The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-03
1T RAIDS BALLINGER.

dowed newspaper. 1t is supported by
the financial guarantee of 13e Of the
Leading responsible citizens Of Boston,
who want to see q newspaper conducted
on high plane. That high plano, how
ever, as applied to this Boston weekly,
seems to be a plane OF effeminate
sentimentality rather than robust
righteousness and elevated standards
of citizenship. We recently referred to
the editorial commentator by that
paper of the cruel and despotic outrages
committed by President Diaz of Mexico,
an approval that might be expected
from a highwayman, but not from
reputa Bile citizen of republic.
We note IN the issue Of that paper of
June 18th, q wholly inexcusabe pro-
nouncement against Secretary Ballinger
Of the Interior Department. This
TRADE is apparently for no other reason
than because Ballinger decided to take
the law for his guide rather than the
usurping policies which have no support
in the law, but which were put into
effect under President Roosevelt and
Chief Forester Pinchot Whatever
seemed to them desirable to be done,
was put into effect by usurping order
and regulation from the two worthless
named. There was never with them any
idea of asking whether the law sup
ported their orders or regulations, or
not. But they were in official power,
and none but the strongest and most
wealthy of the combines and interests
were able to fight them. It made no diff"
ference that under the law the settler
was allowed to take and use a water
right, to take up legitimately coal
claims, to make homestead or mining
entries on forest reserves, when all these
rights were trodden under foot by the
Roosevelt-Pinchot regime, and the poor
settler was helpless
When Secretary Ballinger took office
and began to pay some attention to
complaints of bona ide claimants and
settlers which had been altogether ig-
nored Heretofore, and when he looked
into the matters involved, be found the
law did not support the usurping poll
cies of his predecessor and Of the forest
service. He, therefore, adjusted his Off
cial acts so as to make them conform
to the law. This was a cause Of deep
offense to the usurpers, chiefly because
it allowed the settlers in this western
region to use the available resources of
the country, such as pioneers and set
tiers have done from the beginning Of
American settlements The West has
been retarded in its development on
the theoretical plea that the land and
all pertaining thereto, the coal, water
power, timber, all belong to the general
public and must not be monopolized. -
And so the utilizing of these natural re-
sources was forbidden and progress held
up, all contrary to law, the harassing
policies resting simply on the dictums OF
officials who had undertaken to set
aside the law, in favor Of their senti-
mental theories. Secretary Ballinger
gave these gentry great offense when he
announced that he would mako the law
his guide, and that alone. In this he
was supported by President Taft, who,
mindful of his oath Of office, also con.
sidered the law his guide.
Those who wished to add to or sup
press the law in accordance with their
own notions, thereupon organized Wig
orous fight on Secretary Ballinger. 1t
made no difference that no coal lands In
Alaska had been sequestered from the
Government, 1t made no difference that
the Government was in full possession
of everything that it had ever had, there
was furore created that Ballinger
was an unfaithful official and must go,
and the Boston "Common joins this,
claiming that the proceedings have been
"the unmasklng of an unfit trustee. -
There is not particle of Justice in any
such claim or presentation. There is
absolutely nothing against Secretary
Ballinger when gauged by the standard
of the law. He fails only in meeting the
academic and sentimental policies that
set aside the law and override the legal
rights of the settlers.
To have an endowed newspaper,
founded and supported ostensibly in the
interest of higher ethics than newspa.
pers generally profess or practice, take
the side of usurpers and back those
who set aside the laws of the Republic
OF their mere personal whim, is some
thing that does not speak we'll for the
idea of the endowment of public
journals.