April 1956: Debating Merits of Wilderness Bill with Frank Hubachek

The memos below indicate some of the issues Sigurd Olson faced in dealing with the early drafts of the bill to create a national wilderness preservation system. As it was poised to be introduced in the Senate by Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey, Sigurd received a memo (reproduced below) from Frank Hubachek questioning the wisdom of introducing the bill at that time. Hubachek and Charles Kelly (to whom the memo also is addressed) were two of the three primary financial supporters of efforts to preserve the Quetico-Superior wilderness of northeastern Minnesota and Ontario. They also headed up strategy for preserving the canoe country, and Kelly was chairman of the President's Quetico-Superior Committee, created in 1934 by President Roosevelt to work toward a treaty with Canada to jointly preserve the Quetico-Superior wilderness canoe country. Since January of 1948 Hubachek and Kelly also had served as Sigurd's boss, giving him a salary to spearhead the fight to preserve the canoe country. This was the main source of Sigurd's income. Both Hubachek and Kelly were inherently cautious about anything that might hurt their particular program, and as Sigurd began branching out as a conservationist in the 1950s he sometimes was put in a difficult position because of competing demands on his time and because of disagreements in philosophy. In April 1956 Sigurd was President of the National Parks Assocation, wilderness ecologist of the Izaak Walton League, a newly published author (his best-selling The Singing Wilderness had just been released), and was about to be asked to join the governing board of the Wilderness Society. Hubachek's memo of April 6th and Sigurd's response of April 15th (and April 17th postscript) are reproduced below in their entirety. Hubachek's particular concern is the fate of an appropriation bill that would provide significant funds to buy out resort sites and other private lands in the heart of the canoe country. Adding to his fear was the possibility of extremely negative local reaction to the wilderness bill that might also then be directed to the Quetico-Superior wilderness. Just a month earlier, newspapers in Ely and Two Harbors had published a series of opinion pieces by Lake County highway engineer T.G. Odegard, who decried "the wilderness fanatics who would enslave the counties in a vast wilderness of preposterous proportions for special minority interests." Hubachek feared that publicity about the wilderness bill would only fan the flames. For more complete background, and to see this letter in the context of other events during the first crucial period in the wilderness bill campaign, read Sigurd Olson and the Wilderness Act: 1956 and 1957.

April 6, 1956

MEMORANDUM TO SIG AND CHARLIE:

Re: Bill in Congress to Establish Wilderness Preservation System

I do not like to be negative but I have some considerable fears concerning this bill. I wonder whether it is timely and I also wonder whether the sponsors have thought clear through to the end of it. Having had almost no time to study it or consider it, I realize that the above comment is very casual and must be so taken. But that is my reaction initially just the same. We are fighting a heavy battle already in connection with the appropriation bill. About the only thing the opposition can say is to charge us with being wilderness fanatics. We want to ram that bill through in spite of everything.

I wonder whether the introduction of a bill of this kind might not provide the background against which these shouts of fanaticism can be made to echo loudly. It is something like our basic attitude on the outboard motor—should we deliberately put into the picture a blanket or omnibus measure which will necessarily attract the fire of scores of strong interests who see in this bill or may see in it a deliberate move to hurt them.

Personally I think this bill should be delayed until we have passed our appropriation bill because I fear it will bring out into the open our ultimate intentions and marshall against us very heavy opposition which may today be "looking out the window" as far as our appropriation bill is concerned.

SIGURD'S RESPONSE:

Minneapolis, April 15, 1956

Memo to CSK and FBH RE: Wilderness Bill

1. There seems to be a misconception as to my part in the planning and preparation of the "Wilderness Bill." To be sure it has been discussed over a period of some six years but only as a nebulous hope that someday it might be possible to give wilderness as such more protection than it has now under the various agencies concerned. During the Echo Park fight and lately because of the many threats to the Wild Life Refuges and wilderness regions especially in the west it seemed wise to bring the thinking to a head. Senator Humphrey who has never lost an opportunity to bring the question of wilderness to the attention of Congress during the past year urged that the bill be prepared so that he might introduce it during this session. It was largely through his insistence that the bill was whipped into shape.

The work on the bill, that is the actual drafting was done by Howard Zahniser of the Wilderness Society with the aid of Dr. [Ira] Gabrielson of the Wildlife Management Inst, Dave Brower of the Sierra Club and [Carl] Gustavson of the Council of Conservationists, as well as Joe Penfold, Exec. Director of Conservation of the [Izaak Walton] League. While I have always been in favor of such legislation I actually did not see a copy of the bill in draft form until the conference in New Orleans. After careful study and discussion at a meeting there called for that purpose, I was very much impressed with its importance and possibilities. Dean Cochran and Bill Foster both participated in the discussions at that time.

