The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-09
NEED OF THE HOUR
President Roosevelt Says the
Time Is Now
To Conserve Natural Resources
and Improve Waterways.
is ENDORSED BY TAFT
II the Current Government Rev.
enues Are Insufficient
They Favor an Issuance Of Bonds
for the Purpose.

| Washington, Dec. 9.-President
Roosevelt and President-eIect Taft
have publicly put themselves on record
in advocacy of the issuance of govern
ment bonds for the construction OF
permanent public improvements to
| conserve the natural resources of the
7 nation.
President-elect Taft presided at the
joint conservation meeting at the
Belasco theater in this city, at which
President Roosevelt made the prin-
cipal address. The incumbent of the
White House gave his unqualified APP
prevail for the carrying out of expert
plans for the conservation of the ma
tons resources. The coming president
seconded Mr.. Roosevelt's assertions
with hearty accord.
Governor Chamberlain of Oregon
voiced what seemed the advanced
ground of the Democratic party in ad-
vocacy of federal jurisdiction, and an
audience which filed the theater and
which included Andrew Carnegie,
and the governors of several states,
applauded every sentiment expressed.
The joint meeting brought together
the membe of the conservation COM
mittee and their helpers, the delegates
to the great southern commercial
congress, the members of rivers and
harbors congress and others interested
in working a comprehensive plan for
making the most of the lands, min
erals, forests and waters that belong
to the public domain of the United
States.
President Roosevelt spoke in part as
Judge Taft, governors. representa-
tives of the states and the great ma
tionaI organizations, members of the
national conservation commission
Ia NJ
I welcome you to Washington and
to the work you have gathered to do.
No service to the nation in time of
peace could be of greater worth than
the work which has brought you to-
gether. You have come here to make
this nations future as great and hap
by as its present. 1t is the largest
national task of today, and I thank
you for making ready to undertake it.
If you do no more than fix the nation
q attention upon the problem, you will
do vast good. 1t augurs we'll for our
future that you are here; and it is to
matter it should take the lead among
the nations of the world.
The prudent business man regularly
takes account of stock, so that he
may know just where he stands; but
nations have been slow to profit by
the wise example. The United States
is substantially the first nation to in
ventory its stock on hand, and it has
way within the last few months.
Last May the governors of the
states and territories met in the
White House to confer with each 9TH
er and with the president upon the
material basis of our national well
fare. They united in a memorable
declaration which should hang on the
wall in every school. One outcome
of the conference at which the declar-
alton was adopted was the appoint
ment of the national conservation
commission, whose chief duty was to
prepare an inventory of the natural
resources of our country-those re-
sources which are, in the language
of the governors, the foundation of
our prosperity. Its report is to be used
by the president in transmitting to
congress information as to the state
or the union so far as natural re-
sources are concerned.
I am especially glad to welcome the
cooperation of the states, through
their conservation commission and
otherwise Such cooperation gives
earnest of mutual assistance between
states and nation. and mutual benefits
to follow Without it the great task
of perpetuating the national welfare
would succeed with difficulty. If
states and nation work for it togeth-
er, all in their several fields, and all
joining heartily where the field is