Mountain advocate., 1908-10-30

Their Constructive Regime.
An extremely important feature of
the constructive Republican policy is
the national move for the conserva-
ton of the natural resources of the
country This measure has been
originated by the present Republican
Administration and. like the Home
stead law. the National Irrigation act
and other measures for the benefit of
the whole people, its influence is des-
tined to be far reaching and produce
tive of great good to the home build
ers of the country.
The National Conservation Com
mission as it exists to-day is an out
growth of the Inland Waterways
Commission - this commission was
appointed by President Roosevelt in
March. 1907. In his letter creating
the Waterways Commission the Pres
ident uses this language: THAT the
Inland Waterways Commission shall
consider the relations of the streams
to the use OF all the permanent nat
ural resources and their conservation
for the making and maintenance of
prosperous homes"
Home Building For the People.
lt luNuilltS Vi lu6 COIlUllSSlOH
along the lines indicated led to the
proposal of the President on October
3 that he call n conference on the
general subject of the conservation of
the national resources of the nation.
Among other reasons mentioned for
this movement their letter to the
President stated: Hitherto our ma
tional policy has been one of almost
unrestricted disposal of natural re-
sources, and this in more lavish meas
ure than in any other nation in the
worlds history, and this policy of the
Federal Government has been shared
by the constituent States. Three
consequences have ensued: First, un-
precedented consumption of natural
resources; second, exhaustion of
these resources to the extent that a
large part of our available public
lands have passed into great estates
or corporate interests. our forests are
so far depleted as to multiply the
cost Of forest products, and our sup
plies of coal and iron ore are so far
reduced as to enhance prices. and,
third, unequalled opportunity for
private monopoly. to the extent that
both the Federal and State sovereign
ties have been compelled to enact
Jaws lOI lllt vi tue DtODl6.
I'VE are of opinion that the time
has come for considering the policy
)f conserving these material resources
On which the permanent prosperity of
our country and the equal opportu-
nifty OF all our people must depend;
we are also of opinion that the policy
of conservation is so marked an ad-
vance on that policy adopted at the
outset of our national career as to
demand the consideration of both
Federal and State sponsors for the
welfare Of the people"
The Constructive Leaven at Work.
In his address before the Lakes-to-
the-Gulf Deep Waterways Association
at Memphis President Roosevelt an
nounced his intention of calling such
conference. and on November g he
issued invitations to the Governors of
all States and Territories to meet at
the White House May 1915. 1908.
In this letter he said: Recently
declared there is no other question
now before the nation of equal grav-
ity with the question of the conserva-
tion of our natural resources. and
added that II is the plain duty of us
who for the moment are responsible
to take inventory of the natural re-
sources which have been handed
down to us to forecast the needs of
the future and so handle the great
sources of our prosperity as not to de-
stroy in advance all hope of the pros
perity of our descendants"
This conference was held, Presi-
dent Roosevelt presided and the
practical conservation work was
properly launched.
Taft to Direct the Work.
Mr.. Taft is in thorough sympathy
with this movement to build more
homes for the people and to make
them more attractive. He is the
great American who typifies the inde-
pendence and the constructive genius
of the American home builder. There
is an innate desire in the heart of the
Anglo-Saxon American to own a
home. Mr.. Taft recognizes the inher-
ent yearning of the common people
apparent on every page of history TO
own in fee simple some portion of the
earth The desire is as keen to-day
as IL ever was. OF all our wealth
producing class the farmer needs a
home most. He must have land. He
should by all means own It, His
farm need not be so large as some
suppose, but it should belong to the
farmer, not to someone else. This is
not only self-evident because of the
advantage to the farmer, but because
of its advantages to the nation at
large. II is the cornerstone of our
national life. II lies at the root of
all true patriotism and all social i'm
provement and content.
Give a man a home upon the soil
and you have made him a patriot
who will defend your institutions at
the ballot box or on the battlefield
Mr.. Taft proposes to open the door to
our vast natural resources with the
Republican key of national conserva-
tion. This is a most hopeful augury
of the future. When the people have
easy access to the land and can fully
utilize our great natural resources
most OF our other troubles will settle
themselves The property owner is q
conservative man who loves his fam.
lily and his country. Let the property
~ q