The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-09
HE GOT HIS FALL.
ions

we stated yesterday morning lHdI
Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot seemed
to be riding for fall.' Well, he got
it., sudden, sharp and complete, The
President s summing up of his AFRO
gance, his insubordination, and his VIC.
lation of orders is admirable in its
clearncss and force. There was abso-
lutely nothing else for The President
to do than remove Pinchot.
We notice that the sheep men in con
vention in Ogden hailed the news of
Pinchot's removal with applause, This,
AS explained. was not in any way n
personal antagonism against PInchot,
but a protest against his methods and
against his appointments of men who
conducted the forestry service IN an
arbitrary and unlawful manner, and
his sustaining of their arbitrary and
unlawful acts.
The real trouble with Pinchot all the
time has been not that he meant any
thing wrong, for he meant everything
for The best We have not the least
question about this But in considering
and deciding in his own mind the right
thing to do, he gave small attention
10 the law If the law allowed him
10 carry out his policy and to act upon
what he thought was the right thing
well and good. II not, then so much
the worse for the law: he would do as
he pleased any way.
Right there is the line of cleavage be
tween Pnchot and Ballinger, and 1T
might be noted incidentally, between
Taft and Roosevelt. Pinchot and Roose-
welt with the best intentions in the
world thought they ought TO do things
that the law did not permit. and IN
some cases absolutely forbade. BALM
ger and Taft believe in tho law being
supreme They believe in the conser-
walton policy. but hold that whatever
Federal officers do should be regulated
and controlled by the law. Their po-
sitiou is unqucstionably sound, and that
of Pinchot and Roosevelt is Unsound.
Perhaps the CHIEF Forester and the
late President knew better what ought
to be done than those did who made the
law IL - ubl NOll Nlli' w 'l'NhS'
that, for in a popular government no
person. whether official or private cit
izen. has the right 10 override the law
and To substitute for II his own die
tum This is such an elementary prop
osition that it is astonishing that
Messrs. Pinchot and Roosevelt should
have lost sight of il.
The summary removal OF Pinchot for
insubordination and for casting refec-
tions upon his superiors, even upon the
President, was unavoidable. AS soon
as Pinchot took the stand he did, his
doom was scaled 1t would be impos-
sible TO continue in The public service
an officer who willfully, Intentionally.
and through deliberate purpose, planned
a conspicuous act of insubordinatIon
board, II speaks well for Mr.. Pinchot S
courage, but 1t is a severe reflection
upon his discretion.
In discussing this matter yesterday,
NC said that we did not see how Mr..
Pinchot could possibly expect TO re
ibln DlS pOSltIOD, IHC III
subordinate, attitude that he did. 1t
was unreasonable 10 expect it. Per.
haps Mr. Pinchot did not expect it, and
took this way Of terminating his rela-
rions with the administration. If so,
it is quite as well,
The Tribune wishes now and here
TO second with all the earnestncss and
power that it can command. the senti-
mcnt Of the wool men in their National
Convention in ogden, that western
man, one familiar with stock and range
conditions throughout this mountain re-
gion, not a mere thcorlst, should be APP
pointed successor to Mr.. Pinchot That
is evidently the thing to do, and we
trust that the President will be so in.
huenced as TO make that sort of an APP
pointmcnt.