The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-05-11
POINDEXTER'S STAND RIGHT

WASHINGTON. d. c., May T.
Congressman Poindexter has been en-.
dorsed by the National Conserva.
/ ton Association upon an lmportant
policy which he promulgated n short
time ago. Mr.. PoindeXter gave al
interview wherein he opposed tn,
proposal that the conservation Of nat.
| ural resources be left to the severa
states; that the federal government
cede all rights and titls to the stat,
which appertain to such Conserva.
ton. The proposal which NJ. Poin.
dexter opposed arose especially in
connection with control of water pow
err sites, which distinguished citizen,
of the state of Washington advocated
should be turned over to the state IN
| toto.
The Spokane congressman argued
that, first, to do this would be to yield
up one strong vantage point which,
the people now hold, that of federal
hold on these resources; second
that. while in many instances the
states had achieved marvels for the
people. it was true, nevertheless, that
the interests were plainly anxious
just now that conservation be elm
, mated from the real of federal gov.
eminent, and that ie be made purclS
a state function
Although he did not extend his
augmentation in that direction, the
trend of his logic was to establish
the proposition that, under the con-
ditions created by Theodore Roose-
veltS powerful advocacy of national
conservation, the interests want
state conservation substituted for the
simple reason that they believe Il
would be easier to control state leg
islatures than to control the national
congress.
The National Conservation Assoc
citation gave out its endorsement of
PoindeXter when it discussed certain
bills now pending here, introduced
by Senator Smoot of Utah, Senator
Carter of Montana and Representa-
, tive Smith of California, to grant to
the states all water power sites now
owned by the federal government:
and by Representative Englcbrght OF
California, giving the right to con-
denim federal lands under state laws,
thus destroying federal control of
power sites. The Association says:
Hitherto, land grants to the states
have been made only as Il fund in aid
of education, internal improvcm ents
and the like. The Smoot bill has NJ
such justification. 1t abdicatcs ma
tional power and shirks national re-
sponsibilty in a matter of the ut
most Importance for all time to the
Well-being of the nation and the in
dividual citizen. Such a grant to the
state would be revolutionary de-
parture from the uniform practice of
more than century,
The association sounds this note OF
warning: There is grave danger
that this bill will pass. 1t is sup.
ported by an organized and vigorously
conducted campaign in the west
Western promoters and their power.
full financial hackers in the east maA
be expected to favor it," And this
is added: 'Your officers (of the AS.
sociation) believe that the natioi
is morally bound to exercise, for the
general welfare its constitutions
| powers to dispose of and regulate tn,
public domain
Then, answering numerous dishon
est criticisms of the Roosevelt Gar
field-Pinchot water power policies il
, general, the Association declares:
mo genuine question of the consti