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Editorial
December 1, 1949
The Camas Hot Springs Exchange
Hot Springs, Camas, Sanders County, Montana
What is this article about?
A Washington state law requires timberland owners to reseed cleared land for soil conservation, upheld by courts. The editorial argues this protects future generations per Burke's compact, countering socialism fears by framing it as intelligent capitalism.
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AN INVIOLATE COMPACT
A timberland owner in the State of Washington cleared the trees from his land and said, "That's that," or something similar. The state, backed by one of its own laws, said he must reseed or restock his land to maintain sufficient cover for the soil. Whereupon the owner replied that the land was his to do with as he wished, and he took the matter to court.
The trial court, the state supreme court, and the Supreme Court of the United States have all upheld the State of Washington. (Continued to Column 4)
Some Americans alarmed by the steady increase in governmental controls may see in this only another and bigger stride in a march toward socialism or "statism". There are other considerations in this case, however, which should qualify such a conclusion. Treatment of the nation's soil is in quite a different category from the right of a businessman, for instance, to restock his store or close it up. The state supreme court put it eloquently:
"Edmund Burke once said that a great unwritten compact exists between the dead, the living, and the unborn. We leave to the unborn a colossal financial debt, perhaps inescapable . . . . Such an inviolate compact requires that we leave to the unborn something more than debts and depleted natural resources.
Private enterprise, better than any system yet devised by men, can develop and exploit natural resources. But by reason of the very forces, competition and profit, which largely give it vitality, it finds self-imposed conservation difficult.
Every attempt by government in behalf of the people to restore and maintain a balance should be construed not as a victory for socialism but for intelligent capitalism."
- The Christian Science Monitor
A timberland owner in the State of Washington cleared the trees from his land and said, "That's that," or something similar. The state, backed by one of its own laws, said he must reseed or restock his land to maintain sufficient cover for the soil. Whereupon the owner replied that the land was his to do with as he wished, and he took the matter to court.
The trial court, the state supreme court, and the Supreme Court of the United States have all upheld the State of Washington. (Continued to Column 4)
Some Americans alarmed by the steady increase in governmental controls may see in this only another and bigger stride in a march toward socialism or "statism". There are other considerations in this case, however, which should qualify such a conclusion. Treatment of the nation's soil is in quite a different category from the right of a businessman, for instance, to restock his store or close it up. The state supreme court put it eloquently:
"Edmund Burke once said that a great unwritten compact exists between the dead, the living, and the unborn. We leave to the unborn a colossal financial debt, perhaps inescapable . . . . Such an inviolate compact requires that we leave to the unborn something more than debts and depleted natural resources.
Private enterprise, better than any system yet devised by men, can develop and exploit natural resources. But by reason of the very forces, competition and profit, which largely give it vitality, it finds self-imposed conservation difficult.
Every attempt by government in behalf of the people to restore and maintain a balance should be construed not as a victory for socialism but for intelligent capitalism."
- The Christian Science Monitor
What sub-type of article is it?
Agriculture
Economic Policy
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Timberland Conservation
Soil Protection
Government Regulation
Natural Resources
Socialism Critique
What entities or persons were involved?
State Of Washington
Edmund Burke
The Christian Science Monitor
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
State Regulation Requiring Reseeding Of Cleared Timberland For Soil Conservation
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Government Conservation Measures As Intelligent Capitalism Rather Than Socialism
Key Figures
State Of Washington
Edmund Burke
The Christian Science Monitor
Key Arguments
Trial Court, State Supreme Court, And U.S. Supreme Court Upheld The State's Requirement To Reseed Cleared Timberland
Soil Conservation Differs From Typical Business Rights Like Restocking A Store
An Unwritten Compact Exists Between The Dead, Living, And Unborn Requiring Leaving More Than Debts And Depleted Resources
Private Enterprise Excels At Developing Resources But Struggles With Self Imposed Conservation Due To Competition And Profit
Government Efforts To Restore Natural Balance Support Intelligent Capitalism, Not Socialism