The Colorado statesman., 1923-06-16


PARKS as part of their conception of the great
of America. The plain people feel to-
ward their public Fairgrounds somewhat they
feel toward Old Glory-"iands Off" They pas
sionately desire to defend them and keep them in
violate. That Is why the people a 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 see that congress shall leglslae wisely
Tor their Fairgrounds.
Other thiI-gs that make these two years momen-
tous are these: 1922 record season in at
tendance; 1923 will undoubtedly set Il new record
far In advance. The appropriations for the fiscal
year beginning July l 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 n
factor In the situation second to none in impor-
tance from the viewpoint of the national park en-
thuslasts. The secretary of the Interior is eX-of-
fcio boss of the national park service has the saw
30 with Director Mather and is subject only to
the nod of the president and the fusslng of con-
gress. The National Parks association makes no
bones of saying in point that it is glad of The
change In secretaries. Secretary Fall was n good
friend of outdoor recreation, it says but he un.
dertook to change the national park policy into
one which would turn the system into an aggrega-
ton of hundreds of little camping grounds .'Vher.
ever can find pleasant place for local people
to go and camp" he said, there shall have n
national park"
Now, the late Franklin *. Lane in 1918 estab-
lished 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 extraordinary or UNIQUE
us Ia be Of national interest and Importance,
Tn" '"fi"nnl park system as now constituted
should not be lowered in standard dignity and
pie'tiAe by the inclusion Of areas which express
In less than the highest terms the particular class
or Kind of exhibit which they represent"
The secretary has made no official nm.
nouncement about his policy at 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 most.
MASTER general. For the rest, he is Cooradoan
who won fame and fortune as doctor of nledi-
rlne college graduate and man of affairs
Here, in part, is his public statement of his att
tude toward the problems of his department:
believe that the work done and the problems con-.
trontng the government should be placed frankly
ppelofe the people SO in the conduct of the
mergeS or eaino9faged policies. issues tucked
AVA pehiha smoke screens but an open and frank
public interest " ''
And here is Secretary Works official invitation
to us to visit the nntonal parks this summer
marx the second sentence!:
with q lavish hand nature has nodded through
out our land the most magnificent and awe-inspir-
that offered by any 70 sign country These spots~
American government to be maintained untouched
by the inroads of modern evilization S that You
been built through deep-cat canyons asrOss Swe sows
alied with hsht,ns tfout Primal fofests
eomfortse 9eeh in I TO PToyde
and inaccessible places Free camp grounds have