The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-09-16
Views of Ex-Chief Forester
on Conservation
By Associated Press.

st. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 9.-"Likely
nearly every great reform, conserva-
tion first passed through a period of
agitation and general approval. Dur
ing this period, it met with little OPP
position for as yet it interfered with
no mans private profit. From the be-
ginning of the world, the preaching
of righteousness in general terms has
been contemplated with entire equan-
ity by the men who rise in violent pro-
test the moment their own particular
privilege, graft, or advantage comes
practically into question. That pro-
test marks the second phase of the
reform.
within the last two years, conser-
vation has passed out of the realm of
an unimpeachable general principle
into that of a practical fighting at
tempt to get things done. 1t has be-
gun to step on the toes of the bene-
ficiaries and the prospective bene-
ficiaries of unjust privilege, and the
resulting opposition, considering the
quarters whence it comes, is one of
the best of proofs that conservation
is live movement for the general
good.
"The people believe in conservation.
Now when any great movement has
established itself so firmly in the pub
lie mind that a direct attack upon it
will not pay, the regular method is to
approve it in general terms, andrthen
condemn its methods and its men, So
now the demand from the opponents
of conservation is not at all that we
shall abandon the principle of the
greatest good of us all for the longest
time in using our natural resources.
The soft pedal conservationists mere
ly ask that conservation as applied
shall be what they call rational, safe,
and sane Safe and sane legislation,
as that expression is used by the men
who use it most, means legislation
not unfriendly to the continued control
of our public affairs by the special in
terests. Safe and sane conservation,
as that expression is used by these
same men, means conservation so
carefully sterilized that it will do the
special interests no harm and the
people no good
"When the conservation movement
began to tell, it developed without de-
lay that the one great obstacle to
practical progress lay in the political
power of the special interests. Every
effort to conserve any natural re-
source for the general welfare was
met by the legislative agents of the
men who wanted to exploit it for their
private profit. The effort to get
things done in conservation taught
us clearly, Enthusiastically, and with
little delay, that so long as the po-
litical domination of the great busi-
ness interests endures their corrupt
control of legislation will carry with
it the monopolistie control of the ma
tural resources also. This is what
we face today in the effort to apply
conservation.
THE fundamental principles of con-
servation are few and simple One
of the first is that the natural re-
sources and natural advantages be-
long to all the people, and should be
developed, protected, and perpetual
ed directly for the benefit of all the
people, and not mainly for the profit
of few.
Another is that the natural re-
sources still owned by the people
which are necessaries of life, like coal
and water power, should remain in
public ownership and should be dis
posed of only under lease for limited
periods, and with fair compensation
to the public for the rights granted.
"As to our waters:
1. Every stream should be made
useful for every purpose in which it
can be made to serve the public. The
preparation of broad plan is need
ed without delay for the development
of our waterways for navigation, do
mestic supply, irrigation, drainage,
land power
2. Every power site now in state
or federal control should be held so,
and should be disposed of only under
lease for limited time and with fair
compensation to the public.
8. In the development of our water
ways, the cooperation of the states
with the nation is essential for the
general welfare.
''As to our forests
1. All forests necessary for the
public welfare should be in the pub
lie ownership, such as the national
forests already in existence, the
proposed Appalachian and White
Mountain national forests, and the
state forests of New York, Pennsyl-
VI