The Holly chieftain., 1923-06-14
BY JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN

ny JoHN DICKINSON SHERMAN
~ UR National Parks. 1922-23i These
IL two years are beyond question the
AK nv most momentous In the history of
v-MA.>-1NH the system since the creation of
ISeSnr.r.1 Nh the Yellowstone-the first national
.st5ae hE park in the world-which celebrated
h0001TtW its semi-centennial last summer.
Q|l|ElllER, The biggest thing of al Is that the
v~au' American people have within these
two years seized upon the national
parks pare of their conception of the great
ness Of America. The plain people now feel to-
ward their public Fairgrounds somewhat as they
feel toward Old Glory-"Hands off" They pas
sonatey desire to defend them and keep them In
violate. That Is why the people won series Of
brilliant victories in the Sixty-seventh congress
against the organized assaults Of Industrial and
commercial private interests. That is why, under
the leadership of the National Parks association
the General Federation of Women's clubs and
scores Of nationwide organizations all Of mind
as to the national parks, they have developed
strength to that congress shall legislate wisely
for their Fairgrounds.
Other things that make these two years mOmen-
tous are these: 1922 was a record season in at
tendance; 1923 will undoubtedly set new record
far in advance. The appropriations for the fiscal
year beginning July are larger than ever before
and provide for many permanent improvements
DIR. Hubert Work is now secretary of the interior
in place Of Albert B. Fall, resigned. That Is
factor In the situation second to none in impor
tance from the viewpoint of the national park en-
thusasts. The secretary of the Interior is ex-of
fco boss of the national park service has the say
so with Director Mather and is subject only to
the nod of the president and the fussing OF con-
gress. The National Parks association makes no
bones of saying in point that 1t Is glad of the
change In secretaries. Secretary Fall was good
friend of outdoor recreation, 1t says, but he un-
dertook to change the national park policy into
one which would turn the system into an aggrega-
tlon or hundreds of little camping grounds "Wher
ever can find pleasant place for local people
to go and camp" he said, there shall have
national park"
Now, the late Franklin K. Lane in 1918 estab-
ilshed the national park policy thus "In study.
ing new park projects you should seek to find
Scenery Of supreme and distinctive quality or
some natural feature so extraordinary or unique
ms to be of national interest and Importance
The national park system now constituted
should not be lowered In standard, dignity and
prestige by the inclusion of areas which express
In less than the highest terms the particular class
or kind of exhibit which they represent"
The new secretary has made no official an
nouncement about his policy mt this writing but he
knows his way around in politics and he saw what
the army of enthusiasts did to Secretary Fall Ger
tain 1t is that he stands for efficiency as surely as
his last name is Work. He proved that as post
master general For the rest, he is Coloradoan
who fame and fortune doctor of med-
eine, college graduate and u man of AFFAIRS
Here in part, is his public statement of his atti
tude toward the problems of his department:
believe that the work done and the problems con-
fronting the government should be placed frankly
Of the Interior there shall be no oi sub
merged or camoufiaged policies Issues tucked
away behind smoke screens but open and frank
exposition OF all actions deemed essential to the
public interest.
And here Is Secretary Works official Invitation
to us to visit the national parks this summer
mar. the second sentenced:
with lavish hand nature has nodded through
out our land the most magnificent and awe inspir-
ins, scenery surpassng in beauty and grandeur
national parks--haye been set aside by the
American government to be maintained untouched
by the lnroads of modern civilization so thar Vol,
and your children may enjoy them. Roads have
bSen built through deep-cut canyons tow
ef,ng mountain ranges beside rppllng streams
Hotels and camps have been erected 10 proyide
comfortable accommodations In the most distant