The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-01-21
RICHTSOF PEOPLE
IN DANGER
PTNCHOT FEARS FOR Gov
ERNMENT AS WELL AS
RESOURCES
Saws Conservation of Both Are at
Stake One as Shaky as the
Other, He Says, and Appeals to
Voters to Come to His Aid in
Fight Now On.

Voters to Come to His Aid in
Fight Now On.
Washington, Jan. 15-''The conserv-
alton of natural resources and the con-
servation Of popular government are
both at stake. The one needs conserv
alton no less than the other
This statement epitomizes the formal
announcement made public by Clifford
Pinchot, recently removed as chief of
the forest service. The former official
declares that the great moral issue
which now faces the country is not the
loss of natural resources so much as
whether special interests or the people
shall rule. The statement, in part, is
as follows:
cat this time have no comment to
make on recent events. Whether in
or out of the government service,
propose to stay in the fight for con-
servation and equal opportunity.
every movement and measure,
from whatever source, that tends to
eminent by men for human welfare.
shall try to help. Every movmeent
and mmeasure, from whatever source,
that binders conservation and promotes
government by money for profit, I shall
endeavor to oppose. The supreme test
of movements and measures is the well
fare of the plain people. am as ready
to support the administration when it
moves toward the paramount end as I
am to oppose it when it moves away.
Mr.. Pinchot expresses his profound
regret at leaving the forest serice, and
pays high tribute to the faithfulness
and high quality of service rendered by
the men with whom he worked. Out
of the work of the forest service, he
declares, grew the conservation move
ment
What Movement Represents
"Today that movement expresses
one of our deepest natural convic-
tions," he continues, land the princi-
pies for which it stands are received
as automatic. It is only the execution
of them which remains in doubt.
"The great conference of governors
in the White House in May, 1908, led
to the appointment of the national con-
servation committee. whose report
gave us new conception of the value
of our natural resources. It told Us
what is needed for their prompt and
orderly development and for their safe
ty and perpetuation.
Together with President Roose-
velt's message transmitting its report
the recommendations of the committee
furnished complete statement of the
conservation policy, met our needs
squarely and prescribed the remedy.
They include definite, practical recon-
mendations for the protection of for
ests against fire and for equitable forest
taaxtion..
''The classification of the public do
main was strongly urged and principles
for it's use and disposition were laid
down. The necessity for preserving
the fertility of our soils and developing
their agricultural value by drainage
and otherwise was covered, and partic-
ular attention was given to the needs
of retaining our phosphate lands, then
in danger of absorption by a foreign
syndicate
Mr.. Pinchot traced the recommends
lions of the conference, applauding and
indorsing them all
''In a word, " he said, ''the report of
the commission and the message, taken
together, set forth a comprehensive,
definite statement for the conservation
Of our natural resources.
Scores Tawney Amendment
Then he proceeded:
"At this critical period, when the
goal was in sight. enemies of conserva-
ton in congress not only succeeded in
preventing an appropriation with which
to pursue the work, but attempted to
forbid its progress by the Tawney
amendment to the last sundry civil bill.
Thereupon the work of the national
conservation commission was stopped.
''The recommendations of the COM
mission still wait for action. ALI wise
men will argee that the situation is Sc
rious. The Tawney amendment was
more than mistake-it was deliber-
ate betrayal Of the future. The dan
gers which confront the conservation
movement today must be met by posi-
tive action in congress. No action will
be equivalent to bad action, and will
have the same results.
Unless congress acts, the water
powers will pass into the hands of spe-
cial interests without charge and with
out limit for all time. So will the
phosphate deposits on public lands,
when the Withdrawals which now pro-
tect them are removed. So with the
enormously valuable coal deposits in
Alaska, which the present law would