The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-01
PINCHOT TO
STICK
nDEcJDENT URGES CHIEF
FORESTER TO REMAIN
IN SERVICE.
Statement By Taft Says Roosevelt
Policies Must Be Carried Out
Within Law-Letter to Chief
Forester Praises : Work Ac-
complished.

49,
.,,r Of several long conferences with
Cbiof Fores ter Clifford Pinchot here,
procident Taft caused to be issued a
.otament in which it is declared that
nover at any time during the Balm
nor.Pinchot controversy has the presi-
5ort intended to reflect upon Mr.. Pin
obo+ and in which Mr.. Taft takes a
more forward stand than ever in favor
81 tho Roosevelt policies for the con-
rorvatiOn of natural resources. The
,rocidpnt indicates that what is to be
dome in the way of retaining arid
lands must be done within the law,
bur he announces his intention of ap-
living to congress for such confrma-
torv and enabling legislation as will
mt the Roosevelt policies on the firm
pst possible basis.
Mr. Pinchot, before leaving for
Washington, also issued statement
in which he made public portion of
President Taft's letter, written to the
chief forester at the time the letter to
Secretary Ballinger was dictated. The
president said he hoped Mr.. Pinchot
would not find reason in the Ballinger
letter for resignlng.
81 shall not resign" declares Mr.
Pinchot, and he adds that he is going
10 continue to serve the government
along the same lines he has pursued
in the past, concluding with the state
ment:
Il believe in the equality of oppor
tunitv. and the Roosevelt policies, and
I propose to stand for them as long as
I have the strength to stand for any
thing
Mr.. Pinchot's statement was shown
to the president before it was given
out. In view of the published items
that the letter of the president to Sec
rotary Ballinger was to be considered
in some way a reflection on Mr.. Pin
chot. the president today authorized
the publication of the following:
That at the time that he wrote the
letter to Secretary Ballinger, he also
wrote a letter to Mr.. PinchOt, saying
that the conclusions stated therein
were not intended in any way to re-
feet on him; that the president deem
ed Mr.. Pinchot's services to the pub
lie of the utmost value; that he ex-
pected to continue the policies as to
the conservation of resources, includ-
ing the reclamation of arid lands and
the preservation of forests and the
proper restrictions 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 confrmatory and enabling
legislation as would put these policies
on the firmest basis; and that he
would deem it a great loss if in re-
Spect to the matters Mr.. PinchOt had
been concerned, the administration
should be denied the benefit of his SER
vices"
The president held a long confer
ence with Mr. Pinchot at the Knuts-
ford hotel after the banquet given
by the Fifteenth infantry.
Mr.. Pinchot's 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:
81 wish you to know that 1 have
the utmost confidence in your con-
sclentious desire to serve the govern
ment 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
Go with reference to the forestry and
kindred methods of conservation; and
that am thoroughly in sympathy with
all of these policies and propose to
Go everything that I can to maintain
them, insisting only that the action for
which l become responsible, or for
which my administration becomes re-
sponsible, shall be within the law.
l should consider it one of the
greatest losses that my administration
could sustain if you were to leave it,
and l sincerely hope that you will not
thlnk that my action in writing the
lhclosed letter to Secretary Ballinger
Is reason for your taking a step OF
tnls character
These expressions by the president,
winch are most kind toward me and
most favorable toward my work, as
well as the statement authorized by
MIN, define his attitude toward the
conservation policies with convincing
clearness.
L shall not resign, but shall remain
Ill the government service. l shall
give my best efforts in the future, as
III the past, to promote the conserva-
'lon and development of our forests,
waters, lands and minerals, and to de.
ieno the conservation policies when
ever the need arises. Especially
snail continue to advocate the control
VI water power monopoly in the pub
nc interest, and the use of our insti-
'uIlons, laws and natural resources for
me benefit of the plain people.
:, L believe in equality of opportun-
i'E and the Roosevelt policies and
purpose to stand for them, as long as