New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
FOR RESOURCES USE
B4LLINGER SPEAKS.
against Bottling Up of No
fion's Wealth.

ffOft y W Ghtft.
Providence. Jan. 29-Alaska is a prize
package the full value of which man
can Yet estimate. declared Richard A Bal
Iinger. Secretary of the Interior. before the
Conservative Club Of Rhode Island and the
Economic Club of Providence here tonight
In declaring that the natural wealth of The
land should be conserved the Secretary
made no reference TO his controversy with
Clifford Pinchot. He announced his willing
ness TO answer any questions after he had
closed his address, but no queries were put
20 him.
The Secretary said that the homestead
statute signed by President Lincoln was
one of the most benencent ever enacted for
the upbuiding Of the country, and was Of
especial value in relation to the farm lands
Of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and other
places in the West, but was an absurdity
IN the forest lands of Oregon. which were
so thickly tirnbered as TO be almost i'm
penetrabie, and equally absurd when ap-
pied to the valuable mineral lands OF
Alaska
After the speech the Secretary departed
on the midnight train for Washington.
In beginning his remarks Secretary Bal
1neer declared that while he believed in
conservation, he did not believe that con-
servation meant bottling up natural re-
sources.
The Secretary said he did not believe
that conservation which merely preserves
the resources OF the nation interests the
public, but that he did believe the public
was interested in conservation which,
through development, saves them from
waste and improper use.
Some people. l fear declared the
Secretary, have notion that TO conserve
them, or bottle them UP. All kinds of ex-
freme notions are likely TO be advanced
hy those who take an impractical view of
this subject I was confronted recently
by the suggestion that the government
n1ld homes upon the remaining public
lands, fence them and stock them, and
rent them TO applicants and become the
landlord OF the public domain.
II is ali right TO place reasonable re-
sstraints upon the of our national re-
sources TO prevent the mischefs which
result from monopoly and greed and ex-
tortion, but when you attempt TO regulate
mans private, business, or declare how
lie shall use his property. so that he can
no longer exercise a reasonable indepen-
dence over il, he may as well surrendr his
businss and property to the state and let
the state operate il.
individuality and incentive for Industry
VIII certainly disappear under any sys-
TEN of public regulation and control
which imposes q strictly governmental
guardianship over the citizen The Ameri-
can system OF government contemplates
5le freest. possible exercise of individual
liberty consistent with the public good.
and IN discussing the conservation of our
national resources and the supervision.
regulation and control that is proper TO
he imposed by federal or state AUTHORITY.
This principle should be constantly recog-
nizeG-
After ALL the question of conservation
is qestion of practising with our re-
sources frugality and economy. Profit
gacy and wanton waste OF our inheritance
strained whenever and wherever the power
exists, and particularly when the loss af-
lects the future happiness Of mankind
our nations future, IN the highest de-
gree is involved in the perpetuity of our
Nealln and the ability of our people TO
I'VE IN happiness and. prosperity in all gem
erauons 10 come; therefore, we can Justly
SAL say that no o man can crafty his lust for
~eaith or his ambition for power by de
str9ying the opportunities of others to live
and enjoy their share of the bounties of
REFERS TO TAFF'S MESSAGE.
Dir. Ballinger referred to President Taft's
'SoSl-t iileSsage 10 congress which declared
mat the soils Of the country which pro-
ouce The foodstuffs are also worthy OF con-
serHatlon, and the Secretary declared that
the soils should be included in conserva-
non with the forest, the mine and the
water resources.
water power resources should be devel-
"ped under government control. Mr. RaI-
'Ihger insisted. 10 save the coal and the
forests from being consumed for fuel. Mr..
balllnSer declared that such DEVELOPMENT
shouid be through private enterprise under
government supervision and control and
mat Congress should give TO the executive
branch of the government the authority TO
obtain these results
IN view OF the national interest in these
resources" said the Secretary. in closing
IL Is incumbent upon Congress to give
10 The executive branch of the government
sufncient power and authority to protect
against the continued waste and reckless
disposition Of the public domain, and it is
the earnest desire of this administration
that it may be clothed with sufficient s.-
thority and equipped with the necessary
machinery 10 accomplish all that is possi-
bic through federal agencies in this nar-
ficular"
want them 10 turn my pockets inside
out said Mr. Ballinger, when questioned
here to-day concerning the Investigation
which Is at present going on n Washington.
No. I haven't been suhpeuaed yet" he
continued, 'in fact, I have requested that
be called. and stand ready whenever they
want me- .
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