The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-14
STOP Thief
|SP|NCHOT'S
WARN|NGCRY
Deposed Forester Sees Spe
cial Interests Aligned
Against People

ServatiOn of natural resources and the
conservation of pupular government
are both at stake The one needs
conservation no less than the other"
This statement epitomizes the for
nal announcement made public to-
night by Clifford Pinchot recently re-
moved as chief of the forest service.
The former official declares that the
great moral issue which now faces the
country is not the loss of natural re-
sources so much as whether special
interests or the people shall rule. The
statement, in part is as follows:
Will Not Quit Fisns.
cat this time | have no comment to
make on recent events. Whether In or
out of the government service, | pro-
pose to stay in the fight for conserva-
ton and equal opportunity.
Every movement and measure, from
whatever source, that tends to advance
conservation and promte government
by men for human welfare | shall try
to help.
Every movement and measure, from
whatever source, that hinders cOnser-
vatiOn and srompts government by
men for human welfare | shall try to
help.
every movement and measure, from
whatever source that hinders con-
servation and promotes government by
money for profit l shall endeavor to
oppose.
"The supreme test of movements
and measures is the welfare of the
plain people. / am as ready to sup
port the administration when it moves
toward this paramount end as l am to
oppose it when it moves away"
Mr.. Pinchot expresses his profound
regret at leaving the forest service
and pays high tribute to the faithful
ness and high quality of service rem
Gered by the men with whom he work.
Cd Out of the work of the forest SER
vice, he declares, grew the conserva-
ton movement.
To-day that movement expresses
one of our deepest national convic-
tions," he continued, land the princi
pies for which it stands are received
as automatic. 1t is only the execu-
ton of them which remains in doubt
"The great conference of governors
il. the White House in May, 1908, led
to the appointment of the national
conservation commission whose report
gave us a new conception of the value
OF our national resources. 1t told us
what is needed for their prompt and
orderly development and for their
safety and perpetuation.
Together with President Roose-
velt's message transmitting it's report
the recommendations of the commits
sion furnished a complete statement of
the conservation policy, me, our needs
sqUarely and prescribed the remedy.
They include definite, practical recon-
mendatiOns for the protection of for
ests against fire and for equitable for
est taxation
"The classification of the public land
was strongly urged and principles for
its use and disposition were laid down
The necessity for preserving the fer
tility Of our soils and developing their
agricultural value by drainage and
otherwise was covered, and particular
attention was given to the needs of
retaining our phosphate lands, then in
danger of absorption by a foreign syn
dicate"
Endorses Governors Conference.
Mr.. Pinchot traced the recommended
tions of the conference, applauding
and endorsing them all.
"In q word,' he said, "the report of
the committee and the message, taken
together set forth comprehensive,
definite statement for the conserva
tiCn of our natural resources
Then he proceeded:
AT this critical period, when the
goal was in sight, enemies of conser-
walton in congress not only succeeded
in preventing an appropriation with
which to pursue the work, but at
tempted to forbid its progress by the
TaWney amendment to the last sun
CRY civil bill. Thereupon the work of
the national conservation commission
was stopped.
THE recommendations OF the COM
mission still wait for action. All wise
men will agree that the situation is
serious. The Tawney amendment was
more than a mistake-it was a de-
liberate betrayal of the future.
The dangers which confront the con-
servatiOn movement today must be met
by positive action in congress. No
action will be equivalent to bad action
and will have the same results.
Says Water Powers In Danger.
unless congress acts, the water
powers will pass into the hands of
special interests without charge and
without limit of time. So with the
phosphate deposits on public lands
when the Withdrawals which now pro-
tect them are removed So with the
enormously valuable coal deposits in
Alaska, which the present law would
sell for SO per acre.
"The danger of bad legislation is no
less serious The special interests
must no longer be allowed to 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. Con-
gress can stop the pillage, 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 nav