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

ash right here in the United States.
If we succeed, not only will $40, 1000. 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withdrawn from entry, as I have said,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oil lands which have been withdrawn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 it's formative period7 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been so carefully withdrawn from en-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 a Democratic ad-
minstration; but I know, and evarv
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
1ect OF conservation, | want to uoInt
out to you what economies have been
effected in the administration Of the
general land Office under President Taft
and through the agencies of Secretary
FISHER and Commissioner Denn<tt.
VIII not bore you with more figures. b,lt
take Just one item. A saving Of 1884
600 year in salaries alone has bean
effected, and the land office is more eff
ticient today than It ever was In its
history.
l have frequently had put to me a
delicate question as to why. ~ Presi-
dent Taft Is a loyal conservatfonist he
appointed r. A. Ballinger as secretary
Of the interior, President Taft an
pointed Judge Ballinger secretary or
the Interior because he had had useful
/ experience az 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 II Williams. Garfield congratu-
lated the country upon the accession to
public life OF a man Of Judge Balm
gers preparation, prObity and patriot
ism.
Why Taft Backed 5aIIinaer
Certain enemies of Judge BalIinger,
notably the head Of the forest service
attacked Judge Ballinger-not on the
ground that he was not progressive or
a loyal conservationist, but with the
charge that he was dishonest Presi-
dent Taft was convinced that Mr.. Bal
linger was an absolutely honest man
and he could not then have asked for
Judge Ballingers resignation without
see .nins to confirm the charge against
his integrity, even II 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
lie too manly and too just a man to cast
such reflection on any mans reputa-
ton without warrant
But conclusive proof OF Mr. Taft's
loyalty 10 the conservation policy is
AFFORDED by his selection Of Walter L.
Fisher former president OF the Ma
tional Conservation association. as
Judge Balltnger'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