The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1906-07-05
FORESTRY AND HOMECR0HTS
ADDRESS or GEORGE IA. MAX
WE'LL, DEAN or THE HOME
CROfTERS GID or THE
IALISMAN.

before the Biennial Convention OF
the General Federation OF Moments
Clubs. at St. Paul. fiinn. June
Fourth 1905
MADAME PRESIDENT AND DELE
GATEs-LADIEs AND GENTLE
MEN:
When received the invitation 10 be
with you here to-day and speak upon
the subject Forestry and Home
crofts," as II Is announced on the
program, l felt that the occasion was
one OF SO much Importance. and the
opportunity one which SO greatly APP
preeiated. that l ought 10 do some
thing which l rarely do. and that was
20 at least think out speech In adj
vance. l was asked for a manuscript
OF Il for the press. but | felt that II
was unsafe to give II because l never
did that yet that something didn't
happen that made me lay aside my
speech and talk about something else.
| have a speech epared which was
PLANNED 10 last for half an isour. and
there II Is fholding up earfl. Now.
! have fifteen minutes 20 speak. and
l am going 20 save that speech for
some other occasion. ia some other
place. and talk 10 you about something
which has been suggested 20 me here
this morning by the address we have
Just listened 10 from Mr.. Mills
was horn Ia California and spent
my life there lapplause from the Cali
fornia delegated until within very
few years when my work Ia the Ma
tional Irrigation Movement took me
away from my native state. But
want 10 take advantage Of this OPP
i.orsunity 20 stand here and make a
plea for the preservation OF those
Temples OF God--the Big Trees OF
California. tArpiauseJ
question very much whether those
who ara here to-day realize the power
that Is yours. Ia bringing about Fls I
action. whether n be In congressional
OF state legislation. We often say
that this Il a government cr the peo-
pie. and that Il Is controlled by their
votes. So Il II. But behind the vote
Is the thought Of Tie people. u Is
public opinion which controls this
country. Tho vote = merely a regis
ferlng OF that opinion: and the Thought
OF the people which prccesies that
opinion and brings about reforfns. Is.
IN my Judgment. often = thing that
springs from fiic minds % the women
% the country rather than from the
minds OF the men Of the country.
am free TO say that Ia my earlier
years. and before I had a wider sx-
pericnoe and opportunities uf oh
s~rsation. l was not believer Ia CIV
inx the ballot 10 the wotnrn- ! am
not here 10 make q plea for that To-
day. because / am not - much Inn
pressed with tho Importance Of II IS
others who thluk that tile ballot Is tho
main thing. IL Il tnc conversation OF
the home circle and The thoughts that
spring most often from the mlnds Of
the mothers OF tho country that con-
troll this country. lApplause.l
And although ] believe to-day that
the status Of tho fuan and the woman.
20 far ~ their rights Of citizenship
aud rights before the law arc con
ccrued- should be tho same. ! want
20 lar that conclusion before you
simply as a basis for tho broader
statement that women can control
this country BY the power OF thought
without tho ballot II the women who
ere hcrr to-day and those who are ar
nllafod with you In this great orgaui-
aafion. would take up one or two
things ss tho result Of thia conference
aud 90 hence and ngitnte u In every
home circle. and IN every wofncn'n
cfuh. and IN every village and city.
aud through the columns Of every
newspaper In the land. and BY Cur
rrspondsncc. you could accomplish
within the next twelve months two
great things which would be q record
of accomplishment Sufficient for one
year Of hard work for your orEnniza-
lion. and that h. first. 70 knre the big
trees OF California Applsueel: and.
second. 10 secure the passage OF the
bin providing for forest reserves In
tha White Mountains and on the APP
palachlan Range. lApplause)
II thoso great trees IN California
were once destroyed they could not
be- replaced IN centuries and probably
pcxcr. They were there when Christ
walked the earth. They were there
when Rome ahone rcHplcndcnt Ia all
her glory. They were there when
Carthage nestled amid green nelds
and VINEYARDS on the southern shores
Of the Mediterranean. They were there
when Palmyra. with all her magnin-
ccncc. was the meeting place OF the
caravans travelling between Asia ana
IN. Mediterranean country. And To-
day they stand there pleading with
their out-rprcadlng branches against
ruthless destruction TO satisfy tue
greed Of man.
We may 20 back through history.
and ruined city after ruined city
shows how ephemerai Is everything
that man builds Did II never occur
TO you. has Il never occurred to those
who are Interested In uplifting ana
increasing the power for good OF the
church. and In carrying Its missionary
work into the cities and into the slums
and into the tenemcnts. where, Goa
knows. II IL needed most OF anywhere
ON this carth--has Il never occurred TO
you that child nurturcd In the tcne-
ments and In the slums and In 'ne
City fats. and seeing nothing around
n but bricks and mortar and asphalt
and frolIey.cnrs and things that man
has made. lives whore there II nothing
10 create conception OF higher
power. and lacks the influence or the
splendid manifestations OF nature