THE IBBIGATION AGE. 



71 



chot, the main object in criticising him being what we 

 estimate as the arrogant position assumed by him in 

 carrying out the policies of the Bureau of which he is 

 the head. It was seen fit also to mention Mr. Pinchot 

 and make some criticisms concerning him on account 

 of his connection with George H. Maxwell. No one 

 who understands the situation has ever questioned the 

 integrity or sincerity of Mr. Pinchot. He, like all 

 other mortals, however, is liable to make mistakes, and 

 yet in justice to him we wish to say that a careful in- 

 vestigation made by the writer into his work during the 

 past seven or eight months, leads us to say that we have 

 not yet found a single individual who can place a charge 

 against Mr. Pinchot concerning his honesty or good 

 intent, and, while we shall feel at liberty to criticise him 

 in the future as in the past in case conditions arise 

 which would make it seem advisable, we will, hereafter, 

 require substantial evidence concerning any wrong doing 

 by Mr. Pinchot before any adverse criticism concerning 

 him is allowed to appear in the editorial coltimns of this 

 journal. 



This does not apply however, to matter which will 

 reach us from time to time from such men as Mr. 

 ^Shumway. We do not presume to outline, in advance, 

 the policy of articles written by contributors, but will at 

 all times be glad to publish any criticisms which may 

 be made by our readers or others, allowing, of course, 

 the same privilege to those whom our correspondents 

 see fit to criticise. 



It is only reasonable to suppose that Mr. Shumway 

 and others similarly situated have a clearer insight to 

 local conditions than would be possible to the editor of 

 this journal, and we will always be glad to furnish space 

 in which their grievances may be properly aired. 



THE IRRIGATION AGE will do all in its power to 

 promote the interests of Mr. Pinchot's bureau in the fu- 

 ture, and we trust that he will take advantage of our 

 offer to exploit his views or reply to adverse criticisms 

 which may, from time to time, appear in the columns 

 of this paper concerning his department. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



BY G. L. SHUMWAY. 



International 



Harvester 



Company. 



Everybody's Magazine has been publish- 

 ing a series of articles entitled "The 

 Eeaper Kings," which make very inter- 

 esting reading. The January number 

 will contain the first of a series on the formation of the 

 combination known as the International Harvester Com- 

 pany. This series of articles should be read by the 

 public generally, as they give the inside history of the 

 combination known as the International Harvester 

 Company. 



It is with much regret we notice that Secretary 

 Garfield recommends such an unworthy measure as the 

 land leasing bill. We had hoped that the public land 

 convention, and further mingling and communion 

 with the master minds of the West, would have con- 

 vinced him of the impracticability of such a bill," as well 

 as the futility of trying to impose it upon people who 

 so utterly loathe its principles. I fear the dominant 

 spirit of the "Tennis Cabinet" has overruled the Gar- 

 field good judgment. 



One of the features of the new measures makes it 

 absolutely impossible. The advisory board of a Grazing 

 District is to be composed of four men appointed by 

 the Governor from the District, and one man appointed 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture. If a difference of 

 opinion arises in which the local four oppose the Wash- 

 ington One, the Secretary of Agriculture shall decide. 

 Thus the four become mere figureheads and the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture the autocrat. 



Another provision is objectionable. The bill does 

 not provide the fundamental principle of a home. It 

 provides national landlordism and citizen tenantry. To 

 illustrate what this will do, one has but to look at the 

 condition prevailing on leased lands of any description 

 where the tenure is abbreviated even to twenty years. 

 The occupant never is inspired with the true home- 

 building instinct, and his improvements are always of a 

 temporary nature, with an eye single to getting as much 

 as possible out of the holdings during possession, even 

 though they are thereby impoverished and damaged for 

 years. 



It would seem that the metropolitan press of the 

 country at least would cease publishing the ready made 

 editorials and "tainted news" sent out by the bureau- 

 crats* "Bub" Pinchot's new role is "The Savior of the 

 American Forests." We knew that his rating in his 

 own estimation was very high, but hardly thought it had 

 reached the altitude of The Savior. 



The National Forestry Association has extended 

 me the courtesy of an invitation to become a member, 

 and urges me to help protect the forests. My natural 

 instincts inspire me to want to cut a tree if I need it to 

 build, or to burn. My forefathers built their cabins in 

 the primeval forests of New England, and I have my- 

 self hewn from the native woods the logs and lumber 

 used in the construction of my homestead habitation. 

 That is my idea of what trees are for. 



