The Washington herald., 1913-04-08
clifford PINCHOT
ANSWERS ATTACK
Reply Is Made to State Rights
Associations Arguments
on Conservation.
CHARGES LONG STALE
Ten Companies Control so Per Cent
Of the Water Power in Country,
Says Former Forester.

Clifford Pinchot, in an interview yes
terday, denied the majority of the argu-
ments that the State Rights Associa-
ton has brought forward in opposition
to the policy of conservation. In the
course of the discussion he stated that
ten waterpower companies control sixty
per cent of the developed waterpower
in the country and that instead of being
Independent companies they are closly
related.
The State Rights Association says
that they are making an effort to end
the reckless overriding of the law which
characterizes the Pinchot conservation
movement Mr.. Pinchot was asked.
Il am somewhat tired of answering
that familiar and long exploded charge"
he answered. The fact is that in no sim
gle case has anything the Forest Service
did been declared illegal in any court of
last resort
But the State Rights Association say
that 1t is significant that the Guggen-
helms, who have been charged with steal
ing Alaska, have employed William Loeb
at SIS. 900 year in order to arrange for a
complete compliance with the Pinchot
views. They say the Guggenheims well
come the leasing system. Is that true?''
Whether the Guggenheim people well
say, but 1 do know that they were bit
terly opposed to it. II a result Of
our fight against their effort to monop-
Ollie Alaska. they have finally decided
to accept the conservation point of view,
am glad of II. In that case l should
say that conservation had swallowed the
Guggenheims md not the Guggen-
helms had swallowed conservation"
They seem to put up a. good argu-
ment that the coal trust and the rail-
roads are not anxious to see the water
power in States like Alabama used. for
IL would mean reduction i'm coal prices.
Attack on Conservation.
This is another of ne attacks on con-
servation which might be interesting II
IL were true. AS a matter OF fact 1 have
seen no signs that ii is true, and whether
it is true or not, there is no reason for
turning the waterpower over to the great
waterpower interests forever and for
nothing"
by the great waterpower interests do
you mean the waterpower trust. and If
in addition a MILLION and a half horse
SO, what proof is there that a water
power trust exists?''
THE report of the Commissioner OF
Corporations shows that ten water COLL
panies control 60 per cent of the develop
ed waterpower of the United States, and
power undeveloped. and that these COM
panies, instead of being independent con-
Germs, are closely interrelated. The Of
fetal figures are the best answer to your
question"
rs it true that you are in frequent con-
sultation with the big lumbermen, and
that they are giving you their support"
1T does not happen to be true that /
am in frequent consultation with the big
lumbermen, but if I were, that would
be no reason against saving the timber of
the United States for its people. The old
cry of one group of special interests that
something that ought to be done for the
benefit Of the whole people is to the adj
vantage of another group of special In
terests is being overworked and ire
quires no further comment from me. A
good illustration OF IL is furnished BIZ
the article in the January number of
Pearson's Magazine by Ed III. Thomas, of
the Seattle Post Intelligencer. My an
swer will appear in Pearson's Magazine
for May. ] think it is conclusive
do YOU know from whom this attack
made by the State Rights Association
comes, or anything about the associa-
tion?'
Il have no knowledge of the State
Rights Association. and very little inter-
est in il. An association which does no.
publish the name of its president, its
secretary, or any of its directors is hard
" to be taken seriously. Indeed the
whole statement you are asking me about
Is little worth the attention of an an
swer"