Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-14
Nation Is Warned of
Vital Issues to Be
Decided
CRISIS HAS COME
Future of Americas
Government Lies
at Stake
fsnact u 70 Tho Herald. ]

~ history of American politics.
The very future of American govern
nient is at stake.a Shall the people, to
resources are natural heritage, own
these sources of happiness, comfort
and livelihood, or shall they be cor
nered, controlled and deVoured by the
trusts and corporate interests?"
Such, in substance, is the ponderous
question asked today by Clifford Pin
chot, deposed chief forester, of the
American people, for the representation
of whose policies he was sunmariIy
dismissed from office.
Washington tonight is agog over the
first public statement of his case yet
presented by Pinchot. In this state
ment, the deposed forester has spared
no language, minced no words, to
make known to the people, whom he
go faithfully represented, the exact is.
Sues confronting them, and, the vital
principles at stake in the great war
now on between Taft, Aldrich, Cannon
and the trust combination on one side,
and Pinchot, Roosevelt and the Ameri-
can people on the other.
"The conservation of natural re-
sources and the conservation of pop
ular government are both at stake.
The one needs conservation no less
than the other"
Epitomizes Statement
This statement epitomizes the for
NAL announcement made public to-
night by Clifford Pinchot, recently re-
moved as chief of the forest service.
The former official declares the great
moral issue that now faces the coun-
try is not the loss of natural resources
so much as whether special interests
or the people shall rule.
The statement, in part, follows:
Sat this time l 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 advance
conservation and promote government
by men for human welfare. 1 shall try
to help.
every movement and measure, from
whatever source, that hinders conser-
vatism and promotes government by
money for profit, l shall endeavor to
oppose. The supreme test of move
ments and measures is the welfare of
the plain people. I am as ready to
support the administration when 1t
moves toward this paramount end as
/ am to oppose it when it moves
away"
Pnchot's Regret
Mr.. Pinchot 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.
Out of the work Of the forest service,
he declares, grew the conservation
movement.
To-day that movement expresses one
of our deepest national convictions"
ba GsaTH Tho oriy,oin1oc foy J, io1o
it stands are received as automatic.
1t is only the execution of them which
remains in doubt.
1.-The great conference of governors
in the White House in May, 1908 led
To the appointment of the national
conservation commission, which gave
us new conception Of the value of
our national resources. 1t told us
what Is needed for their prompt and
orderly development and for their
safety and perpetuation.
Together with President Roosevelts
message transmitting it's report. the
recommendations of the committee
furnished a complete statement of the
conservation policy, met our needs
squarely and prescribed their remedy.
They include definite practical recon-
mendations for the protection of for
ests against fire and for equitable for
est taxation.
Classification Urged
1.-THE classification of the public do
main was strongly urged and prin-
cipleS for it's use and disposition were
laid down. The necessity for preserv-
ing the fertility of our soils and de-
veloping their agricultural value by
drainage and otherwise was covered,
and particular attention was given to
the needs of retaining our phosphate
lands, then in danger of absorption by
a foreign syndicate"
Mr.. Pinchot then traced the recon-
mendations of the conference, applaud
ing and indorsing them ALL
"In a word" he said, "the report
of the COZ mission and the message,
taken together, set forth compre-
hensive, definite statement for the
conservation of our natural resources"
Then he proceeds: Sat this critical
period, when the goal was in sight.
enemies of conservation in congress
not only succeeded in preventing an
appropriation with which to pursue
the work. but attempted to forbid its
passage by the Tawhey amendment
to the last sundry civil bill. There
upon the work of the national con-
servation commission vas stopped.
"The recommendations of the commits
sion still wait for action. All wise men
will agree that the situation is serious.
The Tawney amendment was more
than a mistake II was denperate De-
trayal of the future.
Dangers Require Action
"rhe dangers which confront the
conservation movement today must be
met by positive action in congress. No
action will be equivalent to bad ac-
tion. and will have the same results.
'Jnless congress acts, the water
nowers will pass into the hands of
special interests without charge and
without limit of time So with the
Continued on Page Eight