These are non-partisan measures.  They have been drafted in Consultation with Republicans and Progressives, as well as Democrats, and I regard them as the ultimate word of generosity on the part of the Federal Government, because all of the money produced is to go into western development.  If these bills are killed, I fear that the West will never get another opportunity to have its withdrawn lands thrown open for development upon terms as satisfactory to it.

It is easy to understand why men who already have great power plants on public land should be opposing such a bill as our power bill, and equally easy to understand why the coal monopolists should be fighting off all opportunity for any competitor to get into the field.  The oil men are anxious for such legislation.  Of course this legislation is not ideal, because it is the result of compromise between minds, as to methods.  The power bill is vitally right in one thing; that the rights granted revert at the end of fifty years to the Government, if the Government wishes to take the plant over.  The development bill is right, because it sets aside a group of archaic laws under which monopoly and litigation and illegal practices have thrived.  Both of these bills have passed the House, and are before the Senate.  I trust that the fixed determination of those who are hostile to them will not prevail.

Cordially yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

This letter, duplicated, was sent to several editors of magazines, to inform the public as to pending legislation.

VII

EUROPEAN WAR AND PERSONAL CONCERNS

1914-1915

Endorsement of Hoover—­German Audacity—­LL.D. from Alma Mater —­England’s Sea Policy—­Christmas letters

TO WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

Washington, November 17, 1914

My dear Mr. Secretary,—­If it is true that the State Department is not informed regarding Mr. Hoover and his entire responsibility, I can send to you to-day his attorney, Judge Curtis H. Lindley, of San Francisco, who stands at the head of our bar.

I know of Mr. Hoover very well.  He is probably the greatest mining engineer that the world holds to-day, and is yet a very young man.  He is a graduate of Stanford University.

I suppose that you do not wish to make any statement regarding Mr. Hoover, but I should fancy that there is no objection to Mr. Fletcher making any statement that he desires.  There are hundreds of thousands of people in the United States to-day who are anxious to know how the things that they are preparing for the different European countries, especially for the Belgians, can be sent to them.  Some information along this line might be very helpful.

Cordially yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE