The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-09-09

state as against federal jurisdiction. We
are ready to meet that issue II It II forced
plain people in such conflicts Of jurisdic-
ton. The essential question II not one
OF hair-splitting legal technicalities. 1t II
simply this: Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public goodf
Most Of the predatory corporations are
Interstate or have interstate afiliations.
Therefore they are largely out Of reach Of
effective state control, and fall Of neces-
sity within the federal jurisdiction. Ono
of the prime objects of those among them
that are grasping and greedy IN to avoid
any effective control either by state or
nation; and they advocate at this time
state control simply because they believe
1t to be the least effective. In the great
fight Of the people to drive the special
interests from the domination Of our gov.
eminent. the nation Is stronger and its
Jurisdiction Is more effective than that OF
any state. The most effective weapon
against these great corporations, most or
which are financed and owned on the At
lantic coast, will be federal laws and tho
federal executive. That Is why 1 so
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. 1t Is funda-
mentally a demand against the interest
Of the plain people. Of the people OF small
means against the interest OF our chill
dren and our children's children; and It
Is primarily in the interest OF the great
corporations which desire to escape all
government control.
The Conservation Fight.
On Of the difficulties in putting into
practise the conservation idea is that the
field to which 1t applies IL constantly
growing in the public mind. 1t has been
no slight task to bring before 100000 PEG.
pie a great conception like that OF con.
servation. and convince them that 1t 10
right. This much we have accom-
plished. But there remains much to be
cleared UP. and many Misunderstanding
to be removed. These misunderstanding
are due In part at least to direct mig
representation by tho men to whose
interest It Is that conservation should not
prosper. Fer example, we find 1t con-
stantly said by men who should know
better that temporary Withdrawals,
such as the withdrawals Of coal lands.
will permanently check development. Yet
the fact Is that these Withdrawals have
no purpose except to prevent the coal
lands from passing into private owner
ship until congress can pass laws 70 open
them to development under conditions
Just alike to the public and to the men
who will do the developing.
Abuses committed in the name OF Just
cause are familiar to all of us. Many
unwise things are done and many unwisa
measures are advocated in the name OF
conservation, either through ignorance
or by those whose interest Hes not In pro-
noting the movement, but in retardins Il.
For exarpie, to stop water power devei-
epment by needless refusal to issue per-
mits for water power or private irrigation
works on the public lands inevitably leads
MANY men, friendly to conservation and
believers in its general principles. to as
sumo that its practical application is nee
essarily q check upon progress. Nothing
could be more mistaken. The idea, widely
circulated Of late, that conservation means
lecking up Of the natural resources for the
exclusive use Of future generations, II
wholly mistaken. Our purpose Is to make
full use of these resources, but to consid-
er our sons and daughters "a well as our,
selves; just as q farmer uses his farm
in ways to preserve its future usefulness.
Conservation Is the road to national ef-
ficiency, and It stands for ample and wisa
development.
But in spite Of these difficulties. most
of which are doubtless inevitable in any
movement Of this kind. conservation has
made marvellous progress. I have been
astounded and delighted on my return
from abroad at the progress made while I
was away We have q right to congratu-
late ourselves on this marvellous progress:
but there Is no reason for believing that
the fight Is won. In the beginning the
special interests, who are our chief oppo-
nents in the conservation fight. paid little
heed to the movement because they mel.
Their understood II, nor saw that II 1t won
they must lose. But with the progress OF
conservation in the minds of our people
the fight Is getting sharper The nearer
we approach to victory. the bitterer the
opposition that we must meet, and the
greater the need for caution and watch.
fitness Open opposition we can over
come, but warn you especially against
the men who come to congresses such as
this, ostensibly as disinterested citizens,
but actually as the paid agents OF the
special interests. heartily approve the
attitude Of any corporation. interested In
the deliberations Of q meeting such as
tbs which comes hither to advocate. by
its openly accredited agents, views which
II believes the meeting should have In
mind. But condemn with equal readi-
ness the appearance OF corporate agent
before any convention who does not De.
clare himself frankly as such.
This congress Is a direct appeal to the
patriotism Of our whole people. The
nation wisely looks to such gatherings
for counsel and leadership. Let that
leadership be sound, definite, practical.
and on the side Of all the people. IL
would be no small misfortune II meeting
such as this SHOULD ever fall into the
hands of the open enemies or false friends
Of the great movement which 1t repre-
sents.
II is our duty and our desire to mako
this land Of ours better homo for the
race but our duty does not stop there.
We must also work for better nation to
live in this better land. The development
and conservation of our national charac-
acter and our free institutions must go
hand In hand with the development and
conservation Of our natural resources.
which the governors conference so well
called the foundations of our prosperity.
Whatever progress We may make az a
nation, whatever wealth we may accu.
mulate. however Tar we may push me-
chanical development and production, We
shall never reach q point where our vel.
fare can depend in the last analysis on
anything but honesty, courage, loyalty.
and good citizenship The homely vir-
tues are the lasting virtues. and the road
which leads to them is the road to gen.
uine and lasting success.
What this country needs IL what every
free country must set before It as the
great goal toward which It works--an
equal opportunity for life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness for every one OF its
citizens. To achieve this end we must
put q stop to the improper political do.
minion. no less than to the improper eco.
nomic dominion, Of the great special
interests. IniS country, itb NATURAL re-
sources. its natural advantages, Its oppor.
tunities and Its institutions. belong to all
its citizens. They cannot be enjoyed fully
fully and freely under any government In
which the special interests as such have
voice. The supreme political task Of
our day. the indispensable condition Of
national efficiency and national welfare, Is
to drive the special interests out Of cur
public life.
One Thing Certain.
A eats aNaa IRA aaid fn ha lar0aek