Editorial: Clinton builds on Roosevelt’s legacy

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999 | 9:22 a.m.

Even before President Clinton formally made his announcement on Wednesday to designate about two-thirds of the United States' road-free national forests as forever off-limits to development -- including logging and mining -- Western Republicans on Tuesday were pre-emptively bashing the president's initiative. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, accused the president of "acting outside the law." The Idaho Republican even sputtered that Clinton's plan was an "anti-environmental policy" because -- get this -- the health of forests is harmed if there isn't public access.

It wasn't just Western Republicans who were incensed, though, with Clinton's policy to protect up to 40 million acres of government-owned land, most of it in the West. Even Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who represents the congressional district where Clinton made his announcement on Wednesday, let loose with this statement: "The president's trying to be Teddy Roosevelt." Admittedly Clinton has a long way to go to match President Theodore Roosevelt's pioneering efforts in conservation, but at least he is trying to build on the important foundation that Roosevelt -- a Republican -- established at the turn of this century.

Despite Republican characterizations to the contrary, this is not an assault on the timber industry. As Clinton noted, just 5 percent of the nation's timber comes from national forests, and less than 5 percent of the national forests' timber is now being cut in roadless areas. What is important is that this plan would permanently set aside 40 million acres of forest land, protecting it from development and possible destruction, an action that could only please Theodore Roosevelt.