The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-09-28
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
What Mr.. Wilson Has Done Toward
Conservation of Our Natural and
National Resources.


ton of natural resources has become
one of the largest issues of our time.
In the campaign of 1912, it formed one
of the chief planks in the Democratic
platform, and was often endorsed in
Mr.. Wilson'S speeches. His inaugural
address committed him fully to support
it.
For these reasons it is important to
know what the Wilson Administration
has done. AS one man deeply interest
ed in Conservation and familiar with
the record, am writing to lay it brief
ly 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 Conservation,
regardless of partisanship, offered him
Their help in putting the Conservation
policies through. The opportunity in
vited action. The fight to save Alaska
from the Guggenheims had created
living body of public opinion which
lacked only official leadership to save
what resources still remained in public
hands. 1t seemed at first that Presi-
dent Wilson would lead.
At the outset the work of the Wilson
Administration in Conservation was
good. Congress passed, and Mr.. Wilson
signed the Alaska Railroad Bill and the
bill which assured Government control
of coal lands in Alaska. These measures
were 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 in
stances form but little Of the record.
Politics came into control. Thus a bill
seeking to turn the natural resources Of
Alaska over to political commission
was repeatedly recommended by the
Administration through the mouth of
the Secretary Of the Interior. If pas
sed it would have thrown Alaska INTO
the hands of the special interests and
established a policy almost certain to
destroy the National control of natural
resources everywhere else as we'll
This measure we were fortunately able
to stop.
When Wilson became President, the
Reclamation 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 reclaimed to a Committee Of Con
gress, and so makes politics dominate
the Service.
Director Newell was the man who
created the Reclamation Services. He
made and kept it one of the most eff
ficient 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 a Conservation
measure which proposes to develop all
the resources of our inland waterways
waterpower, navigation. irrigation,
and domestic supply, for the public
benefit. Although Wilson strongly en-
dorsed it during his campaign, as Presi-
dent he let it drop, and instead has sign
ed two waterway bills of the old pork
barrel type. which is everything the
Newlands bill is not.
Waterpower is the most valuable re
sources still in public hands There is
undeveloped waterpower in our navIg-
able streams equal to twice the power
Of every kind now used in the United
States. 1t is huge prize. For years
the waterpower interests have been
fighting to seize it, and the Conserya-
tlonists to save it for the people.
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 nayigable streams
Nevertheless Wilson endorsed it.
On its way through the House, the
bad parts of the Adamson bill were
stricken out, and the public rights were
secured. Thereupon Wilson reversed
his previous stand, and endorsed the
amended bill. This good bill then went
to the Senate, where it was shelved,
and the indefensible Shields bill was re-
ported in its place. The Shields bill
gives away the public waterpowers for
ever and for nothing. Both Roosevelt
and Taft vetoed bills drawn on the same
principle. Yet, by another reversal,
the Wilson Administration got behind
it and when a widely circulated appeal
was made to the President for his help
to defeat it, he refused.
AS to waterpower on the public lands,
there is but one reversal instead of two.
Wilson first, by the mouth of member
of his Cabinet, endorsed the Ferris bill.