The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-09-05
Secretary Lane Criticized

Not many days ago Franklin K. Lane, secretary OF the interior,
prepared an interview for the press OF the country on the mineral re-
sources of the United States and the opportunities for their exploia-
ton which the present great European war will give. Secretary Lanes
statement was widely published, especially in the west, and various
comments have been made upon it. The Denver Financial Record,
after stating that the secretary did very well to issue his interview,
takes exceptions to his proposal to lease mineral lands, saying: But
Mr.. Lane could not be content with enumerahng the resources. He
felt called upon to rub it in upon the public land states by intinatng
that the only way the country can utilize its mineral resources is to
permit the bureaucras of Washington to administer them. In other
words, Mr.. Lane persists in declaring that, if the public land states
want to see their resources developed, they must consent to his inn
periaistc program OF western restriction. They must agree to permit
the great manufacturing centers of the east 10 collect tribute upon
everything that they do.
1T is quite true that the United States possesses enormous min
eal resources and that our country is capable OF developing manu-
features far beyond anything that we have eve dreamed Of But Mr..
Lane admits, in the same breath, that he will not give this ambition
any encouragement S long as the public land states can successfully
oppose his determination to place the resources OF the west at the
mercy of the industrial overlords of the east. If the west will consent
to accept the designation Ireland of America Mr.. Lane will then
be friendly to the western part of the United States.
1T is a notorious fact that the manufacturing and property interests
of the east are Boosting that they will relieve themselves from federal
taxation and the burden of supporting the government. as soon as they
can establish a system of tribute against the public lands of the west
All future development of the public lands is expected, in Mr.. Lanes
program, to meet such unusual exactions as will largely restrict set
Element, while enabling the eastern manufacturer, banker and real es-
tate owner to escape his obligations to the nation. That part OF the
country which, by reason of its smaller population, is possessed of the
least influence, is to be used to reduce the taxation upon the business
and property of the east. In other words, we aet to be the goat
Mr.. Lane knows this. Who better than he? He is a western
man and was selected as a means Of evadng the demand Of the west
that one who is familiar with western problems be made secretary Of
the interior. Mr.. Wilson lived up to the letter of the demand, but
grossly abused its spirit. He searched the entire west for a MAJ who
would consent to prove treacherous to it, and he found this man in
Franklin K. Lane. 1t is Mr.. Lane who, more than any other wants to
lease the resources OF the west Sc that the government can draw tribute
from them, to the advantage of the east, and thus help to undermine
the sovereignty of the west-to suppress here the development of that
industrial autonomy which the west is entitled to"