El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-14
Forester Pinchot, Recently
Removed, Says the Coun-
try's Resources Are in
Great Danger.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 14.-"The
conservation of natural resources and
the conservation of popular government
ale both at stake. The one needs con-
servatiOn no less than the other"
This statement epitomizes the formal
announcement made public by Clifford
PinchOt. who was recently removed as
chief of the forest service. The former
official declares the great moral issue
that now faces the country. is not the
loss of natural resources 50 much as
whether special interests or the people
shall rule. The statement in part is as
follows:
1.-The supreme test of movements and
measures is the welfare of the plain
people. 1 am as ready to support the
this paramount end as L am to oppose
it when 1t moves away
Mr. Pinchou expresses his profound
regret at leaving the forest service and
pays tribute to the faithfulness and
high quality OF service rendered by the
men with whom he worked.
To-day that movement expresses one
of our deepest national convictions" he
says. "and the principles for which 1t
stands are received as automatic. 1t is
only the execution of them which re-
main in doubt
1.-THE great conference of governors
in the white house in May, 1908, led TO
the appointment of the national con-
servation commission whose report
gave US a new conception of the value
of our natural resources. Together
with President Roosevelts message
transmitting its report. the recommen-
dalton of the commission furnished
complete statement Of the conservation
policy, met our needs sQuareiy and PEE
scribed the remedy. They include
definite, practical recommendations for
the protection of forests against fire
and for equitable forest taxation
"The classification of the public do
main was strongly urged and principles
for its use and disposition were lai1
down. The necessity for preserving --he
fertility of our soils and developing
their agricultural value by drainage and
otherwise was covered and particular
attention was given to the eeds of re-
tanning our phosphate lads. then in
danger of absorption by z foreign syn
dieate"
Mr. Pinchot then traces the recon-
mendations of the conference, applaud
ing and endorsing them ALL
TN a word" he said, ''the report of
the commission 1Ad the message taken
together, set forth a comprehensive,
definite statement for the conservation
of our natural resources" Then he
proceeded:
AT this critical period when the goal
was. in sight, enemies of conservation
in congress not only succeeded in pre-
venting an appropriation with which to
pursue the work but tried to prevent
dts progress by the passage of the Taw-
ney amendment to the sundry civil BILL
Thereupon the work of the national
conservation commission was stopped.
THE recommendations of the COM
mission still wait for action All wise
men will agree that the situation is
serious. The Tawney amendment was
more than a mistake-it was a DELHI
crate betrayal of the future. The dan
gers which confront the conservation
movement today must be met by posi-
tive action in congress. No action viii
be equivalent to bad action and viii
have the same results.
unless congress acts. the water pow
ers will pass into the hands of special
interests without charge and without
limit of time. So with the phosphate
deposits on public lands, when the
Withdrawals which now protect them
are removed. So with the enormously
valuable coal deposits in Alaska. which
the present law would sell for ten dol
lars per acre.
1.-THE danger of bad legislation is no
less serious. The special interests must