Previous to that meeting and following a discussion of the bill in process with Howard Zahniser, I pointed out the importance of providing for a continuance of the status quo in national forest areas, so as not to work hardship on grazing permittees, those holding logging, mining or other special use leases or permits.

This provision was worked into the language of the bill with the full concurrence of Senator Humphrey's office. After New Orleans Zahnie and I had a discussion with [U.S. Forest Service Chief Richard] McArdle about the bill. Mac urged that the bill should be introduced as swiftly as possible so that it could be discussed thoroughly with all concerned. Lyle Watts former Chief Forester has come out strongly in favor of it.

As far as the part of the National Parks Association, I can say that the Association has played no official part either in the drafting or sponsoring of the bill. Fred Packard has given the committee working on it occasional suggestions, as have I and we both have been intensely interested but the real work has been done by other groups. At the last meeting of the NPA Exec. Board, the Board approved the bill in principle subject to study. I was not able to attend this meeting because of my meeting in Chicago.

2. Because of Senator Humphrey's insistence that the bill be prepared swiftly it was impossible to circulate it widely for suggestions. As many national organizations were brought into discussions as possible but even these were limited because of the time factor involved.

There was no thought on the part of the sponsors that its introduction would jeopardise our acquisition bill because none of the groups knew anything about our measure for the Superior Roadless Areas. We had been so successful in keeping it quiet that now it is difficult to build up support anywhere. I have been accused at home, by the State Div of the IWLA and other groups, and now nationally of almost doing something under cover. Our own sponsors of the acquisition bill are smarting because of lack of support. Therefore while we are attempting to correct the situation, we must not blame any groups for acting without knowledge of the measure we have so successfully kept under wraps.

3. As to the timing of the wilderness bill introduction, I fail to see that it will hurt us. If anything, knowing the temper of congress today on wilderness preservation, I feel it would strengthen our chances with the acquisition bills. I may be wrong, but I have talked to a lot of people and that is the way it seems to me.

Furthermore, we do not know yet how long it will take our acquisition bills to clear the committees and come up for a vote. It might easily, if we hold off the introduction of the wilderness bill until that takes place, mean that the wilderness bill will not be introduced this session.

We must remember that the Sup. Nat. Forest bills are regional while the Wilderness Bill is national and covers wild areas in four different agencies of government.

As soon as your letters came through, I called [Humphrey staff member] Herb Waters and Zahniser. Herb Waters who is familiar with the local bonfire created by Odegard in the Two Harbors Chronicle and the Ely Miner was not too concerned and while he was anxious to get the bill into the hopper, said he would want to talk it over with the sponsoring organizations first.

Zahnie will talk to him on Monday the 16th as well as the others, weight the possibilities, contact me enroute to Colorado Springs. Zahnie understands now what we are concerned about and I know will do his best to work things out not only for the QS [Quetico-Superior] but for the Wilderness Bill. It just may be that if it is possible to postpone for a week that it might speed up the acquis. bills. If it should actually work out that way, then it will be all to the good.

4. I know you both appreciate the significance of the Wilderness Bill from a national standpoint. It embodies all of the major principles we have all endorsed over the years and helped inculcate nationally through public education. I am confident too that when you have studied the bill thoroughly that you will find there is no taking away of present jurisdiction, no terminating of present agreements, no revamping as such of the basic administrative policies now in existence. This bill merely defines wilderness, and through definition clears the air as far as use and protection is concerned. Because if such a bill passes wilderness regions will have congressional sanction for the first time and more protection because of such sanction, it will greatly strengthen the hands of agencies concerned.

I know how you both feel as to the overall cause of wilderness and also as to this matter of timing. We have worked so long and so hard on this acquisition program for the QS that it would be a catastrophe to have any measure prevent its completion now.

I am absolutely confident that Zahnie will do all in his power to work things out because he realized too the importance of completing our acquisition program. I am sure Humphrey and his staff realize it too and will do their best.

P.S.: Omaha Nebr. April 17

Just talked to Zahnie and he has been on the phone all day trying to work out agreement on postponement. Everyone is agreeable to postpone the introduction one week, until a week from today. In the morning Zahnie with Carl Gustavson is going to see Herb Waters of Humphrey's office and try to get his consent and point up the importance of trying to get the acquisition bill through the committees this week so the deck will be clear. If there is difficulty Zahnie will call me at Colorado Springs tomorrow afternoon.

According to Zahnie even should the bill be introduced, it does not mean it will come up for hearings. The important thing it to get it in the hopper so it can be discussed widely. In view of that no one feels that it can be a hindrance to any other measure.