Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-08-27

| ~OnSSA NallOH couBTeSS Dy j. N. rear,
Of Portland. Ore, who presided at
this mornings session:
IndOrses Conservation Policy.
II congratulate you on the object
of your meeting and sincerely hope
your deliberations will result in use
full conclusions. You can count on
the earnest support OF this admins
tration for policies of conservation
OF natural resources by every means
properly within federal jurisdiction
and such recommendation to con-
gress as may best be adapted to Sc
cure useful legislation toward the
same end. Signed. William H. Taft.
The telegram caused great APP
plause and is considered gratifying
BY men fighting for strong resolu-
tions indorsing an active policy in the
conservation of water power. forests
and public lands.
PinchOt's Address.
The congress opened this morning
with an address by Chief Forester
Clifford Pinchot, who dwelt at length
on the primary objects of conserya-
ton, taking broad and comprehen-
sive view Of the matter. The speaker
showed the necessity of not only
careful conservation or our timber
resources and the debt we owe to flu
ture generations in preserving to
them the forests, but in saving other
natural resources, such as water pow
ers and coal lands. He pointed out
the great extravaganza of the people
in wasting their natural resources,
and spoke in high praise of former
President Roosevelt and his pollciea
of conservation, which were being
promoted solely for the benefit of the
people. The speaker was frequently
applauded during the delivery Of his
speech and when he closed was given
an ovation which left no doubt where
the sympathies of the delegates tn
the congress were placed and of the
confidence they had in the chief for
ester and his ideas of promoting the
welfare of the people.
Pinchot presided at this after
moons session of the congress and DIR.
w. J. MCGEE, of the department of
agriculture, delivered the principal
address.
Expcunding what he termed the
cult conservation" as a, new phil
osophy. DIR. w. ]. McGee, of the de-
partment Of agriculture, gave some
startling figures to the conservation
lists as basis for their work on prac-
teal lines. DR.. MCGEE declared that
water is the most necessary element
in the scheme of existence. The
function OF the plant, he said. is to
enrich the soil and animal life is de-
pendent on the plant. and both are
on water.
when the federal constitution
was framed" said DR.. McGee. land
alone was recognized as a basis of
national existence and not until
within decade were the waters rec
ognized as q resource to be devel-
oped and conserved in the interests
of the people"
The arid lands of the United
States. said the speaker. comprise as
great an area as that Of Great Brit
ain. Germany. France, Spain, Portu-
gal. Italy. Greece, lower Egypt and
Palestine combined. Our rivers an
nually carry into the sea nearly a
billion tons of richest soil stun. he
declared, and the United States has
not enough rainfall for use without
the strietest economy.
The chief evil to be opposed" he
asserted, lis that besetting social dis
sase due to the intervention of para
sites on the body polite between the
electors and their duly elected repre-
'entatives to whom goyernmen: Is
John Barrett, director OF American
republics. was one OF the speakers.
He referred to the stand taken By
President Taft on the question Of