Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-04
P|MCA0T on CONSERVATION
FORESTER ADDRESSES LEGISLA-
TURE AT HARRISBURG.
Time Now Ripe, He Declares, for
Practical Work in Line OF
Presidents Recommendations.

HARRISBURG, Pa, February 4.-By
special order the general assembly of
Pennsylvania yesterday In Joint session
listened to an address on the subject OF
conservation OF the natural resources
of this country by Clifford Pinchot. for
ester. chairman of the national con-
servation commission. Mr.. Pinchot
spoke as follows:
The conservation idea has taken
hold of the people Of the country. The
time has now come to transform gen
eral interest into practical work.
When the idea of conservation was
first preached it was not generally
understood. Much doubt was eA-
pressed as to it's soundness and practi-
cability. That time has gone by. The
people of the United States have made
up their minds that the conservation
policy is good thing. This is 1ndi-
Gated by the fact that thirty-six states
have appointed conservation commits
sions, that nearly fifty of the organize
tions representing great national indus
tries have appointed conservation
committees, and that organizations OF
every kind in every part of the United
States are devoting serious attention
to the conservation movement. In
short, conservation is accepted by all
classes of Americans as policy nee
essary for the general welfare. The
idea which underlies IT is in harmony
with the true spirit of this nation. 1t
expressed a deep-Seated national convic-
ton. latent until it came, that We have
inherited from our fOrefatherS both
the opportunity for ourselves and the
duty to those who come after us. Con-
servation demands the use of common
prudence and common foresight in
dealing with the great material re-
sources upon which our present and fu-
ture welfare depends.
Action Now the Word.
But definitions Of conservation are no
longer needed. The people have a very
clear understanding of what conserva-
ton means. The thing needed now is the
adoption of a definite, practical program.
The period of general agitation, through
which we have passed. was absolutely
necessary. but the time has now come
to act. If conservation is to do any
thing for this country it must do it be-
cause the people are persuaded not only
that something ought to be DONE but
that very specific and definite things
ought to be done. In other words, there
should be a clearly defined conservation
policy, which can be applied by both
state and nation.
Such a program has been supplied to
a very considerable extent by the Presi-
dents message to Congress, transmit
ting the report of the national conserva-
ton commission. The program will UNI
doubtedly be made still more definite by
the meeting Of the joint committee on
cooperation between the state and ma
tional conservation commissions. which
is to be held in Washington, March B.
The duty of this committee, which was
authorized by the recent conference of
governors. other representatives of the
states. representatives Of more than half
hundred great national organizations
and the national conservation commits
sion, is to set before the states and the
nation exactly what they need to do in
conservation and how they should go
about doing it.
What Conservation Means.
Conservation implies both the develop
ment and the protection Of resources, the
one as much as the other. 1t is mistake
to suppose that conservation means only
preservation. The central fact about the
whole movement is that we must supply
the wants of $4,000 900 people within
the borders of the nation before the end
of the present century and that we must
supply them from our own resources
This means not only the prevention of
waste, but also the development of our
resources to their very utmost. Both
together will supply the answer to the
great problems of the future which our
people are just beginning consciously to