Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-07

r.. y ~ 9.. r.
the 0overnmlnt wouldn't rive me q
stenographer! That was the beginning.
Twelve years later had demon-
etratsd, BY proper administration, that
unitsd states: They ynder;tood their
service there were 5000 persons EN-.
ployed In the care and conservation Of
106 900 900 acres Of forest lands. worth
incalqulable millions to the people Of
this country"
Aided Government Reforms
Between 1893 and 1pl6 the Presi. {.
dent made me member Of the United
States Commission to reorganize the
Government service, Of the Commission
to Reconstruct the Business Methods OF
the Departments at Washington, which
was In every way similar to the com
mission headed BY Senator Woodward.
which Is now at work reorganizing our
Pennsylvania government.
Il was q member Of the Commits
sion to Investigate and Recommend
Measures Of Relief for the Condition
Of Agriculture and to reform the Land
Administration Of the Government.
what I. regard, though, a. the one
great achievement Of my years Of serv.
Ice in Washington came in 1910, when
I defeated the efforts Of Secretary Bal.
linger to turn Alaska, with its won.
derful coal mines and its millions Of
timber lands, over to the Gugsenheim
banking interests. A congressional in.
quiry was ordered, with the result that
Ballinger, who was Secretary of the
Interior, quit his Office.
"Since 1910 I have been president
Of the National Conservation Associa. .
for Amending and Revising the Con.
stitution Of Pennsylvania. Since nv
record is under scrutiny, It might be
we'll to recall that I was partly in
strumental in the creation Of the Blu i
reau of Mines.
ut was with the support and co.
operation Of President Roosevelt that
John Mitchell, Joseph A. Holmes and
myself were able to secure the creation
Of the Bureau Of Mines.
II think that with this frank state.
ment have answered the criticism that
I have no experience in executive work
and know nothing about the affairs OF
the Government.
"wiat about the allegation that
you're an Idealist? That you are i'm :
practical. That IL you ever became
Governor this trait will crop out con :
spicuously," asked.
The question seemed to tickle the
risibilities of the gentleman from Pike.
He confessed that It was an old and
familiar criticism OF his personality
Then he began to answer 1t with state
ments Of fact.
What Roosevelt Said Of Him
II am an idealist. I am what Theo
dore Roosevelt described as a practical
was also kind enough to say that not
only had ideas and ideals, but that /
knew how to put them over.
do not forget" and again that Ions
right forefinger shot out, that Mr..
Roosevelt was the author of that very
remarkable declaration, L regard ag-
gressive fighting for right ideals the
finest sport in the world
Il am State Forester Of Pennsyl-
yania. When was appointed in 1920
BY Governor Sproul / decided to place
Pennsylvania at the head of all other
States in the matter Of the care and
nd dministration of its forests. Today
Pennsylvania has the finest system. a
forestry in the country.
"No other department in the State
Government is managed as efficiently
and administered as carefully as that Of
forestry.
"Another charge brought against me
Is that l can't work with other people ;
that I will not play the game: that l
hall IkAn II, 1, ,,o
to deny that charge.
Millions of dollars have been lost to
farmers and land owners in past years
by forest and farm fires from 1oc0mo.
tive sparks. 1t has cost the railroads
millions.
Last year I invited the president of
every railroad in Pennsylvania to come
to Harrisburg, or send representative,
and talk over this very vital matter.
We held our meeting. We talked the
situation over. We mutually agreed
upon what should be done. What was
the result?
"Thirteen hundred miles of fire lines
were laid and cared for by the rail-
roads. The result Of that meeting meant
to the farming and lumber interests of
the State saving Of millions Of dol
lars
Is He y Radical?
"Are you Radical? That is one Of
the assertions against you," l inquired,
taking up the last objection to his can
dldacy.
why don't you put your question
In full force as some of my friends of
the opposition have done?" asked Mr..
Pinchot quizzically. "Whv don't you
ask if am not only a radical but a
populist, a communist And once
more Pinchot INDUCED In his expan-
sive smile. Then he went on:
Three courses pursued by me in
recent years have. given rise to this
unique conception of my character.
When President Roosevelt was putting
over certain of his ideas he was de-
nouuced as a radical Yet Mr.. Roose.
Welt saw those principles ultimately
win. Today they are everywhere re-
garded us triumphs of administration. It..
while Roosevelt himself will go down In
history as the Great Republican.
g presume l am denounced as a
radical because I stood for the people
of the United States against the com.
bined interests that sought to filch the
wealth Of Alaska. have advocated
equal suffrage. have been opposed
to the liquor traffic all my life and at
a time when 1t was politically danger
GUS to do so. I have advocated the
enactment Of anti -child labor laws, the
protection of women in industry and
compensation for the working man.
"If that is held to be radical. then.
by heavens. I'm radical" said Mr..
PinchOt with emphasis.
II have the support" he went on,
las result Of all this. and 7 am proud