The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-09-28
WILSON FAILS TO
REDEEM PLEDGES
Milford, Pa, Sept, 20, 1916.
Editor Silver State,
Nyfnpopnoco Nov

sources mas DeCOile on OF tHt AdIStSt
issues of our time. In the campaign
of 1912, it formed one of the chief
planks Of the Democratic platform.
and was often endorsed in Mr.. Will
sons speeches. His inaugural ad-
dress committed him fully to support
1t.
For these reasons il is importan to
know what the Wilson administration
has done. AS one man deeply inter
ested in conservation and familiar
with the record, I 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 in
auguration, the friends of conserya-
ton, regardless Of partisanship. Of
fered him their help in putting the
conservation policies through The
opportunity invited action. The fight
to save Alaska from the Guggen-
helms had created a living body of
public opinion which lacked only Of
fetal leadership to save what re-
sources still remained in public
hands. IT seemed at first that Presi-
dent Wilson would lead
At the outset the work Of the VIII
son administration in conservation
was good. Congress passed. and Mr.
Wilson signed. the Alaska Railroad
bill and the bill which assured gov
ernment control of coal lands in
Alaska These measures were excel
lent. 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 in
stances form but little of the record.
Politics came into control. Thus a
bill seeking to turn the natural re-
sources of Alaska over 20 a political
commission was repeatedly recon-
mended by the administration through
the mouth of the Secretary of the In
terror. III passed Il would have
thrown Alaska into the hands of the
special interests and established
policy almost certain 10 destroy the
national control of natural resources
everywhere else as well. This meas
ure we were fortunately able 10 stop
When Wilson became President
the Reclamation service. in its great
NbAh VI iilAAdttAA TIC atAA ihAAa VI
the West, was wholly free from poll
tics BY the mouth of his Secretary
of the Interior Wilson advocated, and
later signed a bill which leaves the
choice of lands to be reclaimed 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 il one of the most eff
ficient bureaus under the government.
The Secretary OF the Interior forced
him out. and replaced him by COM
mission in which politicians control.
The Newlands bill is a conservation
measure which proposes to develop
all the resources of our inland water
ways-waterpower, navigation, irri-
cation, and domestic supply-for the
public benefit Although Wilson
strongly endorsed il during his cam
paign, as President he let IL drop. and
instead signed two waterway bills Of
the old pork-barrel type, which are
everything the Newlands bin is not.
Waterpower is the most valuable
resource still in public hands. There
is undeveloped waterpower in our
navigable streams equal to twice the
power of every kind now used in the
United State. Ii is a huge prize. For
years the waterpower interests have
been fighting to seize it. and the con
servationists TO save it for the peo-
pie.
A waterpower measure, the Adam
son bill, came before the House in
1914. 1t favored monopoly. and gave
the special interests, for nothing, the
public water power on naWgable
streams. Nevertheless Wilson en-
dorsed it,
on its way through the House, the
bad parts of the Adamson bill We're
stricken out, and the public rights
were secured. Thereupon Wilson re-
versed his previous stand, and en-
dorsed the amended bill.
This good bill then went to the Sen
ate, where il was shelved, and the in
defensible Shields bill was reported
in it's place. The Shields bill gives
away the public waterpowers forever
and for nothing. Both Roosevelt and
Taft vetoed bills drawn on the same
principle. Yet, by another reversal
the Wilson administration got be-
hind il, and when a widely circulated
public appeal was made to the Presi-
dent for his help to defeat 1t, he re-
fused.
AS to waterpower on the public
lands, there is but one reversal in
stead of two. Wilson first, by the
mouth of a member of his Cabinet
endorsed 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 II
in the same way his endorsement.
Both as to waterpowers on naviga-
BILE streams and on public lands, the