Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-01
ROOSEVELT POLICY
SUSTAINED BY TAFT.
His Policies Must Be Followed, as
Far as Congress Will Permit,
He Adds in Spokane Speech.
Praises Pinchot.

jects already begun in the west ana on
which work had been stepped for lack OF
funds.
VISITORS ARRIVE.
To join in the program of entertainment
to President Taft. who was scheduled to
arrive here today. train loads of visitors
reached Spokane this morning from many
nearby cities and towns.
School children were distributed along
the route he was expected to take after
his arrival and with waving flags pre-
scented a veritable border along the Sc
lected highways. Each school held an
18-foot banner with the name of the
school inscribed thereon.
The program included an automobile
ride through various sections of the city.
followed by a parade on Riverside ave-
nue. to the reviewing stand. where Pres
ident Taft will deliver his address on the
conservation of natural resources.
Then the president will be entertained
at luncheon. In the afternoon Couer de-
AIene will be visited. the president max
ing a rear-platform speech there before
proceeding through Hayden lake, sum
mer resort in Idaho.
GREETED WITH CHEERS.
The president was greeted with one con-
tinual cheer from the time he left. the de-
pot until he appeared at the entrance OF
a restaurant for breakfast. Big red APP
niles. the product of the inland empire,
glistened from every corner. The dining
room looked like a forest of fruit.
According to the presidents wishes, the
banquet was a simple one, the principal
feature being Washington Strawberries.
One Of the first questions asked by the
president was:
! Does Seattle play against Spokane mere
today?" ~t|...
The conversation turned to the favor
lite sport of the president. -.
The president in his speech on conserVa-
ton declared that many newspapers had
drawn unfair differences as to the aIti-
tude of his administration on the general
conservation of natural resources.
PLEDGED TO ROOSEVELT.
1.-The truth is he said. my admins
tration is pledged to follow out the poll
cies of Mr.. Roosevelt in this regard, and
while that pledge does not involve ME
in any obligation to carry them out un-
less I have congressional authority to do
So il does require that / take every step
to exert every legitimate influence upon
congress to enact the legislation which
shall best subserve the purpose indicat-
ed"
The president declared that Secretary
of the Interior Ballinger is in accord with
.
conservation of natural resources.
He also praised Chief Forester Clifford
Pinchot and referred to his wonderful
work for the conservation of the forests,
supported by Mr.. Roosevelt"
/ President Taft declared as to water
power sites that congress must author
ize the government to allot these sites to
private interests for development, the
government retaining general control and
supervision. 49,
I CONsULTs BALLINGER.
He declared also that he would urge
upon congress the necessity of an author
itative classification of public lands to
prevent difficulties of the past, such as
the setting aside OF coal and mineral
lands as agricultural lands, and vice
versa.
The president sat up in his train until
after midnight debating this speech. He
consulted freely with Secretary Ballin-
ger.
'sFhe subject OF the conservation of
our natural resources has been given a
| wide scopt," the president continued
! II don't propose to cover the whole
ground today. 1 shall confine my at
tention to those parts OF the policy
which are certainly within the Jurisdfc-
tion Of She national government and
especially concern the country west or
the Missouri river.
] REFERS TC IRRIGATION.
! 1T refer. first, to the preservation or
| the national forests, second to the re-
/ clamation Of the arid and semi-aFtd
lands by irriga ton; third. to the dispo-
sltion CT water-power sites upon lands,
| with proper restrictions upon the use,
| both in respect to the compensation, its
| extent in point Of time and me ADJUST
\ ment of rates to be charged to the pub
| lie by the beneficiary OF the grant;
fourth, to the disposition of coal, oil
and phosphate lands owned by the gov
ernment, with such restrictions as viii
| permit their development for private
profit, and yet will prevent monopoly,
and extortion in the sale Of the product.
"The national forest, as reserved by ex-
ecutive order contain about 167. 900 900
acres in the United States proper. All
| of this land is now under the direct con-
| troll OF the forestry bureau. and is be-
| ing preserved from fire and from other
destruction. and is being treated in &C
cordance with the best modern methods
OF treating forests under the supervi-
sion of Mr.. Pinchot the chief forester.
| "It appears that the government tim
Der land is only about one-fourth the tim
Der land owned by private individuals.
and only per cent of timber land owned
| by private individuals is properly looked
latter, according to modern methods OF
forestry. The destruction by fire of for
ests is estimated to be $5o,0OO.OOo a year.
"It would seem, therefore, imperative
that the states should exercise their ju-
risdiction over these forests to which
| 1 have referred and which are held by
private individuals, and require some sys-
TEN of fire protection and the adoption OF
the best methods Of forestry.
cit would seem that the states have a
right to do this because of the general in.
terest which the public has in the preser-
walton of the forests.
81 do not stop TO discuss at length the
| forestry question. The wonderful prog
ress made by Mr.. Pinchot. with the earn
| est support of Mr.. Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Wilson, at times has met the de-
nunciation of persons in this western
country on the ground that property was
being taken which congress intended for
| individuals and was being withheld from
them.
RECOGNIZE PINCHOT.
But l think general opposition TO Mr.
| Pinchot's plans has disappeared and that
/ the great body of the American people
| recognizes the benefit of the reform in
reference to forestry. and greatly regret
"A FILL DAJNRT