The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-01-18
SOUNDS WARNING NOTE.
Former Chief Forester Makes Public
Statement.-Water Power Sites
and Coal Lands.

dSlluStOu, Jan. tc-
seryation Of natural resources and
the conservation Of popular govern
anent are both at stake. The one
needs conservation no less than the
et1aer.''
This statement epitomizes the for
nal annourc cement made public to-
aisht by Clifford Pinchot, who was
recently removed as chief of the for
est service. The former official de-
clares the great moral issue that now
faces the country is not the loss OF
natural resources, so much as Wheth-
er special interests or the people shall
rule. The statement, in part Is as
follows: ,
:.At this time I have no comment
70 make on recent events. Whether
in or out Of the government service,
I propose to stay in the tight tor
conservation and equal opportunity
Every movement and measure, from
whatever source, that tends to ad-
vance conservation and promote
government by men for human vel
fare I shall try to help. Every move
ment and measure, from whatever
source, that hinders conservation
and promises government by money
for profit I shall endeavor to oppose:
The supreme test of movements and
measures is the welfare of the PLAIN
people. I am as ready to support
the Administration when 1t moves
toward this paramount end as l am
10 oppose it when it moves away"
Mr.. Pinchot expressed his pro-
found regret at leaving the forest
service and pays tribute to the faith
fulness and high duality of service
rendered by the men with whom he
worked. Out of the work OF the
forest service, he proceeds, grew the
conservation movement.
Conservation Movement.
+ ssTo-day that movement expresses
oae<of our deepest national eonVlc-
t;ons,'' he says, "and the principles
for which it stands are received as
axiomstie. It is only the execution
Of them which remains in doubt.
Mr. Pinchot then traced the rec
concentrations Of the conference on
conservation at the White House IN
May. 1908, the subsequent creation
of the national conservation commls-
sion, which he says together with
President Roosevelt's message to
Congress on the subject, set forth
comprehensive, definite scheme tor
the conservation of our natural re-
sources which he applauds\ and en-
dorses. Then he proceeded:
:stAt this critical period, when
the goal was in sight, enemies OF
conservation in Congress not only
succeeded in preventing an appropr1-
alton with which to pursue the work
but attempted to forbid its progress
bv the Tawney amendment to the
last sundry civil bill. Thereupon the
work Of the national conservation
commission was stopped.
'tThe recommendations Of the
commission still wait for action. All
wise men will agree that the sltua-
ton is serious. The Tawney amend
nent was more than a mistake-at
was a deliberate betrayal Of the fu-
ture: The dangers which confront
: the conservation movement to-day
aust be met by positive action IN
fCongress. No action viii be equiv
aTent to bad action and will have
the same results.
Early Action Necessary.
ssUnless 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-
teet them are removed. So with the
enormously valuable coal deposits IN
Alaska, which the present law would
sell for $40 per acre.
1.-THE danger of bad legislation is
no less serious. The special interests
must no longer be allowed to take
what they would choose out Of the
great property Of all the people.
Those who stand public lands steal
homes from men and women who
need them. Congress can stop the
pillage, or Congress can let it 60 on.
i'In the absence Of proper action