Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
PRESIDENT is LOYAL TO
CONSERVATION POLICY,
SAYS CHAS. .. HILLES

If we succeed, not only will $4,000. 900
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withdrawn from entry, as have said,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
few monopolists, but under such re-
strictions as will insure competition
and fair price to the farmer for this,
one Of the essential elements of plant
food
Then look at the 4,700,000 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oil lands which have been withdrawn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 knsti-
tuition was in its formative periodY OF
course, the policy was not known then.
liant champion than President TAFT,
Fear Democratic Rule.
Il hate to think what would become
of these valuable lands which have
been so carefully withdrawn from an
try We're there to be Democratic adj
ministratfon; but 1 know, and everv
man who wants to exploit these lands
for his own private gain knows, that.
as long as William H. Taft ts Sn the
white house the monopolists will ret no.
chance.
And while am DISCUSSING tina suh.
)ect OF conservation, / want to pofnA
out TO you what economies have been
erected In the administration of the
general land ONCE under President Tan
and through the agencies of seorstarv
Fisher and Commissioner Denna<4
will not bore you with more figures h,,s
take Just one item. A saving OF s1eA
600 a year in salaries alone has hean
effected, and the land office is more e..
hcient today than It ever was IN n.
history.
L have frequently had put to m. q
delicate question as to why, II PreSi-
dent Tart is loyal conservationist, he
appointed R. A. Ballinger as secretary
of the interior. President Taft an.
pointed Judge Ballinger secretary NJ
the Interior because he had had useful
experience as commissioner Of the
general land Office, having been an
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 man of Judge Ballin-
gers preparation. probity and patriot,
ism.
Why Taft Backed BaIIInaer.
Certain enemies Of Judge BalIinEer,
notably the head Of the forest service
attacked Judge Ballinger-not on the
ground that he was not progressive or
loyal conservationist, but with the
charge that he was dishonest. Presi
dent Taft was convinced that Mr.. Bal
hnger was an absolutely honest man
and he could not then have asked for
Judge Bailinger's 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
There are those who think It 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 a reflection on any mans. reputa-
ton without warrant.
But conclusive proof OF Mr. Tac%'s
loyalty to tho conservation policy is
afforded by his selection of Walter L.
Fisher, a former president of the Ma
tional Conservation association, mn
Judge Ballingers 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.