The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-14
FORMAL STATEMENT
ISSUED BY PINCHOT
Former Head OF the Forestry Pledges Himself TO Work
Increasingly for Conservation Of Observation-Disclosures
His Fellow Workers.

suudry civil bill Thereupnn the work
Of the national conservation commits
sion was stopped. The Recommended
tons Of the commission stin wait for
action. All wise men will agree that
the situation is serious. The Tawney
amendment was more than mistake
il was deliberate betrayal of the fu-
ture. The dangers which confront the
conservation commission today may he
met with positive action in congress
No action will be equivalent 10 bad
action and will have the same results
Unless congress acts the water powers
will pass into the hands of special in
tercsts without charge and without
limit of time. So with the phosphate
deposits on lands. when the withdraw
ais which now protect them are re-
moved. So with the enormously valua-
bile coal deposits i'm Alaska. which the
present law would sell for SO per acre
Can Stop Piliaee.
THE danger Of bad legislation Is no
less serious. The special interests must
no longer be allowed tn take what they
choose out of the great property of all
the people. Those who steal public
lands steal homes from men and
women who need them. Congress can
stop the piliage. or congress can let
it go on.
in the absence of proper action,
two great conservation plans for the
public welfare may fail. The first is
the control of water powers on navi-
gable 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 waterway
as n commercial necessity. 1t believes.
with reason, that the cost, for which
is already officially known. will be
trivial when compared with the hcne-
fits conferred. TRANSPORTATION facili-
ties create traffic. The failure to de-
vel"p our waterways. together with adj
eanate terminals and connections by
rail. leaves to the railroads a complete
monopoly of transportation in the Mis-
sissippi valley
Personally Responsible.
The former forester then calls upon
every man of good will' to make it
clear to his representatives in congress
sonally responsible for safeguarding the
rights and property of the people"
In such action lies the remedy, SAYS
MIR. Pinchot
THE first great immediate danger
is that the water powers will be lost;
the second that the coal lands will be
lost"
The statement concludes: But these
specific dangers of public loss are
merely parts of the great issue between
the special interests and the rest of U.S.
That issue is whether this country shall
he managed by men for human welfare
or by money for profit. 1t is n tre-
mendous issue, far greater than any
fortunes. 1t lies between the people
and their representatives on one side
and the interests and their representa-
tives on the other side: between prog
ress and reaction: between special
privilege and square deal. repeat that
the supreme test is the welfare of
the plain people. lit is time to
apply it,"
Government officials tonight declined
to make any reply To the statement
issued by Mr.. Pinchot, because. owing
to the lateness of the hour at which
it was given out, they did not have
time to examine it carefully. II Is not
believed. however. that any formal re-
ply will be made tn Mr.. Pinchot's de-
tense of his motion. inasmuch as he
no longer is an official Of the govern
ment. q