Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-14

squarc1y and prescribed the remedy
They Include definite practical re-
concentrations for the protection OF
forests against fire and for equitable
forest taxation.
"Thc classification of the public doc
main was strongly urged and princi-
pies for Its use and disposition were
laid down. Tho necessity Tor prescrv-
Ing the fertility of our soils and de-
veloplng their agricultural value py
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, ap-
plauding and indorsing thcm all
I'm word" he said, "thc report
OF the commission and the message.
taken together. set forth a comprc-
hensivc, definite statement for the con-
scrvation OF our natural resources
A CRITICAL PERIOD.
'.At this critical period. when the
goal was in sight. enemies of conserva-
ton In Congress pot only succeeded in
preventing an appropriation Win
which to pursue tho work. but at
tempted to forbid Its progress by the
Tawney amendment to the last sundry
civil bill ThereuPon the work OF ene
national conservation commission was
stopped.
sThc recommendations OF the COM
mission stIlI walt for action. All wise
men will agree that the situation Is
serious The Tawney amendment was
more than q mistnke-it was deliberate
betrayal of the future The dangers
which confront the conservation COM
mission today must be met with posi-
tive action in Congress, No action VIII
be equivalent to bad action. and VIII
have the same results Unless Congress
acts, the water powers 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 tho
enormously valuable coal deposits In
Alaska. which the present law would
sell for $40 per acre.
'The danger of legislation is no less
serious. The special interests must no
longer be allowed to take what they
the people. Those who steal public
lands steal homes from men and women
who need them. Congress can stop the
pillagc, or Congress can let II go on.
I'm the absence of proper action
two great conservation plans for the
public welfare may fail. The first Is
the control OF water powers on navig-
able streams In the public interest The
second is the construction of the deep
waterway from the Great Lakes to the
Gulf.
"The unanimous opinion of the Mis-
sissippi valley recognizes this water
was as q commercial necessity. 1t be-
lieves, with reason. that the cost for
which Is already officially known, VIII
be trivial when compared with tho
benefits conferred. Transportation ia
cilitics create traffic. The failure to de-
velop our waterways. together with
adequate terminals and connections by
rail-, leaves to the railroads a complete
monopoly of transportation in the Mis-
sIssippi valley"
The former forester then calls upon
every imam of good Will" to make
1t clear to his representatives In Con-
grcss his firm intention to hold them
personally responsible for safeguarding
the rights and property of the peo-
pie"
In such action. says Mr.. Pinchot
lies the remedy,
GREAT IMMEDIATE DANGER.
The first great Immediate danger
Is that the water powers Will be lost;
tne ScCOlu tndl luc Coil lduuo VIII US
lost, ht,,,,o e.-7s,
The statement concludes: But these
specific dangers of public loss are mere
ly parts of tho great issues between
the special interests and the rest of US.
That issue is whether this country shall
be managed by men for human welfare,
or by money for profit.
cit Is n tremendous Issue. far creator
than any mans personal feelings or
personal fortunes. 1t lies between the
people and their representatives on one
side and the interests and their repre-
sentatives on the other side; between
progress and reaction; between special
and square deal. I repeat
that the supreme test is the welfare of
the plain people. 1t is time to apply
IL"
Government officials tonight declined
to make any reply to the statement Is
sued by Mr.. Plnchot, because. owing to
the lateness of the hour at which 1t
was given out. they did not have time
to examine 1t carefully. 1t Is not be-
lieved. however. that any formal reply
will be made to Mr.. Pinchot's defense
of his action. inasmuch as he no longer
is an official OF the government.