The Washington herald., 1908-08-26


started by President Roosevelt through
the White House conference Of last
spring. and the Organization Of The Ia
tionaI conservation commission. the next
logical step in carrying out the movement
should be-accoTding 10 its advocates-the
organization Of a national conservation
league Such league should combine in
one organization the strength Of a num-
Der Of existing organizations which are
now pledged 70 the conservation Of our
resources. and would then have mem
bersaip OF million OF more representa-
tive men and women II would embody
IN concrete form public sentiment IN favor
OF this policy and voice that sentiment n
urging national and State legislation and
individual and corporate action in line
with that policy The national conserva-
JiOn commission. the Federal a6ministra-
ton, OF the States viii not be able 10
carry out the conservation policy unless
they are spurred on by public sentiment
Il is expected by advocates OF the plan
that a national conservation league viii
crystalline next winter n Washington
The season viii be a good one in which
- inaUsurate the movement as hundreds
and thousands Of persons viii be here
who are in favor Of conservation. Some
OF them VIII be attending the secord
meeting Of the National Conservation
Commission in December. when that body
win consider its report upon an inventory
Of national resources. upon which il has
been engaged for several weeks Others
viii be attending the annual conventions
of the American Forestry Association, The
National Appalachian Forest Association.
the Rivers and Ha-bors Congress, and
other similar organizations
II is believed by advocates Of the plan
thae lscsc Of the members Of these or
ganizatious viii be IN favor Of combining
their forces in a national league Il IS
proposed that the several organizations
forming its nucleus would retain their
Individuality and respective lines. and
that the league Cooperate with the na-
JIOnaI conservation commission and with
State conservation commissions in pro
noting their work
N organizing such a league IL IS eX-
pecJed that IN addition 70 the associations
named. assistance and support could be
obtained from the National Irrigation
Congress. which meets next month at
Albuquerque, y. Mex. TO discuss ir-
rlgauon matters and other questions con
r=cted with The conservation OS lands.
forests. and waters, from the drainage
convention whose members are engaged
IN developing swamp lands. from the
AmsricaQ Mining Congress and the Insti-
tute OF Mining Engineers. whose opera
tons are confined TO the mineral deposits,
from The New England Forestry Associa-
ton, y whose chief concern Just now IS the
preservation OF the White Mountain for
esJs; from the Public Lands Convention
and the Grazing and Live stock Congress.
which desire 20 preserve the Western
plolic domain and cattle range, from The
Chicago and S. Louis Deep Waterways
Convention. from the Gulf Inland Water
ways Convention. and from practically
al OF the organizations which were rep
resented a he White House conference.
The organizations represented al The
White House numbered about seventy
five. with q total estimated membership
Of half a million men and women Be
sides forestry mining engineering. i-ri-
Eariol, river and ha-bor Improvement,
drainage and similar questions The or
EauiZarions referred 70 were interested in
medical Questions ard sanitation. science.
law. organized labor. economies, agriCul-
JCre- architecture, journalism. nanufac-
turing Of various kinds education com
Elerce insurance. and other matters which
are Intimately concerned IN the question
OF whether OF not the nations resources
shan be prodiEalIy wasted OF conserved
and developed IN an intelligent. far-slght-
ed manner
The advocates Of conservation rely very
much upon the women Of the country in
perfectiag this policy. II the women can
be enlisted. the policy VIII be as good as
carried out for. though the women cant
vote II most places. they can control the
votes and DO more TO arouse public seati-
rnent along q given line -han 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 confidently ex-
pected TO assist in the conservation move
Dent by supporting such a proposed
leagUe-a league that would unite the
forces OF conservation which are now
scattered broadcast and. 10 some extent.
dissipated by smaller organizations which
are yet comparatively narrow in their
scope
That the forces Of conservation must be
reckoned with by lawmakers and others
thousands OF members in organizations
which are directly connected with the
conservation movement. il is estimated
that there are still many more thousand
persons who are not affiliated with such
organizations. but who would be heartily
in favor OF a conservation policy For
instance. there are 21110 men n the engi-
Ueering profession and many thousands
OF luubeTUeu. miners. farmers river
men. water power people and persons IN
other walks whose interests are directly
affected by the present lack OF q gov
ernDent policy Of conserving and develop
ing resources
Patriotic organizations, chambers Of
commerce. boards OF trade, and other
commercial bodies national. State and
local civic leagues and improvement as
sociat5oas. fste-nsl societies and the good
citizenship OF the country as a whole. i IS
thought, viii constitute potent forces in
favor OF the conservation ot resources #
they can be aroused The mission OF the
proposed conservation league IS 70 arouse
them.
Since the White House conference and
the organization OF the National Conser-
walton Commission. several states have
followed the Federal administration
lead State conservation commissions
have been named by a number OF COVER
nors. State forestry bureaus have been
revived. tracts Of State lands nave been
set aside as forest reservations. and sew
eraI governors have recommended 10 their
legislatures that appropriate legislative
action be taken L is believed the policy
Of conservation viii spread al over the