The Washington herald., 1909-10-17

We recall a college debate OF many
years ago on the question as TO which
required the more manhood and showed
the greater worth; for a young man to
rise in the world from the bottom when
spurred on by necessity, or for young
man to put aside idleness and luxury,
as the estate OF a rich mans son. and.
with a mission In life, take I'D the battle
among men and strive TO reach the top.
The world usually gives credit TO the
former for he does not have the advan-
tages and opportunities OF the other. and
yet succeeds. But the rich mans son has
two ways TO go while the other has but
one. and the downward course is SO
easy-so alluring that most rich mems
sons follow IL.
To-day. with two men returning from
the first journey TO the north pole;
with the President on a tour making
studied speeches that mako campaign
issues for the country. a rich mans son
is dividing with them the attention OF
the public. The mission IN life which
he chose for himself. has been made a
national issue. The man is Clifford Pin
chot
Press Stands by PInchOt.
There is scarcely a newspaper through
out the entire country but has com
mented not once but several times. on
what Is now called the Ballinger -Pinchot
controversy. and with but few exceptions
the stand Of Mr. Pinchot has been fully
commended. Mr.. Pinchot says himself
that he has no controversy with Mr.
Ballinger and does not know why the
difference in policy between two depart
ments OF the government should be
termed a personal controversy.
But MIR. BaIinger stands for the strict
construction Of the homestead law which
allows a continuation, OF the evasion OF
the law and the acquiring by a few Of
large areas OF public land. Mr.. Pin
ohot wants 10 hold those lands for the
benefit Of the government. That's the
difference. The people cannot see IN the
stand OF Mr.. Pinchot where he has an
ak 70 grind. but on account Of charges
Of a semi-ofhcial character they look
with differing views upon the course Of
the Secretary OF the Interior. A maya
zine of such standing as Current L.tera-
ture" prints the following unusual com
pllment TO Mr. Pinchot:
Where Roosevelt stood.
Clifford Pinohot has become something
more than passing incident. He stands
for a big Idea-the conservation OF our
public resources-as no other man, with
the possible exception Of Senator Burton.
OF Ohio. stands for It in the public eye.
he is a man with a mission, and he
succeeded in enllsting in his mission two
Presidents. forty-six governors and a
very considerable part OF both houses OF
Congress.
Il want to say here" said President
Roosevelt, at the opening Of the historic
conference OF governors in Washington,
that II It had not been for clifford Pin
chot, this conference never would or
could have been held" II man Is 70
be measured by the size OF his mission
and what better way Is there Of measur-
ing him?-Pinchot has become one OF
the largest men IN our public life.
President Taft IN an effort 70 keep his
house in order has given the pat Of
approval to both sides Of the controversy.
But that will not GO The President
'whitewashed" his Secretary OF the In
terror on the charges In the Cunningham
coal case. and at the same time wrote
a letter that was intended 10 prevent
the resignation Of Mr.. Pinchot as United
States Forester.
Since Mr.. Taft has been upon this tour
he has heard ground rumblings on sew
eral positions he has taken, and he has
not only not hesitated. but has been
quick to heed the warning. He will not
have 20 put his ear very near 20 the earth
to tell where the public stands IN the
controversy in question. and we do not
hesitate TO hazard the prediction that fol-
lowing the 'whitewashing' Of Mr. Bal
linger the administration will allow the
matter to be obscured. as much as pos
sib!e for it to be obscured, and. in few
months. through some attractive bust
ness offer or on account Of declining
health, the present Secretary OF the In
terror Will drop from the Cabinet-and
go TO the West again