The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-08
THE GOVERNORS soUELcHED.

The Governors of these Western
States who, while in this clty, were Sc
cffusively invited by a special commit
tee from st, Paul to attend the con-
servation congress there, were virtually
kicked out when they went. 1T was an
overwhelming Pincbot congress, made
so by those who know nothing of the
question and have no public interests or
utilities to conserve, and who appear
to be actuatcd chiefly by politics, but
also somewhat by the mcddlesome dis
position of small minds TO reach out and
interfere in other people IS business.
Conservation is chiefly concern of
these Western mountain and coast
States. 1t is here that the pinch comes
when Pinchot undertakes to administer
and apply his special restrictive and
lawlcss ideas. 1T is here that the Pin
chot idea is applied in arrest of prog
ress. to stop development, and to retnrd
the settlement of the country and the
opening up of its resources. 1t is here
that forest reserves cover the face oil
the land and keep out homesteaders,
miners. and everybody else from enter
ing upon the public domain and ENJOY
ing the rights that the law gives them,
1t is here that the Pinchot policies, ap'
piled by himself, would hold the whole
region in a state of nature save only
as he can get money for his propaganda
by the leasing of grazing privileges
which in themselves are absolutely de-
structivc TO reforestration, and restric-
tive of the extension Of actual forest
areas
The tremendous demonstration for
Pinchot Yesterday at the st. Paul con-
gress demonstrates that he had done
his work well IN packing the convention
and putting up a Job on the West. But
the matter cannot be allowed to rest
there. The bumptious Governor Stubbs
of Kansas appears to have been the ag"
gressivc force for Pinchot and the cspe-
cial foe of Ballinger. The congress sup
posed TO be assembled to consider and
pronounce upon the conservation of the
public interests on the domain OF the
United States, turns out to be more
political than economic; an anti -Ballln-
ger move primarily and a boost for Pin
chot. There does not appear to have
been either sense or reason IL the con-
vention No disposition was shown to
give the Western Governors and their
delegates any opportunity either to pre-
sent their views or to have their IN
terests fairly considered.
Being political and personal rather
than economic and conservative, it is
out of the question to think of that st.
Paul congress having any good effect
upon the country. Nor Will the ques'
ton be allowed TO rest there. There
is bound to be 4 union of those who rep
resent the real interests of the States
chiefly concerned in this conservation
and indications are that a
Western conservation congress will be
called and Will be held before long
preferably at Salt Lake-that Will pre-
sent this conservation question in its
true light AT that coming convention,
we hope that the nonsense of demand
ing State control of the public domain
will be dropped, and that we shall have
a true conservation convention or con-
gress. one which will consider the pub
lie interests, the economies Of the ques-
ton, and that will demand a return to
the administrative policies that will be
to the best interests of the public at
large; that is, a return to the policy
which has prevailed in the settlement
Of the country from the first, giving the
settlers the right to use whatever they
need that is at hand, for the opening up
Of the country and the establishment
Of civilization in thriving. active com
munities. What is wanted is the free.
dom of the law. and under it the rights
Df the citizen.