The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-01-05

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
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.
such a. man Is the present Secretary
of the Interior. lie is over fifty years
of age, an hOnored graduate OF VIII
liams College and a lawyer Of distinc-
tion. He came to our state in 1889
and has lived there ever since. He
was "A Superior Judge for four years
and Mayor of the City of Seattle,
washington, and his administration
of that office has been model for his
Successors. He accepted the office of
Commissioner Of the General Land
Secretary Garfield who knew PERSONAL
~ his sterling character and eXcep-
tional ability. He did not seek that
office. He accepted his present po-
sition only upon the earnest solicita-
ton of the President. He did not seek
It, It meant nothing to him but hard
work and poor pay. He gave up a
large and lucrative law practice simp-
ly at the call of patriotic duty. Is II
possible that he at once became the
scoundrel and arch enemy of the peo-
pie that he has been depicted i'm the
public press? | cannot believe it.
If he has used his high office to ad-
vance special interests; if he has
sacrificed the people for private or
personal gain let it 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,
in the honesty and integrity of it's
public servants may be restored and
strengthened and the animus OF the
attacks disclosed.
Much has been said regarding his
views on the conservation of our
natural 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 conserVa-
ZIONIST and the main difference is but
one of methods. Assuredly there is
room for an honest difference of opin-
ion as to how our great natural re-
sources can best be conserved. l may
agree with some OF the views of those
who criticise the policies. the methods
and proposals of the Secretary but
/ that he is honest and patriotic i'm his
views / have not the slightest doubt.
one thing is sure. we have had sever
al years of talk about conservation,
we have had platitude piled on plati-
tude in the most dramatic way. but no
specific or detailed plans for conser-
vation have been presented.
"The present Secretary of the Inter-
ior instead of drawing glittering gem
eralities has made specific recommen-
dations regarding all the important
conservation problems so far as they
come within the jurisdiction of his
; Department and has prepared and sub
mitted TO the careful scrutiny of the
people and of Congress legislation that
! ne considers necessary to effect the
objects so much desired by all. H'
recommends the repeal of the timber
and stone laws and the disposal of th'
timber separate from the soil. III
recommends that coal deposits h'
separated from the title 20 the surface
and that the coal be disposed Of sep.
arate from the land by sale or lease
He recommends legislation TO prevent
the acquisition Of power sites on th'
public domain by private persons o'
Continued on page two.