Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-08
FORM CONSERVATION LEAGUE
ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO AID
NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
Plan Is Non-Partisan and Has Sup
port of Political Leaders
of All Faiths.

To promote more intelligent co-opera-
ton with the national commission ap-
pointed by the President to conduct the
great national conservation movement
inaugurated last May, as the outcome Of
the conference of the President with the
governors Of the several states and others.
and to bring into closer relation, for this
purpose, the unofficial associations which
have a common interest In the broader
aspects OF the conservation movement
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress has undertaken the initiative by
forming what is to be known as the Con-
servation League of America
In a communication signed by Joseph
f.. Ransdell. president, and ]. F. Ellison.
secretary of the National Rivers and Har-
bors Congress, the National Geographic,
Society of this city has been invited TO
become member of the league
The plan of organization and work has
been submitted to President Roosevelt
TO William J. Bryan and to William H.
Taft and has been approved by them.
Furthermore, 1t is announced. President
Roosevelt has accepted the honorary
presidency of the Conservation League of
America and Bryan and Taft have con-
sented to serve as honorary vice presl-
dents
Officers Chosen.
Walter L. Fisher of Chicago has been
chosen president of the league. Repre-
sentatives of organized labor and organ
lied capital will act as vice presidents
Spokesman for both these interests have
expressed hearty approval of the project
1t IS intended that the new organization
shall Ire absolutely non-partiSan, both po-
iitically and industrially. Organizations
which affiliate with the league will be in
IDlEel financial thIjon finp dc
for the work to De undertaken have al
ready been provided by voluntary CON
tributors who are interested in the move
nent.
Nor does membership in the league in
volve any commitment of aftiliatins as
SociationS beyond the announced Dllr-
poses Of The league, which are to carry
OF its work from central headquarters
in Chicago. by conducting Il campaign of
publicity confined to the promotion of the
leagues declared principles and the COM
mitment of candidates for congressional
and Legislative Office during the present
political campaign to the support of those
principles. There is to he no enlargement
or continuation of the leagues work after
the present campaign without specific au-
tnority from the associated organizations
forming the league.
Principles of League.
The declaration of principles of the
league is as follows:
Whereas 1t Is of the utmost importance
that the natural resources of the nation
shall be comprehensively and vigorously
developed and utilized for the promotion
OF the public welfare without waste de
struction needless Impairment and sub
ject always to their intelligent conserva-
tion and the effective preservation of the
rights and interests of the future gen
erations of our people.
''Now therefore. To Secure a racnoni-
ton and support OF these principles by the
people and by their representatives we
hereby unite i'll national conservation
league and adopt for ourselves the follow
ing taken directly from the declaration
unanimously adopted by the conference
of governors convened by the President
OF the United States In the White House
at Washington May IL, ii and l5 1905
1--WE do hereby declare the conviction
that the great prosperity of our country
rests upon the abundant resources of
the land chosen by our forefathers for
their homes and where they laid the
foundation of this great nation.
I'VE look upon these resources as
heritage to be made use of in establish
ing and promoting the comfort prosper
ty and happiness of the American peo-
pie, but not to be wasted, deteriorated
or needlessly destroyed.
I'VE agree that our country's future
is involved In this: That the great natural
resources supply the material basis upon
which our civilization must continue to
depend and upon which the perpetuity of
the nation itself rests
We agree that this material basis is
threatened with exhaustion.
I'VE agree that the land should be so
used that erosion and soil-wash shall
cease, and that there should be reclama-
ton of arid and semi-arid regions by
means of irrigation and of swamp and
overlooked regions by means of drainage;
that the waters should be conserved
and used to promote navigation to enable
the arid regions TO be reclaimed by irri-
CATION and to develop power in the inter-
ests OF the people; that the forests which
regulate our rivers. support our indus
tries and promote the fertility and pro-
ductiyenes OF the soil should be preserved