Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-01-28
BIG FIGHT COMING
FEDERAL AND STATE RIGHTS
coNsERvATIoNIsTs LINED
UP FOR BATTLE.
BRYAN CLASSED WITH FORMER
Strength of the Opposing Forces May
BE Revealed First in the Matter of
the cocsa River Dam in Ala.
bama.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Westinghouse Clifford Pinchot
made his speech to the washington
convention of men interested in for
estry the other day it has become
SHARPLY apparent that a hard fight is
to begin between the federal conserva-
tionists and the state right conserva-
tionists as soon as the Wilson admin
istration begins. The representatives.
of the federal idea are making prepa-
rations to combat the representatives
of the state rights idea and already
the Representatives of both have de-
scended on the capital to prepare for
the coming conflict
In these dispatches a month ago it
was said When Woodrow Wilson
takes Office he win find conservation
added to the tariff and the trusts to
complete a trio of administration wor-
ries." Mr.. Wilson is said to incline
to the state rights view Of the con
servation matter, but his friends say
he does not believe in letting go of
anything over which the government
has control until it is known definite
ly that the individual state intends
to make proper use of it.
The instant that the name of a GER
tain governor of a northwestern state
was mentioned to the president-elect
as proper man for the position of
secretary of the interior Mr.. Wilson
paid high compliment to the general
character of the man proposed This
man is known as a state rights con-
servationist and the federal conser-
vationists say this means that he els
bitter opponent of any federal plan
for saving to the people their natural
inheritance" One of the most proIni-
nent conservationists in the country
said of this possible choice of the
northwesterner for the cabinet posi-
ton: His appointment would be
ideally evil" These things show how
wide is the difference between the
leaders of the two forces.
Bryan FEEDER aIist In This.
The conservationists hope that
| William Jennings Bryan win be made
member of the next cabinet AS to
the methods of saving the country's
natural resources, Mr. Bryan and Mr.
Wilson do not agree III this matter
Mr.. Bryan may be called federalst
and it is the one chief matter Of gov
eminent policy in which, so far as is
| known at present, his views differ
greatly from those of the incoming
/ l.
lieve that Mr.. Bryan would use his
influence to keep the water power,
the mines and the forests out of the
hands of private corporations to be
exploited largely for their own bene-
| fit
Protests are coming into Washing
ton daily from individuals and from
societies all over the United States
against the granting of the right to
private Alabama corporation to build
water power dam on the Coosa river
in Alabama to be used, it is claimed,
without proper federal regulation.
The 'Coosa dam matter promises to
be as prominent in the conservation
fight as was the proposed James riv-
err Mo, dam of some years ago. In
the Missouri matter President Roose-
welt interviewed with veto.
The Democratic leaders who own
Alabama as a home, it is said, are in
favor of giving the private corpora
ton what it asks in the state. This
means that the fight Of the conserva-
tionjsts must be directed against
concern which has with it the influ-
ence of men high in the Democratic
partys councils, who will be chiefly
instrumental in framing Democratic
legislation in the house of representa-
tives. and who hold they are absolute
ly right in the matter in hand.
May Buy Out Express Companies.
Preparations are being made by
friends of the parcel post sys-
TEN to attempt through congress
sional action to secure legislation for
the purchase of the express companies
and to give Uncle Sam virtual mo-
nopoly of the package carrying bust
ness. This plan has thousands of OPP
ponents, and it may never come to
the fruition, but those opposed to
the scheme may as we'll know definite
ly now that the friends of the pro-
posal are going to work persistently
to secure the end which they have
in view.
1t is even possible that the present
administration of the postotfice de-
partment may urge what can be cali
ed government ownership of the ex-
press business. The attempt which is
to be made to extend the parcel post
business is only to a degree party
measure. It is possible that more
Democrats than Republicans favor it,
but some of the strongest advocates of
the proposal are Republicans who on
other matters have been called con-
servatives.
One wonders If the public generally
realizes that without any additional
legislation it is within the power of
Uncle Sam to enlarge the parcel post
operations to an almost unlimited ex-
tent under the authority which the
law gives to the postmaster general
acting with the interstate commerce
commission.
Hitchcock Has the Power.
The law provides that If the pres
ent system does not work well and
economically and If notifications or
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