The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-26
Co-operatiUe Conservation
By Fredric J. Haskin.

With the movement for the conserv- ation of the nations natural re- sources well started by Presldent Roosevelt through the White House Conference of last spring, and the or ganization of the national conserva- ton commission. the next logicai su9g in carrying out the movement snoulo be-according to its advocates-the organization of national conserva- ton league Such a league should com bine in one organization the strength of a number of existing or ganizations which are now pledged 10 dhe conservation of our resources. and would then have a membership or a million or more representative men and women. It would embody in con crete form public sentiment in favor of this policy and voice that sentiment in urging national and State iegisla- tion and individual and corporats action in line with that policy. The national conservation commission, the Federal administration, or the states, will not be able to carry out the conservation policy unless they are spurred on by public sentiment.
 It is expected by advocates Of the plan that a national conservation league will crystaliize ss.snn next yili Wln' be l good one in which to inaugurate the movement, as hundreds and thousands of persons will be there who are Tn favor of conservation. Some of them will be attending the second meeting of the National Conservation Commis- sion in December. when that oody will consider It's report upon an in- ventory of national resources. upon which it has been engaged for sev- | eral weeks. Others will be attending 1 the annual conventions of the Ameri- l can Forestry Association the National Appalachian Forest Association. the | Rivers and Harbors Congress. ana oth- | CT similar organizations.
 l It is believed by advocates or the plan that most of the members Of l these organizations will be in favor | of combining their forces In na- l tional league It is proposed that the l several organizations forming its nu- 1 cleus would retain their individuality and continue to work along their own | particular and respective lines. and | that the league cooperate with the | national conservation commission and | with State conservation commissions in promoting their work.
 | Tn organizing such a league. 1t Is | expected that in addition to the as- sociations named. assistance and sup l port could be obtained from the Ma l tional Irrigation Congress. which | meets next month at Albuquerque New Mexico. to discuss irrigation mat | ters and other questions connected with the conservation of lands. for ests and waters: from the Drainage I Convention, whose members are en- gagged in developing swamp lands: | from the American Mining Congress | and the Institute of Mining Engineers, | whose operations are confined to the mineral deposits; from the New Eng land Forestry Association. whose chief concern just now Is the preservation of the White Mountain forests; from the Public Lands Convention and the Grazing and Live Stock Congress. which desire to pre- serve the Western public domain and | cattle range; from the Chicago and St. Louis Deep Waterways Convention; from the Gulf Inland Waterways Con- vention, and from practically all of the organizations which were repre- sented at the White House Conference. The organizations represented at the White House numbered about seventy five. with a. total estimated member ship of half a million men and women. Besides forestry, mining, engineering. | irrigation, river and harbor improve i ment, drainage and similar questions, the organizations referred to were in- terested in medical questions and san-
 itation, science. law, organized labor, economics, agriculture. architecture
 Journalism, manufacturing of various kinds. education, commerce insurance and other matters which are intimate ly concerned in the question of wheth CT or not the nations resources shall be prodigally wasted or conserved and developed in an intelligent, farsight- ed manner.
 The advocates of conservation rely | much upon the women of the country in perfecting this policy. If the wo- men can be enlisted. the policy will be as good as carried out, for. though the women can't vote in most places
 they can control the votes and do more to arouse public sentiment along given line than any other known force. The prohibition movement Is an evidence of this fact. The General
 Federation of Women's Clubs. with an immense membership Is confident ly expected to assist in the conserva-
 ton movement by supporting such a
 proposed league-a league that would
 unite the forces of conservation which
 are now scattered broadcast and to
 some extent. dissipated by smaller
 organizations which are yet con1par-
 atively narrow in their scope.
 That the forces of conservation must
 be reckoned with by lawmakers and
 others Is believed by its leaders Re ! sides, many thousands of members in organizations which are directly con nected with the conservation move ment, 1t Is estimated that there are still many many more thousand per- sons who are not affiliated with such
 organizations, but who would he heartily in favor of a conservation policy For instance there are 20 coo men in the engineering profession and many thousands of lumbermen min CTS rivermen, water power people and persons In other walks whose inter- ests are directly affected by the pres- ent lack of government policy of conserving and developing resources.
 Patriotic organizations, Chambers of 1 Commerce. Boards of Trade and nthnr