The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-02-13

TO be head of the interior department for another
four years.
To be sure Secretary Lane says that he has not
sent In his resignation to the president and has
not even talked to him about it, as he does not
wish to add to Mr.. Wilson's burdens and worries
AT this time But he admits that it is his inten-
ton to leave the cabinet SO it looks as If the ma
uonal parks would lose their official head sooner
than anyone had reason to think-a prospect which
pieases none of the hundreds or thousands OF nf
Ional park enthusiasts.
Doubtless most good Americans think well of Nh
Cane His public life has established his reputa-
ton for ability His long service on the interstate
commerce commission and in the cabinet has made
him very well known. He has made for himself
an envable name as a 100 per cent American, who
has had a vision of Greater America and has
abored faithfully bring that vision to his fellow
Americans.
The national park enthusiasts, however have a
v'o'no'nt all their own; individually and collec-
lively they think well of Secretary Lane for his
attitude toward the national parks. They believe
that the phenomenal growth Of the national park
movement in the last seven years is in no small
part due to his official cooperation and official
leadership.
inns .i.lional park movement is believed by Its
supporters to be the Invest national cause which IS
not primarily allied with reconstruction after the
great 1t stands, among other things for the
outdoor life; for recreation amid scenic beauty;
the national parks great national economic
asset; for the keeping at home of hundreds Of mil
lions of good American dollars; for the preserva-
ton of American flora and fauna for the estab-
lishment of magnificent public Fairgrounds for the
people forever; for increased and better Ameri-
canism.
When Secretary Lane assumed his seat In the
cabinet national park affairs in an exceed
ingy bad way The federal government regarded
the national parks as liability rather than
asset Their administration. such it was,
considered a nuisance Though the department
of the interior charged by law with their care
they were managed by half-a-dozen clerks In var-
GUS subdepartments, working part time. No
body was responsible and nobody cared Congress
granted haphazard appropriations under protest.
new national park project adventure in
politics.
And the American people six years ago scarcely
knew there were any national parks. Yellowstone
and Yosemite were known scenic beauty spots
rather than as national parks. Railroad folders
were the of information. The public
still belieevd that the Swiss Alps the only
mountains worth seeing with the Canadian Rock
les second choice.
Secretary Lane had the vision TO that the
national parks were great national economic as
set instead of financial liability; that the "See
America First movement a live national
cause and that the national parks had educa-
tonal and recreational mission for the Ameri-
can people.
| He at once began to put order into the national
park chaos Then the world war gave him his OPP
portunity by shutting Off American tourist travel
abroad: before the war Americans spending
something like 900 yearly in foreign sight