The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-09-05
PINCHOT LEADS
CONSERVATION
congress COUP
Fight for Control of National
Body Waged Against States
Rights Faction
Organization of Commission In
augurates Significant
Political War

ST. PAUL, Mimi. Sept. 4-Gifford
Pinchot tonight inaugurated the fight
for control of the national conservation
tcongress. which Will begin five days
| convention here tomorrow
Pinchot had intimated during the
day that the faction favoring state con.
! troll of national resources would have
| TO make the first move If there was to
be a fight. However. he said he was
not talking for publication. Mean
while, visitor after visitor came to his
rooms at the hotel and, when not talk
ing with these. he was busy at the
telephone.
The significance of all this i'll con-
cealed hustle became apparent tonight
when commission was formed for the
avowed purpose of bringing the state
! commissions into touch with each
other and into harmony with the ma
tionaI conservation congress. officers
/ were elected and a committee APP
pointed to confer with the national
body. The officers and members of the
! committee are known as friends of
| Pinchot and national control of natural
! resources. c. Z. Coundra of the Uni
/ versity OF Nebraska was elected presi-
dent, and J. C. Glpe of Washington, D.
! c, secretary. The following were
placed on the committee:
Personnel of Committee
President Baker of the national con-
servation congress; o. NJ Griffith. Mad
ison. Wis; a. c. Hardtner Urania. La.
". D. Douglas. Seattle, Wash; w. A.
Fleming-Jones, Las Cruces, y. NJ; w.
H. Dye, Indianapolis; E. L. Worssam.
Atlanta; Henry A Barker, Providence.
R. L, and E T. Allen, Portland. ore.
There were 10 state conservation
commissions, which were appointed
after President RooseveIt's famous con-
ference OF governors at Washington.
The former president at the same time
appointed national commission, which
was to act as a sort of solar center to
keep the state commissions in their or
DIT. Last year by an amendment to the
sundry civil bill Congressman Tawnev
Knocked out the national commission.
and since then the state commissions
have been working according to their
own lights, rather than in the syste-
matte fashion desired by Roosevelt.
They were considered by the delegates
here, by reason of their lack of central
control, as particularly open to the per
suasions of the state control faction.
of which J. ]. Hill is the leader.
PinChOt Master Politician
By tonight's coup, as it is called, Pin
chot is said to have played mastery
politics in behalf of the national con
troll people. of whom he is considered
the field commander.
Reports were current in the hotel
Hobbies tonight that the state control
people have been playing a game of
their own. 1t was admitted that the
truth of the report could become known
only on the floor of the convention, but
the rumors had it that three states not
far from Lake Michigan would send
delegations, the members of which are
interested in water power sites.
The states concerned have been con-
sidered safely in the national control
camp and for this reason it was gen
orally thought best to await confrma-
ton of the reports.
Pardee Scores Delegation
According to present plans the
friends of national control Of public
resources Will proceed as IL there had
never been thought of state control.
They do not intend to start anything.
Governor Hay of Washington and a le-
gion Of others will attend to that at the
first opportunity. On the opposite side
from Governor Hay stands former Gov
ernor Pardee of California, who held an
impromptu reception in the lobby of the
hotel tonight.
About 80 per cent of CALIFORNIA;
water power, developed or otherwise
has been gobbled up" said the Cali
fornian. Il am for national control
personally, but the delegation appoint
ed by the governor is headed by a state
control man, Judge Short
The conference of governors at Salt
Lake City demanded that capital be
properly represented on the St Paul
program and Judge Short. who is attor
ney for a number of water power com
panies, was selected
The program calls for addresses bv
President Taft tomorrow and Colonel
Roosevelt Tuesday. James ]. Hill. who
is a leader of the states rights people.
and Senator Beveridge will address the
convention Wednesday. Clifford Pin
chot former national forester and pres
ident Of the national conservation asso-
citation, does not speak until the last
day. Henry S. Graves, the present chief
forester. will talk on The Forest and
Nation" on Thursday
Two thousand delegates is the esti-
mate of the local committee. The ses-
sions will be held in the Auditorium.
which can seat 10000 persons.
Taft Principal Speaker
President Taft will deliver the
principal speech tomorrow He will
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