The Detroit times., 1910-01-14
|P|NCH0T TELLS HOW
CONGRESS STOPPED
GREAT WORK
when Goal Was in Sight Appro-
priation Was Refused With Which
To Pursue the Work." Says
49, Former Chief Forester.
Urges People in All Sections To Hold
Representatives in Congress Re-
sponsible for Peoples Rights.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE state
ment which Clifford Pinchot promised
! to the people, defining his position on
the conservation question. was made
public last night. He says the great
moral issue that faces the country
4 Is not the loss OF natural resources
1 SO much as whether special interests
I or the people shall rule. His state
ment says In part:
"At this time | have no comment 10
make on recent events. Whether In
or out OF the government service.
/ propose to stay In the fight for con-
! servation and equal opportunity. Every
movement and measure, from what
ever source, that tends to advance
conservation and promote government
/ by men for human welfare. | shall try
TO help. Every movement and meas
<Sre from whatever source that hinders
Conservation and promotes govern
ment by money for profit | shall en-
deavor TO oppose. The supreme test
A OF governments and measures is the
4 welfare OF the plain people. | am as
ready TO support the administration
when II moves toward this paramount
end as l am TO oppose 1t when IL
moves away"
Pinchot expresses his regret at leav-
Ing the forest service and pays tribute
10 the faithfulness and high quality
OF service rendered by the men with
whom he worked. Out of the work OF
the forest service. he proceeds, grew
the conservation movement.
"Deepest National Conviction"
To-day that movement expresses
one of our deepest national convic-
tions." he says. land the principles for
which II stands are received as axi-
omatic. 1t is only the execution which
remains I'm doubt.
THE great conference of governors
in the White House in May. 1907, led
tot.he appointment OF the conservation
cammission. whose report gave M 4
8new conception 0f the vnlus Nof soNfI
natural resources. 1t told up what n
needed for their prompt and orderly
development and for their safety and
Bperpetuation.
Together with President Rcose-
fvelt's message transmitting its report.
1.-THE recommendations of the commits
sion furnished a complete statement
of the conservation policy, met our
needs squarely and prescribed the
<remedy. They include definite and
Epractical recommendations for the pro-
Election OF forests against fire and for
Reputable forest taxation.
"The classification of the public do
fmain was strongly urged and princi-
rles for it's use and disposition were
laid down. The necessity for preserv-
ing the fertility of our soils and de-
yeloping the agricultural value by
Edrainage and otherwise was covered.
land particular attention was drawn TO
1.-THE needs Of OBTAINING our phosphate
Hands, then In danger of absorption
by a general syndicate"
Enemies Got Busy.
Pinchot then related the recommen-
cations OF the conference. applauding
and indorsing them all. I'm word"
be said, 1.-The report OF the commits
ksion and the message, taken together,
Eset forth a comprehensive and definite
statement Of the condition OF our nat
/ ural resources" Then he continued:
AT this critical period, when the
goal was in signt. enemies OF conser-
Evation I'm congress not only succeeded
4 in preventing an appropriation with
which to pursue the work, but attempt
ed to forbid its progress by the Taw-
tney amendment to the last sundry civil
bill. Thereupon the work Of the ma
t.onal conservation commission was
stopped.
"The recommendation OF the COM
mission still wait for action. All wise
men will agree that the situation Is
xerious. The Tawney amendment was
more than a mistake-it was a deiib.
crate betrayal of the future. The
4 dangers which confront the conserva-
4 tioon movement today must be met by
positive action In congress. No action
will be equivalent to bad action and
will have the same results.
Unless congress acts the water
powers will pass into the hands of spe-
4 cial interests without charge and with
4 cut limit OF time. So with the phos-
\ phate deposits on public lands, when
the Withdrawals which now protect
them are removed. So with the enor-
pously valuable coal deposits in Alas
ka, which the present law would sell
for $40 per acre.
1.-THE danger Of bad legislation is no