The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-09-24
CONSERVATION, THEME OF
MENDENHALL AND HOSMER
cFrOm rhuraday's Ad,srtlserJ

mhh Rivers anu huioVts N"hti'ss
local representation held q session in
the interest of conservation Of national
resources with particular reference TO
the needs Of Hawaii. at which w. G.
Mendenhal of the government bureau
'of conservation at Washington, and II.
s. Hosmer. Superintendent of Forestry
Of the Territorial Bureau of Agricul.
cure. made addresses. Both addresses
were of deep interest to the large audi.
,nce. Mrs. Philip Weaver opened the
session by introducing Mr.. Mendenhall.
Mendenhan on Conservation.
q w. c. .Mendenhall spoke on conserva-
Zion and the territorial water supply
rs follows:
The term Conservation unknown
except in limited circles five years ago
s now on every tongue. The national
movement for which that term stands
vas unheard of by the general public
before the Roosevelt regime. If by
accident its quiet although sturdy be-
,innings came to the attention of our
practical statesmen, it was regarded
s one of the infinite number of Utopian
fchemes born each decade and dying at
birth. But this movement, founded on
wise foresight; standing for the ap.
,lication in national affairs, and to nat.
I tral resources, of the simple principles
shich every business man applies in his
{,wn business affairs, and which every
! wise housekeeper uses in the manage.
tent of her own households; made in
tant appeal to the common sense Of
aeh individual who came to understand
. Y; and so, from an obscure movement
,ithout influential support, it sprang
nder the vigorous championship Of
theodore. Roosevelt and his friend, Gift.
ord Pinchot, into national prominence
nd quickly became a great national
Issue. Five years ago our lawmakers
lad not heard of it, or having heard
it, ignored it; now they recognize
as force with which they must deal
nd its supporters as an active body Of
rae teal idealists who will be heard.
he question is no longer one as to
neither conservation on the whole is
& Use, or whether the movement is to
o forward at air but>rather as to how
lpidly it's tenets shall be enforced,
ow many of its principles shall go
s lto effect now and how many it
yere better to postpone until public
ointment is ripper or until business in
.rests shall have adjusted themselves
, the swiftly changing public attitude
Dward the rapid exploitation of IRE.
laceable natural resources. The change
i sentiment in this respect is already
reat. Certain masters of industry, not
bng ago, regarded as models of enter
rise, because Of their rapid accumula-
on of wealth through the exploitation
{ forests, coal, oil and gas, phosphates
: water resources, now to their great
swilderment, find themselves looked
pom with serious suspicion. It is no
niger regarded as good citizenship to
icrifce rhthlessly the interests of fu-
ire generations, in order that wealth
ay be accumulated in this. The man
8 ger of great coal or lumber company,
no has taken pride, in creating an
idustry, building up community and
formulating wealth for himself and
s associates and too much engrossed
s too careless to watch the trend Of
Iblic opinion is shocked some day into
8 amazed and resentful consciousness
the changed public attitude toward
mself and his enterprise. Is not the
pal or the lumber to use he saysf
it not perfectly legitimate to create
ealth by an exploitation of these
ae nation is so fortunate7 Suppose he
PES leave path of destruction behind
m. Future generations can take care
themselves, as this generation must.
he not reaping but the legitimate
ward of his foresight and enterprise
acquiring these great bodies of coal
i'd oil, timber and phosphatef Are
$ ey not his ownf Whose business is
anyhow how he mines or how he cuts
lunrberi OF course he does it in
way that yields the largest returns.
hat 5 what he is in business for. Fifty
sr cent. of the coal wasted? All the
S lung underground killed. Well, that IS
cause it doesn't pay to save it. You
IN 7 expect him to waste his own and
stockholders money in OUTLAWS that
ing no return do you? So he fuses
I'd fumes. He has not changed, but
S s standing in his community has. 1t
s irritating beyond understanding. He
S ay even be threatened with indict-
ent because it is found that he has
s. quired his large holdings of coal OF
timber in the usual way by using
lmmy entrymen. He, the most promi'
ant man in the community criminal!
conceivable. Who is this man Pin
lot anyhow What is conservation
fool and his fad. A dreamer and his
: .eam. Away with them. Let us have
business administration.
This type of man has been passed
the evolution of public opinion. A
W years ago he represented the
primal, usual attitude toward his bust
,ss.S But the public conscience hal
,veloped and now he represents only
irritated and decreasing minority
ut he has rights that must be re
.ected. He is not criminal in intent
e deserves and will receive hearing
I'd time TO comprehend the change
at is coming about and TO adjust II
There 10 much discussion Of ant
uch interest In, the attitude Of th'
'esent national administration towaTl
- Iii.