Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-05

secretary of the interior and his con-
duct of the office he holds. These
charges range from petty insinuations
and innuendoes to direct charges of
malfeasance and misconduct in office
which, If true, show that he has most
unworthily discharged his trust. A
moments thought should cause an
honest and fair-minded man to hesi-
tate to accept such charges against a
man whose whole life heretofore has
been one of the highest rectitude and
against whom no dishonorable charge
has ever been made in either private or
public life.
Much has been said regarding his
views on the conservation of our nat
urai resources. This / shall not dis
cuss at this time. ] believe that it will
be shown that his purposes and objects
are substantially the same as those of
the most radical conservationist and
the main difference is but one of meth
ods.s Assuredly there is room for an
honest difference of opinion as to how
our great natural resources can best be
conserved. / may agreo with some of
the views of those who criticize the
policies, the methods and proposals of
the secretary. but that he is honest and
patriotic in his views have not the
slightest doubt. One thing is sure, we
have had several years of talk about
conservation, we have had platitude
pied upon platitude in the most dra-
matte way but no specific. or detailed
plans for conservation have been pre-
sented.
Getting Ready For Whitewash?
The present secretary of the inter-
1or instead of drawing glittering gen.
eralities has made specific recommends
ations regarding all the important con.
servation problems so far as they come
within the jurisdiction of his depart
ment and has prepared and submitted
to the careful authority of the people
and OF congress legislation that he con-
siders necessary to effect the objects
so much desired by all. He recon-
mends the repeal of the timber and
stone laws and the disposal of the tim
Der separate from the soil. He recon-
mends that coal deposits be separated
from the title to the surface and that
the coal be disposed of separate from
the land by sale or lease. He recon-
mends legislation to prevent the acaui-
sltion of power sites on the public do
main by private persons or corpora
tions with the view of monopolizing
or adversely controlling them against
public interest. He has withdrawn all
locations known to possess power pos
sibilities on unappropriated lands out
side of national forests over which his
department has no jurisdiction and he
recommends that congress pass
measure authorizing the classification
Of lands capable of being used for
water power development and to per-
NIT of their disposal thru the interior
department."
Courts Investigation.
'Mr. Jones then gave a synopsis of
seven of the most important recon-
mendations made by Mr.. Ballinger, and
continuing his remarks, said:
Conscious Of the purity Of his mo-
tfves and the rectitude of his inten-
tions the secretary of the interior well
comes this investigation. I have pre-
sented the resolution calling for this
investigation, not in his behalf or in
antagonism to any other official of the
government, but in the interests of
good administration and in order that
the people may know the facts of this
deplorable controversy and for the
judgment thereon of an impartial
body"