Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-02-07
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 coosa River Dam In Ala
bama.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Washington.-Sinc clifford Pinchot
made his speech to the Washington
convention Of men interested in for
estry the other day 1t has become
sharply apparent that a hard fight is
TO begin between the federal conserva-
donists and the state right conserva-
uonists as soon as the Wilson admin
istration begins. The r. representatives.
OF the federal idea are making prepa-
rations to combat the representatives
OF the state nights 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 will 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
ne does not believe in letting 60 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 a 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 "is
bitter opponent of any federal plan
for saving to the people their natural
Inheritance" One OF the most promi-
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 Federaliat In This.
The conservationists hope that
William Jennings Bryan will 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 In this matter
Mr.. Bryan may be called a federalist
and 1t 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
president The conservationists be-
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-
at.
Protests are coming into Washing
ton daily from individuals and from
societies all over the United States
against the granting of the right to a
private Alabama corporation to build
water power dam on the Coosa river
in Alabama to be used. IL 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.
er, Mo-. dam of some years ago. In
the Missouri matter President Roose-
welt interviewed with a veto.
The Democratic leaders who own
Alabama as home. 1t is said, are in
favor of giving the private corpora
ton what 1t asks in the state. This
means that the fight of the conserva.
tionists must be directed against q
concern which has with 1t the infiu-
ence of men high in the Democratic
party's 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
tenn to attempt through congress
sional action to secure legislation for
the purchase Of the express companies
and to give Uncle Sam a virtual mo.
nopoly of the package carrying bust.
ness. This plan has thousands Of CD.
ponents, and 1t may never come 10
the fruition, but those opposed to
the scheme may as well 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 postoffice de
partment may urge what can be call
ed government ownership of the ex
press business. The attempt which Ia
to be made to extend the parcel post
business Is only to degree a party
measure. It is possible that more
Democrats than Republicans favor 1t
bur some OF the strongest advocates OF
the proposal are Republicans who on