The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-23
CLIFFORD PINCHOT's WORK.
Patriotism and Devotion 10 Purpose
Have Marked His Career.

Patriotism and Devotion 10 Purpose
Have Marked His Career.
Stewart Edward White, IN American Magizine.
clifford Pinchot has accomplished a
number Of great works.
lie has organized the Bureau Of For
estry in so efficient a manner that from a
small beginning as an unimportant scien-
tihc research affair. it has grown 10 the
proportions and dignity of an economic
department of the government. II con-
trolls millions Of acres Of land; admins
tiers many and mixed business interests;
governs wisely diverse industries and
peoples; saves for the central government
a constantly increasing revenue. and con
serves for future generations the natural
wealth Of lumber, grazing, mineral, and
water power committed TO its care
In business involving many businesses,
many kinds Of people. and complicated
new problems. he has constructed and
organized an admirable automatic machin-
cry Of control Clifford Pinchot has
proved himself a great executive.
In addition to this task. for which by
right all his energies should have been
available, he has had 20 wage d bitter
warfare. The enemies OF the national
forest idea were numerous. They in
claded in their ranks every man whose
especial privilege was curtailed by the
simple process Of saving for the people
rHrfra fa Ia. IT..
the timber-stealer the water hog. the
cattle king. saw in even the beginnings Of
conservation nothing but menace against
themselves. They were shreWd men, and
wealthy men, and they possessed imagi-
nation
/ Each winter on the floors Of Congress
/ the Forest Service had 10 fight for its
life. 1t was attacked by fair means and
! foul by direction and By ndirection No
( falsehood was TOO rank, no trick too base
/ for some OF these champions OF the
! stronger. but SIN the losing cause. Year
after year the fight went on, but always
more feebly. Now the life OF our national
/ forest policy b. assured. No one has fOI
I two years dared 20 attempt more than e
harass OF hinder. las yentured 10 chal
/ leuge the right Of the Forest Service q
its share I'm the public government Pin
/ caoJ has won that particular battle. lie
is great fighter.
/ But further. he has also conquered pub
II.c sentiment Ten years ago none PAID
tany attention 10 conservation save few
"dreamers and theorists Eight years
ago the knowledge Of fl had spread over
the whole West. but was everywhere me-
with hostility and distrust To-day In,
people Of the country are with the idea
The only exceptions are those whose op
position can readily bee traced 10
source in seIdshuess. This result ha.
been reached by an open publicity, by
a patient education Of the people face ts
face. The seed has been scattered. Slow
|Iy the fruits OF it have been spread. Bach
and forth across this continent. I'm
tWeared. under weight # work that mus
ibe done. the forester has j0urneyed
injecting friends and enemies. attending
meetings enthusiastic or hostile. preach.
ing always reasonably his reasonable doc,
Urine. Ia the end that doctrine is prevail
ling. because we are az bottom a reason
able people
( This has taken many years Of the hard
est sort Of labor. a labor that has left
/ the workman no leisure for what Other
people have been pleased To call Tho
pleasures Of life. clifford Pinchot has
|ur0babS spent more for the service than
: the service has returned 10 him IN sal
arr. He has encountered bitter and un-
/ sCrupulous cnmity Unrurled. the mos
! devastating disapp0intments sereuely.
But the finest part Of all this accom-
|pIishment is that it has been achieve,
( from So high q plane.
/ Piuch0ts work has been absolutely IN
selfish. Born 90 large fortune. sprun,
from a good family, he had every incen
Tive 20 a life Of tdleness lie preferre,
no work. His work was not for himself
but for others. Tie did not spare him
self, his forces and his money he speu
lUherally Furthermore ne has aIwav
luied by every means i'm his power &
keep himself I'm the background. T
praised, be has always brought forward ID
subordinate as the deserving one. II
|biuuder is committed lie is genuinely dis
+ tressed until he can show that al Ieas
q share Of the blame must be laid OF
|lis own shoulders He fights impers1ual
'Iv, without bitterness. lie has many enc
mics. but 1t is 10 be doubted If there or
Iwauy iu the number who. having me
him personally. have continued 90 hat
|.im with the peculiar direct hatred ina