The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-05-14

.
Is to try to see that they are wisely
used. The exhaustion is certain ia
come in time.
The second class Of resources con-
sists of those which can not only be
used In such manner as to leave them
undiminihed for our children, but
can actually be improved by wise
use. The soil, the forests, the water
ways come in this category. In
dealing with mineral resources, man
Is able to improve on nature only by
pntting the resources to beneficial
use which in the end exhausts them;
but in dealing with the soil and its
products man can improve ON nature
by compelling the resources to re-
new and even reconstruct themselves
in such manner as to serve increas-
ingly beneficial uses-while the llv-
ing waters can be SO controlled as
to multiply their benefits.
We are coming to recognize as
never before the right of the Nation
to guard Its own future In the essen
tial matter OF natural resources. In
the past we have admitted the right
of the individual to injure the future
of the Republic for his own present
profit. The time has come for a
change. AS people we have the
right and the duty, second to none
other but the right and duty of obey
ing the moral law, Of requiEing and
doing justice, to protect Ourselves
and our children against the wasteful
development OF our natural resour-
ces, whether that waste is caused by
the actual destruction of such re-
sources or by making them impos-
sible of development hereafter.
We do not think the proposed leg
islation would operate to take" pri-
vate property within the inhibition
of the Constitution While 1t might
restrict the owner of wild and un-
cultivated lands in his use OF them,
might delay his taking some of the
product, might delay his anticipated
profits and even thereby might cause
him some loss of profit. 1t would
leave him his hands,
their product and increase, untouch-
ed, and without diminution of title,
estate, orr quantity. He would still
have large measure of control and
large opportunity to realive values.
He might suffer delay but not de-
privation. - The proposed leg
islation would be within the
legislative power and would not OPP
crate as a taking of private property
for which compensation must be
made.
Finally, let us remember that the
of our natural re-
sources, though the gravest problem
of today, is yet but part of another
and greater problem to which this
Nation is not yet awake, but to
which 1t will awake in time, and
with which 1t must hereafter grapple
If it is to live-the problem of ma
tional efficiency, the patriotic duty
of insuring the safety and continu-
ance of the Nation. When the peo-
pie of the United States consciously
to raise themselves as
and the Nation and the
States in their several spheres, to the
highest pitch of excellence in private,
State, and national life, and to do this
because it is the first of all the dut-
les of true patriotism, then and not
till then the future of this Nation,
in quality and in time, will be as
sured.
The president was applauded many
times. AT the close of his speech he
suggested that a committee on reso-
lutions be appointed to which all sug-
gestions for action be referred. On
motion of Governor Johnson, OF Min
nesota, the suggestion was adopted
and committee appointed. The ses-
sion ended at noon and the afternoon
session began at 2:3O O'clock.