The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-02-06

IN no head of the interior department for another
four years.
70 be sure, Secretary Lame says that he has not
sent in his resignation to the president anu ""S
not even talked 10 him about it, as he does not
wish To add TO Mr. Wilson'S burdens and worries
nr This time But he admits that il is his inten
ZION IN lpoye the cabinet so il looks il the ma
uonal parks would lose their official head sooner
than anyone had reason to think--a prospect when
.,eoses none of the hundreds of thousands OF ma
,ional park enthusiasts.
Doubtless most good Americans think well or MI
zane His public life has established his reputa
tion 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 n 100 per cent American, who
has had a vision OF Greater America and has
labored faithfully 10 bring that vision TO his fellow
Americans.
The national park enthusiasts, however, have
v'oNpoiuf a their own; individually and c0llec-
lively they think we'll 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.
lnS latlonal park movement is believed by Its
supporters to be the livest national cause which Is
not primarily allied with reconstruction after the
great war. Ii stands among other things, for the
outdoor life; for recreation amid scenic beauty;
for "See America First" for the development of
the national parks great national economic
asset for the keeping nj home of hundreds of MIL
lions of good American dollars; for the preSerya-
tion of American flora and fauna; for the eStab-
lishment of magnificent public Fairgrounds for the
people forever; for increased and better Ameri-
cansm
When Secretary Lame assumed his seat in the
cabinet national park affairs We're in an exceed
lnclv bad way The federal government regarded
the national parks MS liability rather than as an
asset Their administration. such ms il was was
considered n nuisance Though the department
OF the interior was charged by law with their care
they were managed by half-a-do2en clerks in var
Gus subdepartments working part time, No
body was responsible and nobody cared Congress
granted hapha2ard appropriations under protest
A new national park project was an adventure in
politics.
And the American people six years ago scarcely
knew there were any national parks Yellowstone
and Yosemite were known as scenic beauty spots
rather than as national parks. Railroad folders
were the one source Of information. The public
stin belieevd that the Swiss Alps We're the only
mountains worth seeing with the Canadian Rock
les second choice.
Secretary Lane had the vision to see that the
national parks were n great national economic as
set instead of financial liability that the "See
America First" movement was Il live national
cause. and that the national parks had an eiuca-
tioual and recreational mission for the Ameri-
ean people
He Mt 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, Segore the NSNI Americans We're spending
something Ike S50oOOo.ooo yearly IN foreign sight