The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-05
PlNcHor.RALLINeER IMBRooLIo
Continued fran, page one

who, after investigating all phases ol
a subject, may reach decision al
variance with some private interest.
Defends Government Officials
Many do not stop to think how
seldom have Government officials
gone astray compared with their op'
lportunities and temptations for wrong
doing. In the hundred and twenty
tive years OF our national life few
OF the men in high positions have
been actuated by other than the high
est and most patriotic motives. This
should cause our people to hesitate
10 accept charges OF base conduct
against their public servants without
Investigation and proof
"'rhe press and magazines of the
country for several months have been
\ filled with charges against the pres
ent secretary Of the interior and his
conduct Of the office he holds. These
charges range from petty insinuations
and inuendoes to direct charges OF
inalieasance and misconduct in Of
4 five which, ii true, show that he has
most nnworthlly discharged his trust.
A moments thought should cause an
I honest and fair-minded man to hest
\ tate to accept such charges against a
man whose whole life heretofore has
! been one of the highest rectitude
ami against whom no dishonorable
charge has ever been made In either
! private or public life
Baliinger Pure As Driven Snow
Such man is the present secre-
| taTy oi the interior He is over fif-
/ " years Of age, an honored gradu
ate of Williams college and law
| yer of distinction. He came to our
! state in 1889 and has lived there
ever since, He was a superior judge
Tor four years and mayor OF the City
of Seattle, Washington, and his ad
! ministration of that office has been
model for his successors He ac-
cepted the office OF commissioner of
the general land office at the urgent
solicitation of Secretary Garfield who
i knew personally his sterling charac
Ter and exceptional ability. He did
not seek that office he accepted his
present position only upon the earn
est solicitation OF the President. He
/ did moi 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
4 duty. Is II possible that he at once
I became the scoundrel and arch enemy
of The people that he has been de-
picted in the public press? cannot
believe IT, IF he has used his high
office to advance special interests, ii
he has sacrificed the people for pri-
vate or personal gain let 1t be shown.
/ II, on the other hand, the people
have been deceived and he has been
unjustly accused that should be
shown not only that justice may be
done him but that the confidence of
| the public in the honesty and nteg.i-
~ of It's public servants may be re-
stored and strengthened and The ami
mus Of the attacks disclosed.
Ballinger And Conservation
Much has been said regarding his
views on the conservation of our nat
ural resources. This | shall not dis
onss at this time. | believe that it
\ will be shown that his purposes and
objects are substantially The same as
those of the most radical consesvs.
ZIONIST and the main difference Is but
one OF methods. Assuredly here is
room for an honest difference of
opinion as 10 how our great natural
resources can best be consel we'd. |
may agree with some of the views
OF those who critcise the policies,
4 the methods and proposals Of the sec
retary, but that he is honest and pat
r!otic in his views | have not the
slightest doubt. One thing Is sure
we have had several years of talk
about conservation. we have had plat.
itude piled upon platitude in the
most dramatic way hnt no specific or
detailed plans for conservation have
been presented.
"The present secretary of the in
terror instead of drawing litte.ing
4 generalities has made specific rec
concentrations regarding all the I'M
+ portant conservation problems SO far
as they come within the jurisdiction
OF his depa; tment and has prepared
and submitted to the careful scrutiny
o. the people and OF congress legisla-
f NiRh wat iit tOiplbti0 u0ttSSdIl W
! effect the objects so much desired
by all
What BaIlinger Recommends
He recommends the repeal of the
timber and stone laws and the die.
posal of the timber separate from the
/ soil. He recommends that coal de-
1 posts be separated from the title to
4 the su face and that the coa be dis
/ posed OF separate from the land by
sale or lease. He recommends leg
islation 10 prevent the acquisition OF
4 power sites on the public domain by
private persons or corporations with
the view Of monopolizing or adversely
controlling them against public mter.l
est. He has withdrawn all locations
known to possess power possibilities
on unappropi lated lands outside of ma
ticnal forests over wil.ca his depart
ment has no jurisdiction and he rec.
ommends that congress pas measure
authorizing the classification of lands
capable Of being used for water pow
er development and to permit of their
disposal through the Interior depart
ment upon substantially the follow
Ing conditions:
Mr. Jones then gave a synopsis OF