The Washington herald., 1908-05-14

uses Of our natural resources are 50
closely connected that they should be
co-ordinated, and should be treated ss
part of one coherent plan and not IN
haphazard and piecemeal fashion.
Acknowledgement 10 Commission.
1T is largely because Of this that
appointed the waterways Commission
last year and that have sought to per-
petuate its work. I wish TO take this
opportunity 10 express in heaFtiest fash
ion my acknowledgment to all the MEM
bers of the commission. At great per-
sonal sacrifice of time and effort they
have rendered a service TO the public Tor
which We cannot be too grateful. Espe-
eial credit is due TO the initiative, the en-
ergy, the devotion to duty and the far
sightedness of Clifford Plnchot. to whom
we owe so much OF the progress we have
already made in handling this matter of
the coordination and conservation OF
natural resources. If it had not been for
him this convention neither would nor
could have been called.
I'VE are coming in recognize as never
before the right Of the nation to guard
rs own future in the essential matter OF
natural resources. In the past We have
admitted the right Of the individual to in
jure the future of the republic for his
own present profit. The time has come
for a change. AS q people we have the
right and the duty, second to none other
but the right and duty Of obeying the
moral law, Of requiring and doing justice,
to profess ourselves and our children
against the wasteful development OF our
natural resources whether that waste
IS caused by the actual destruction Of
such resources or by making them inn
possible OF development hereafter.
Duty to the Nation.
Any right-thinking father earnestly
| desires and strives 10 leave his son both
an untarnished name and a reasonable
equipment for the struggle Of life. So this
nation as a whole should earnestly desire
and strive TO leave to the next generation
the natioral honor unstained and the
national resources unexhausted. There
are signs that both the nation and the
| States are waking to a realization Of this
| great truth On March TO- 1908. the
/ Supreme Court Of Maine rendered an
exceedinly important judicial decision.
| TO questions as TO the right OF the legisla-
/ ture 70 restrict the cutting of trees on
/ private land for the prevention of
| droughts and floods. the preservation OF
/ the natural water supply, and the pre-
vention OF the erosion of such lands. and
! the consequent filing up OF rivers, ponds.
/ and lakes. The forests and water power
/ Of Maine constitute the larger part OF
i her wealth and form the basis of her
/ industrial life and the question sub
mitted BY the Maine senate 10 the Su-
preme Court and the answer OF the su-
pTeme Court alike bear testimony 10 the
| wisdom Of the people Of Maine. and
/ clearly define a policy Of conservation
/ OF natural resources, the adoption of
which is OF vital Importance not merely
TO Maine. but to the whole country.
Such policy will preserve soil, forests,
water power as heritage for the children
and the chiidrens children Of the men and
women Of this generation; for any enact
ment that provides for the wise utilization
ol the forests. whether in public or private
| ownership, and for the conserve ton of
the water resources OF the country, must
| necessarily be legislation that will promote
both private and public welfare. for food
! prevention. water power development.
preservation Of the soil. and Improvement
OF navigable rivers are all promoted by
such a policy OF forest conservation.
Maine Court Decision.
"The opinion of the Maine supreme
bench sets forth unequivoeally the prin-
ciple that the property rights of the in
dividual are subordinate 10 the rights OF
the community. and especially that the
waste Of wild timber land derived orig
inally from the State, involving as #
| would the impoverishment Of the State
and its people and thereby defeating one
great purpose or government, may prop
erly be prevented by State restrictions.
The court says that there are two rea-
sons why the right Of the public to con-