Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-03
P|NCHOT'S DISMISSAL
HELPS CONSERVATION
Arouses Nations Contempt for
Taft-BaIIinger Administration
Against Political Parties
PEOPLE AWAIT ROOSEVELT
Former Presidents Capabilities
Will Be Taxed to Handle Sit
uation Says Norman
PEOPLE AWAIT ROOSEVELT
ny SIDNEY NORMAN

family residence on Rhode ISlanu ave-
nue, and am glad to say that personal
contact has but increased the respect
with which have always regarded him
and his broad-minded conservation pol
icies.
No man who looks into his deep, ear
nest eyes, or who listens to his explana-
tion of his position can doubt for one
instant that he is dominated only by a
love of country and desire to do What
he considers his duty. 1t would nave
been far easier for him to bow to Will
OF his superior In the matters which
led to his dismissal by President Taft,
but he is not a gutter, and now, fortl-
fled by the knowledge that no man can
accuse him of Interior motives, he Is
doing more effective work for conser-
walton than he has ever done In office.
What impressed me most was the TO-
tai absence of bitterness in Mr.. Pin
chot's treatment of those who are con-
sidered his enemies. We discussed the
situation from all its angles, analyzed
the motives of those who opposed him,
and yet at no part of the interview did
he say one word that showed animos-
ity. Ballinger, Taft and others were
treated with the same gentle consider
alton OF language, tinged by an ever
insistent regret that they were unable
to grasp the true Importance OF conser-
walton, as he sees 1t, in its bearing upon
the future prosperity of the country.
/ was also impressed by the absolute
confidence he expresses in Col. Roose-
welt and his future attitude on the
conservation question. This is the PROB
lem that seems to agitate Washington
tremendously To which side will the
returning African hunter throw his
support? Taft has so far been colos-
sal failure--that is admitted even by MS
supporters in both houses of congress-
and his political future depends IN
large measure upon the action or MT.
Roosevelt when he finally breaks ms
long silence and tells the world whether
or not, in his judgment, the Roosevelt
policies have been sustained by the
present administration.
Roosevelt Is unquestonably one OF
the greatest politicians the country mas
ever produced, but even his capabilities
Will oe taxed to the utmost to handle
the present situation with diplomacy.
NJ /Plnchot refused to say as much for
ID blication, but / am sure he depends
confidently upon Mr.. Roosevelts IN
dorsement, and in fact cannot conceive
OF the former president taxing any otn-
er side in view of his former hand
and-glove cooperation with him. When
l spoke of the "Pinchot policies he
gently corrected me and informed me
that they should rightfully be called
the Roosevelt policies" 1t Is doupt-
less right that president snould De SO
n
success or failure, but nevertheless l
think there is little doubt that all the
initiative force was supplied by MT
Pinchot. His disclaimer gives, how
ever, correct indication of his charac'
ter. He is fighting, openly and con-
sistently for policy which he belleVes
to be right, and cares little Tor the nom
ors if he can force 1t through TO sue
cess whether he can or not remains
to be seen. washington is hopeessly
divided upon the question-put even
the most rabid supporters or Balllnger
can bring no more serious charge
against Mr.. Pinchot than that he is
faddist or a zealot. On the other hand,
the ,resent investigation has already
brought forth some damaging testlmo-
nv calculated to impugn Mr.. Ballin-
gers honesty of purpose, and In that
fact lies the latter's weakness and the
strength of Mr. Pinchot.
TAFT FISHES FOR FALL GUYS
think Mr.. Taft and his advisers
are thoroughly alive to the Importance
of this investigation and its bearing
unon the future position of the admin
istration, and 1 know of my own
knowledge that every Pinchot sup
porter in a government position is be-
ing closely watched for some express
sion or action that will justify his dis
missaI. This condition is not eXag-
prised IL the activity of the govern
ment forces does not lead to some i'm
portant developments in that dlrectlon.
on every hand conservation is the
subject of earnest discussion and there
appears to be no geographical line OF
demarcation between the diSputants.
Representative from Alaska are urg-
ing the removal of restrictions regard
ing the entry of public lands and pri-
vate citizens from the same direction
are upholding Mr.. Pinchot In his pol
icy and cussing Ballinger and his al
legged surrender to the Guggenheims.
Most of the western representatives In
congress appear to be with Mr.. Pin
chot and against Ballinger, always ex-
cepting, OF course, some OF the dele
gates from Observation-Disclosures
own state, and from Idaho. Senator
Hepburn Of Idaho is confirmed bu-
reaumaniac and the mention of any
bureau seems to act like a rag of red
upon an infuriated bull. Senator Bo
rah, his inSurgent colleague, is with
him, but his remarks are more meas
ured and more in keeping with the
courtesy which hedges around the sem
atorial being. Altogether, the Pinchot-
Ballinger controversy is one of the
most absorbing questions that has ag
itated official Washington in the past
decade and no man may now judge of |
the final effects of the controversy.
I'm some parts or the west, L said, |
'there is misapprehension as to the
exact nature of the conservation policies |
which now bear your name-the
Pinchot policies. Will you tell me
exactly what your policies mean?"
"The policies for which stand are !
not really the Pinchot policies, but the |
Roosevelt policies" Mr.. Pinchot re-
Piled "What we are trying to do falls |
easily into two classes. First, we are |
trying to see that this country shall |
not lose it's supply of natural resources
any more rapidly than the needs of the
country actually require. That means
that while we want all the coal used
that the country needs, while we all
recognize that to restrict the output of
mineral fuels undoubtedly would ,be un-
fair to the present generation, we hold
that needless waste should be stopped, Il
and that the people of this country
should retain the right to stop that Il
waste wherever they have not parted
with the title to their property.
1.-THE second great object is to see to
it that when our natural resources have
been conserved they shall be developed
for the benefit of the many, and not /,
merely for the profit of the few. In
other words, the natural resources of
the country belong to the people of the
country and should be used for the