The Washington herald., 1916-09-25
Pinchot Hits Wilson on Conservation.

paign of 1919 1t formed one OF the chief planks
in the Democratic platform, and was often in
dorsed 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 int rested 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
Inauguration, the friends of conservation, regard
less of partisanship, offered him their help in
putting the conservation policies through. The
opportunity invited action. The fight to save
Alaska from the Guggenheims had created liv-
ing 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 Wilson administration in conser-
vation was good. Congress passed, and Mr.. Will
son 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 enact
ment. So he does for his veto of a 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
resources of Alaska over to a political commits
sion repeatedly recommended by the admin
istration through the mouth of the Secretary of
the Interior. If passed it would have thrown
Alaska into the hands of the special interests and
established policy almost certain to destroy the
national control of natural resources everywhere
else ws This were fortunately
able to stop.
When Wilson became President, the Recla-
nation 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,
bill which leaves the choice of lands to be re-
claimed to a 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 govern
ment. 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 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. navigation, irriga-
ton and domestic supply-for the public benefit
Although Wilson strongly indorsed it during his
campaign, 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.
Waterpower is the most valuable resource still
in public hands. There is undeveloped water
power in navigable streams equal to twice
the power of every kind now used in the United
States. 1t is huge prize. For years the water
power interests have been fighting TO seize it. and
the conservationists to save it for the. people.
waterpower 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 navigable streams.
Nevertheless Wilson indorsed 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 indorsed the
amended bill This good bill then went to the
Senate, where it was shelved, and the indefensibe
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 adrlinistra-
tion got behind it, and when a widely circulated
public appeal made to the President for his
help to defeat it, he refused.
AS to waterpower the public lands, there is
but reversal instead of two. Wilson first,
by the mouth of member of his Cabinet, in
dorsed the Ferris bill, which was mainly good.
1t 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 waterpowers 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 advsabilty of abandoning" the policy
of constructing oil burning ships Only oil burn
ing ships can develop and maintain the high
speeds required in modern war, and without them
no navy can be even second class. The Secre-
tary of the Interior actively supported this
render of national safetv to nriyate oreed The