The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-09-29
WILSON DODGED ON
CONSERVATION SAYS
CLIFFORD P|NCHOT
September 20, 1916.


Mr.. J. l.. Davis, Editor The Tribune,
Caldwell, Idaho.
My Dear Mr. Davis: The conserva-
ton of natural resources has become
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 inaugur-
al address committed him fully to sup
port it.
For these reasons it is important
to know what the Wilson adminstra-
aion has done. AS pne man deeply in
terested in conservation and familiar
with the record, am writing to lay ii
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 conserva-
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 Guggenheims
had created a living body of public
opinion which lacked only official
leadership 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 Will
son administration in conservation was
good. Congress passed, and Mr.. Will
son signed, the Alaska Railroad Bill
and the bill which assured government
control pf coal lands in Alaska. These
measures were excellent. and Presi-
dent Wilson deserves praise for their
enactment So he does for his veto
of a 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 to a political
commission was repeatedly recon-
mended by the administration through
the mouth of the Secretary of the In
terror If passed it would have thrown
Alaska into the hands of the special
interests and established a policy al
most certain to destroy the national
where else as well. This measure we
WNlC dDlS " sup.
When Wilson became president, the
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, bill which leaves the choice
of lands to be reclaimed to a COM
mittee of congress, and so makes poll
tics dominate the service.
Newlands Bill.
Director Newell was the man who
created the Reclamation Service. He
made and kept it one of the most eff
cient bureaus under the government.
The Secretary f 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 waterways
-waterpower, 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 every
thing the Newlands bill is not
Waterpower is the most valuable re-
source still in public hands. There is
undeveloped waterpawcr in our navi.
gable 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 conserva-
tionists 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 navigablc
streams. Nevertheless Wilson en-
dorsed it.
On it way through the house, the
bad parts of the Adamson bill were
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 senate, where il
was shelved, and the indefensible
Shields bill was reported in its 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 ad-
ministration got behind it, and when a
widely circulated public appeal was
made to the president FOR his help to
defeat it, he refused.
Water Power on Public Lands.
As to WaterDOWer on the public