Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-24
TIDE TURNS TOWARD
CONSERVATION IN OIL
Powerful Interests Favor Pinchot
Policies with Amendments
Satisfactory to California

SdtISIdGlUlJ " SdnlOlluo
The California Oil World that has
been taking a prominent part in ad-
vocating the needs of oil men, in an
editorial yesterday favoring conserva-
ton with certain amendments, said:
1.-THE suggestion herewith given is
made in the hope that it may serve to
point the way to a satisfactory and
wholly fair adjustment of the appar-
ent controversy between the oil men
of California and the government over
lands claimed by the former and be-
longing to the latter. After all, 1t may
appear that there is no actual con-
f1ict-only a misunderstanding due to
an alarm on the one hand and to lack
of information on the other. A square
deal only is wanted by the oil men.
They are entitled to that. All of that
they must have and less than that 1t
must be admitted is not to be consid-
cred.
"First-Let the oil men accept con-
servation and work to secure Its appli-
cation to their circumstances and con-
ditions in such a manner that all that
the conservationists desire will be OBJ
tanned and all that the oil men have
q, right to demand will be granted.
"Second-Let the oil men accept the
proposed leasing system, whereby the
government shall be given portion OF
the production on a royalty basis on
all claims yet to be taken up and on
all claims wherein it cannot be shown
that the claimants have acted in good
faith and with diligence; said leasing
system to be modified to such an ex-
tent that the government shall not
partake of all the values over and
above the mere cost of production and
that the operator in untried territory
shall be entitled to an amount of acre
age increasing as the risk and uncer-
tainty increase.
''Third-Let the oil men insist that
every right earned by a compliance
with the terms of what has amounted
to much more than an implied contract
with the government shall be affirmed
and confirmed In every detail and in
every particular. Fairness demands
that the government shall hold to and
not violate the word it virtually gave
when by assent to a certain proceed
ure for a long period of years 1t
brought about the understanding that
this procedure was in full accordance
with law.
RESTS WITH OIL MEN
sorhe California Oil World believes
that material and substantial justice
can be secured by the oil men of the
west by working along the above sug-
gested line or a similar one To stand
out and fight means defeat, for they
are a handful against many millions
and are helpless except for the faVors
the greater numbers choose to grant.
To stand in and attempt to arrive at
some equitable agreement means 70
beckon victory. Consideration will
beget consideration; concession VII!
4.@y, Tn
he found that we shall have achieved
all that we have been asking for, while
the business Of oil production will nave
been established on firmer ana a
surer foundation. This belief Is based
upon these reasons:
First, conservation. whether or not
we favor the policy of conservation,
that poicy is going to be adopted and
put into operation. He is short
sighted viewer of events who does not
see that the whole trend of the pubic
mind is toward conservation. The ldea
will be embodied in our future laws
and customs. That is as certain as II
is certain that this republic will live
and progress. Oil men with all others
must how to the inevitable. Further
more, conservation can be justly ap-
piled, with perhaps great good to all
and without doing harm to anyone,
since with recognition of existing le-
gitimate claims-all else falling within
the scope Of the new policy-there Is
no possible opportunity to work inJus-
tice and oppression. Therefore, let US
accept 1t.
INEVITABLE ISSUE
"Second, leasing. The leasing sys-
TEN is also inevitable. Whether or not
we favor the leasing system, that sys-
tenn is going to be imposed. And, az
ter all, why not? The leasing system
is a success and is now being operated
upon in the great majority OF instances
of development in this state. 1t is as
old as the oil industry itself and Is
not objected to except when 1t is pro
nosed that the government shall grant
nossesison of its lands in like manner.
Private leases range in terms from
low royalties to high royalties, accom-
nanied by large cash bonuses, the lat
ter being regarded as matter OF
course. We have chosen the leasing
system as the one most workable ana
there is little argument worthy OF con
sideration against the adoption by the
government of the same system, es-
1eciallv in view of the fact that by
such adoption there can be established
regulations tending to prevent monop-
DIV in land, a condition recognized
throughout the whole world as block
ing and impeding progress and com
mon prosperity. Ihere1ore' let US ac-
cept this also.
i1Third, validating rights. Every
claim initiated according to law, Gus
tom. court decisions and land depart
ment rulings as these existed at the
date of initiation and carried forward
as nearly as possible in conformity
with the requirements of the govern
ment and in good faiths in morals
and equity as fully the property OF the
claimant as if the deed thereto had
heen signed, sealed and delivered 10
him to have and to hold. Anything
other than this is absolute injustice
amounts to confiscation and Is aphor-
rent to the principles upon which the
nation rests. 1t cannot be that the
American people contemplate, or VIII
coIntenance, a policy or system capa-
hle of bringing about such result
PEOPLE KNOW BEST
s.Trlst the American people. They
have never yet consciously or inten-
+ionallv done a wrong to weak or
strong within the country's boundaries
az without Their chief merit is their
adherence to the square deal in the
,Sast and now. 1t did not remain for
Theodore Roosevelt to invent the
square deal. He simply concentrated
into one short phrase the spirit of our
institutions, codifying in naked brief
ness the whole OF our principles and
laws. The fathers asked a square deal
1,rt King George refused it. And what
thew crayed they went and took More
than a century later the passion for
the square deal still ruled, but stron-