THE NATIONAL PARKS SYSTEM 267 



the amateur defenders called upon the people of the 

 country. It took years to defeat them but we did it. 



The Federal Power bill gave us the closest shave 

 of all and left its scar behind. 



Here is the story : 



A couple of days before adjournment in late 

 May, 1920, this famous measure which has done so 

 much since for the West emerged from conference, 

 passed both Houses in final compromised shape, and 

 went to President Wilson for signature. On the 

 very last day of the session, the writer discovered 

 that it specifically turned National Parks and Monu- 

 ments over to the new Federal Power Commission 

 with authority to grant water power leases within 

 them all at will. 



Instant action was necessary. The National 

 Parks Association telegraphed the news to public- 

 spirited men and organizations in every part of the 

 country, and, before the fall of the gavel closed the 

 session, the President was deluged with telegrams 

 urging that he withhold signature until National 

 Parks should be stricken from the text. Secretary 

 of the Interior John Barton Payne laid the situation 

 in full before the President, who refused to sign, a 

 courageous act at the beginning of a Presidential 

 campaign summer. 



Adjournment of Congress without effectuating 

 the Federal Power Act provoked instantly a tremen- 

 dous protest from western states. Senator Jones of 

 Washington, Republican, and Senator Walsh of 



