The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-24
Editorial Comment
A National Work
tNeW York TimeSl

Fasteners, accustomed to think of conserva-
ton of our natural resources as a policy which
always had the support of the eastern states
and originally was opposed in the west, will be
surprised to find western champion express.
ing the fear that the east neither cares TO:
nor understands the problem. In a speech be-
fore the Western States Taxpayers Conference,
of which he is president, former Governor Her.
bert j. Hagerman of New Mexico charges the
fasteners with indifference to the fate of con.
servation in the west. To this the easterner
is inclined to reply that he is at any rate de-
lighted to see that at last influential western
ers are demanding even more activity on the
part of the federal government
Mr. Hagerman. to a gathering largely in ia
vor of turning over the federal forests and 9TH
er lands to the states. boldly made a plea for
continuation of federal control He pointed
out that not only is this essential in such prof.
ects as the Colorado river reclamation and
power plan. but that in other matters, like the
conservation and use of lands, state lines must
be disregarded if the best interests of the peo-
pie are to be served. In particular he opposed
the transfer Of the federal lands to the states
on the ground that they are, in the main, sat-
isfactorily administered, and that much Of the
cost is borne by Washington. If they were
turned over to the states, it would greatly in
crease the drain on the state treasures, and,
although this would be offset in some cases
by revenues from grazing and timber rights.
it is doubtful if they could be as suitably cared
for as they are at present.
In one respect the former governor criticized
the federal authorities. He blamed them for
not having paid as much attention to pastur-
age as to forestry. But many of the state
lands and private estates are and have long
been badly overgrazed, with disastrous losses.
It is now clear that if the semi-arid lands Of
the southwest had been adequately protected
against overgrazing fifty or more years ago,
they would be able today to support many more
cattle and sheep. But it is also clear that any
proposal made in the '7Os and '80s to limit the
number of cattle on the open range in the
southwest would have been laughed out of con-
gress by the western delegates, and if passed
would have been openly resisted and defied.
It has been said that the mistakes of the
federal government with regard to conservation
have been due to politics rather than to policy.
There is no reason to believe that interference
from politics would be less if the federal lands
were controlled by the states. In fact, it is
no secret that one of the reasons for the agi-
tation to that end is that the local political and
business interests which wish to have easier
access to the lands for purposes of exploitation
would find the state authorities more amen
able than the federal government. The policy
of conservation, to be truly effective requires
the whole-hearted endorsement of the west.
For the time, at least, the machinery can best
be operated by the federal government.