Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-14
PRESIDENTS LOYAL TO
CONSERVATION POLICY,
SAYS CHAS. =, HILLES

!
be kept here In our own market in
stead of going to Germany, but an i'm
mense saving will be effected for the
benefit Of the farmer. What better kind
of conservation is there than that?
Besides potash the farmer has 10
buy phosphates. President Taft has
withdrawn from entry as I have said
more than 100000 acres of phosphate
lands in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. AS
soon as congress can be induced to en-
act the proper legislation these lands
will be worked-not for the benefit of a
few monopolists, but under such re-
strictions as will insure competition
and a fair price TO the farmer for this,
one Of the essential elements of plant
food
Then look at the 100000 acres Of
oil lands which have been withdrawn
from entry. Do you think the Stand
ard Oil trust would have been possible
had the government pursued the wise
policy of conservation when that insti-
tuition was In its formative period? OF
course, the policy was not known then,
but it is now. and It has no more val
liant champion than President Taft
Fear Democratic Rule.
| I hate to think what would become
of these valuable lands which have
been so carefully withdrawn from en-
try were there to be Democratic ad-
ministration; but l know. and every
man who wants to exploit these lands
for his own private gain knows, that,
as long as William H, Taft is in the
white house the monopolists will get no
chance
And while I am discussing the sub
ject Of conservation, | want to point
out to you what economies have been
effected in the administrat ton of the
general land office under President Taft
and through the agencies Of Secretary
Fisher and Commissioner bennett |
will not bore you with more figures. but
take Just one item saving of $194.-
GEO year in salaries alone has been
effected. and the land office is more ef-
hcient today than it ever was In its
history
have frequently had put to me
delicate question as to why. If Presi-
dent Taft is a loyal conservation he
appointed r. A. Ballinger as secretary
or the interior. President Taft aD-
pointed Judge BaIlinger secretary OF
the interior because he had had useful
| experience as commissioner Of the
general land office, having been ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt on the
; recommendation of Secretary Garfield.
who had known him from their college
days at Williams. Garfield congratu-
. lated the country upon the accession to
public life Of a man of Judge Balln-
o. gers preparation, probity and patriot
ism
Why Taft Backed eaIInger.
Certain enemies of Judge Balinger,
. notably the head Of the forest service.
attacked Judge Balinger-not on the
? ground that he was not progressive or
a loyal conservationist, but with the
? charge that he was dishonest Pres-
dent Taft was convinced that Mr. Bal
linger was an absolutely honest man
and he could not then have asked for
Judge Balingers resignation without
seeming to confirm the charge against
his integrity, even if persuaded that he
was not heartily in sympathy with the
presidents conservation program
! mere are those who think II would
have been good politics for President
Taft to have demanded Judge Balm
gers resignation at once, but Mr. Taft
IS too manly and too just man to cast
such reflection on any mans reputa-
ton without warrant.
But conclusive proof OF Mr. Tafts
loyalty to the conservation policy is
afforded by his selection OF Walter L.
Fisher, former president OF the Ma
tlonal Conservation association, as
Judge Ballinger's successor. And, mark
you when Secretary Fisher assumed
the office he found that not one back
ward step had been taken, not one acre
of land had been lost, not one power
site had passed into private ownership
since Secretary Garfield had retired
from the office