Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-25
Wilson'S FaU-DoWn ON
Conservation
Clifford Pinchot .


come one Of the largest issues OF our time. In
the campaign OF 1872 it formed one OF the chief
planks in the democratic platform, and was often
endorsed in Mr.. Wilson's speeches. His inaug-
ural address committed him fully to support it.
For these reasons it is important to know
what the Wilson administration has done. As
one deeply interested in conservation and familiar
with the record, | am writing to lay it briefly
before you
When he took Office, Mr.. Wilson ceased to
say much on conservation, preferring to let the
members OF his cabinet speak for him. After his
Inauguration, the friends OF conservation, regard
less of partsanship, offered him their help in put
ting the conservation policies through The OPP
portunity invited action. The fight to save Alaska
from the Guggenheims had created a living body
of public opinion which lacked only official leader
ship to save what resources still remained in
public hands. 1t seemed at first that President
Wilson would lead.
At the outset the work of the Wilson admin
istration in conservation was good. Congress
passed, and Mr. Wilson signed the Alaska rail
road bill and the bill which assured government
control of coal lands in Alaska. These measures
we're excellent, and President Wilson deserves
praise for their enactment. So he does for his
veto OF bill to give away national forest lands.
Unfortunately these creditable instances form
but little OF the record. Politics came into con-
troll. Thus bill seeking to turn the natural re-
sources OF Alaska over to political commission
ton through the mouth of the secretary OF the
interior II passed it would have thrown Alaska
into the hands Of the special interests and estab-
lished policy almost certain to destroy the ma
tional control OF natural resources everywhere
else as we'll This measure we were fortunately
able to stop.
When Wilson became president, the reclama-
ton service, in its great work OF irrigating the
arid lands OF the west, was wholly free from
politics. By the mouth Of his secretary of the
interior Wilson advocated, and later signed, a
bill which leaves the choice of lands to be re-
claimed to committee of congress, and so makes
politics dominate the service.
Director Newell was the man who created the
reclamation service. He made and kept it one OF
the most efficient bureaus under the government.
The secretary OF the interior forced him out, and
replaced him by commission in which politicians
control.
The Newlands bill is conservation measure
which proposes to develop all the resources Of
our inland waterways-water power, navigation,
irrigation and domestic supply--for the public
benefit. Although Wilson strongly endorsed it
during his campaign, as president he let It drop.
and instead has signed two waterway bills OF
the old pork-barrel type, which are everything
the Newlands bill is not.
Water power is the most valuable resource
still in public hands There is undeveloped water
power in our navigable streams equal to twice the
power Of every, kind now used in the United
power interests have been fighting to seize it,
and the conservatonists to save it for the people
A water power measure, the Adamson BILL
came before the house in 1914 1t favored monop-
oily, and gave the special interests, for nothing,
the public water power on navigabe streams.
Nevertheless Wilson endorsed it.
On its way through the house, the bad parts of
the Adamson bill were stricken out, and the pub
lie rights were secured. Thereupon Wilson re-
versed his previous stand. and endorsed the
amended bill. This good bill then went to the
senate where 1t was shelved, and the indefensible
Shields bill was reported in its place. The Shields
bill gives away the public water powers forever
and for nothing. Both Roosevelt and Taft vetoed
bills drawn on the same principle. Yet, by another
reversal the Wilson administration got behind it,
made to the president for his help to defeat it,
he refused.
As to water power on the public lands, there is
but one reversal instead Of two Wilson first
by the mouth of member of his cabinet, en-
dorsed the Ferris bill, which was mainly good
1t was replaced in the senate by the Myers bill,
which is thoroughly bad. Among other things
this bill actually throws the Grand Canyon, the
greatest natural wonder of America, wide open
to individual appropriation. Nevertheless, Wilson
reversed himself in order to give it in the same
way his endorsement.
Both as to water power on navigable streams
and on public lands the last reversals leave the
administration standing with the special interests
against the people.
The Phelan oil land measure would hand over
to private individuals who have no legal rights
the valuable oil lands set aside as reserves for
the navy. The Navy department has made public
announcement that the mere threat of the Phelan
bills passage has caused it ito seriously consider
the ACCESSIBILITY Of abandoning" the policy of con-
structing oi-burning ships Only oil-burning ships
can develop and maintain the high speeds required
in modern war, and without them no navy can
be even second class. The secretary of the nte-
rior actively supported this surrender of national
safety to private greed. The secretary of the
navy and. the attorney general opposed it. Will
son remained neutral and did nothing.
Because Wilson refused to take sides, or took
the wrong side, the question whether the people
or the interests shall win or lose in the Shields
and Myers water power bill and the Phelan oil
bill is still unsettled. These bill are still before
congress- and will pass or fail at the coming
session. The public water powers and the eff
cheney of the navy are at stake. There can be
no compromise between the men who would
grab the public resources for private profit, and
those men who would conserve them for the
use of all the people. Either the interests will
is no middle ground.
To sum up, as in many other matters, the
promise made was not performed Instead of
progress in conserving our resources, the last
two years have seen bitter and often losing
fight to hold we had. Wilson talked we'll, began
to act well, and then, yielding to the political
pressure Of the special interests, went back on
conservation.