of the
work of the west are hindered and
thwarted, and you hear nothing but
cursing from them for the present
methods of forest conservation.
Out near Cheyenne recently n
woman settler went to a forest 70.
serve to cut rails for a small corral
The forest service would have had her
indicted for this heinous crime. What
10 you think the attitude of every man
N the community is toward the forest
'erVleeY That's the feeling YOU en-.
counter throughout the west.
Leave the west alone. Let II on
ahead and develop. Let the red-blooded
men out there do the work. 1t won y
% long then until the east will be the
oackdoor of the nation"
Complaints" Against Reclamation.
Mr.. McHarg said there was mucb
complaint in the west against the 70.
.lamation service as it has been CON
lucted.
Extravaganza and incompetencv
ire the charges that have been made ),
lie explained, "and these are now be;pu
Investigated, I am informed. in the
resent tour of the west bv Secretary
4 the Interior Ballinger and the sen.
tie committee. +" Mr.. MeHare said he
new of engineering projects in the
tate of Washington where it had been
ssured settlers that the cost would he
10 more than $35 an acre.
The cost is already $75 an acre },
aid the assistant secretary, "and the
nd is not YETI
McHarg Resigns.
Beverly, Mass.-Presiden Taft Sun
ay accepted the resignation of Orms-
y MeHarg, assistant secretary of the
apartment of commerce and labor.
Secretary Nagel, head of the depart.
lent, had a conference with President
aft and discussed the question of a
uccessor to McHarg. Secretary Nagel
eceived a letter from the assistant
ecretary saying that he must adhere
n his fret frEau4:s