The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-05

etAolou NY utnef lnan the nl8neSt
and most patriotic motives. This
should cause our people to hesitate
10 accept charges .of base conduct
against their public servants with
out investigation, and proof.
The press and magazines of the
country for several months have been
filled with charges against the pres
cnt secretary Of the interior and his
conduct of the Office he holds. These
charges from petty; insinuations and
innuendoes to direct charges of NAL
feasance and misconduct in Office
which. If true, show. that he has most
unworthily discharged his rust. A
moments thought should cause such
charges against a man whose whole
life heretofore has been one of the
highest rectitude Rnd against whom
no dishonorable c1hrge has ever been
made In either p(ivAlte or public life.
Such. a man ia the present secre-
tary of the interior. He is over fifty
years of age, an. honored graduate of
Williams college and 81 lawyer of dis
tinction. He came to our state in
1889 and has lived there ever since.
He was superior Judge for four
years and mayor of the city of Seattle,
Washington. and his administration
OF that Office has, been a model for
his successors. He accepted the Of
flee of commissioner of the general
land Office at the urgent solicitation
of Secretary Garfield who knew per-
sonally his sterling character and eX
ceptional ability. He did not seek
that office. He accepted his present
position only upon the earnest solici-
tation of the president. He did not
seek it. 1t meant nothing to him but
hard work and poor pay He gave up
large and lucrative law practice
simply at the call of patriotic duty.
Is it possible that he at once became
the scoundrel and arch enemy of the
people that he has been depicted in
the public press? cannot believe it.
If he has used his high office to ad-
vance special interests. If he has sac
rificed the people for private or per-
sonal gain let it be shown. If. on
the other hand. the people have been
deceived and he has been unjustly
accused that I should be shown not
only that justice may be done him but
that the confidence of the public in
the honesty and integrity of its public
servants may be restored and
strengthened and the animus of the
attacks disclosed.
Much has been said regarding his
views on the conservation of our nat
ural resources. This shall not dis
cuss at this time. believe that it
will be shown that, his purposes and
objects are substantially the same as
those of the most radical conserva-
zionist and the main difference is but
one of methods. Assuredly there is
room for an honest difference of opin-
ion as to how our great natural re-
sources can best be conserved. may
agree with some of the views of those
who criticise the policies. the meth
ods and proposals of the secretary
but that he is honest and patriotic
in his views have3aftt the slightest
doubt. One thing is sure, we have
had several years of talk about con-
servation, we have had platitude piled
upon platitude in the most dramatic
way but no specific or detailed plans
for conservation have been presented.
"The present secretary of the in-
terror instead of drawing glittering
generalities has made specific recon-
mendations regarding all the impor-
tain conservation, problems SO far as
they have come within the jurisdic-
ton of his department and has pre-
pared and submitted to the careful
scrutiny of the people and of con-
gress legislation that he considers
necessary to effect the objects SO
much desired by all. He recommends
the repeal of the timber and stone
laws and the disposal of tn climber
separate from the soil. He recon-
mends that coal deposits be separat-
ed from the title to the surface and
that the coal' be disposed of separate
from the land by sale or lease. He
recommends legislation to prevent the
acquisition of power sites OH the pub
lie domain by private persons or COR
pOrations with the view of monopoliz-
ing or adversely controlling them
against public interest. He has with
drawn all locations known to possess
power possibilities on inappropriate
ed lands outside of national forests
over which his department has no
jurisdiction and he recommends that
congress pass measure authorizing
the classification of lands capable of
ibeing used for water power develop
ment and to permit of their disposal
Through the interior department upon
substantially the following condi-
tions."
Mr.. Jones then gave synopsis of
seven of the most important recon-
mendations made by Mr.. Ballinger,
and continuing his remark. said:
Conscious of the purity of his mo-
tives and the rectitude of his inten-
tions the secretary of the interior
welcomes this investigation. have
presented the resolution calling for
this investigation. not in his behalf
or in antagonism to any other official
of the government. but in the inter-
ests of good administration and in Or
der that the people may know the
facts of this deplorable controversy
and for the Judgment thereon of an
impartial body.
'rhis resolution has been drawn
directing the committee to investigate
along certain and specific lines and
then authority is given to it to make