The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-09-07
RooSEvELT's STRONG PLEA FOR
NEW NATioNALlsM CAR
RtES ST. PAUL.
CORPORATION vs.. PEOPLE
Former Want State Control for Self.
lsh Purposcs--Favors River M
Terminals and Reciama-
tion Of Swamp Lands.

St, raul, Sept. O.---l ne uoGttlHc VI
a new nationalism" which Roose
welt enunciatei in his speech at 0sa-
watomie, Kansas, last week was set
forth more clearly by him today be-
lore the National Conservation Con-
gress here. He declared for tne gov
ernmcnt control OF the conntry's
natural resources and so placed nim-
self directly against the advocated
states rights"
He said: 1T is not really question
of the state against the nation. 1t
really Is question OF the corporate
interests against the people.
He said the corporations are anx-
ions to have the states take UP the
work, that they might have effective
control. Throughout mis- talk Roose-
welt emphasized the need OF giving
over to the national government the
task of carrying on the work of CON
servation.
There is apparent to the iudicious
observer a distinct tendency on the
part of our opponents to cloud the
issue by raising the question OF state
as against federal jurisdiction. We
are ready to meet that issue If it Is
forced upon us. But there is no hope
for the plain people in sucn conflicts
Of jurisdictions. The essential ques.
ton is not one of hair-splitting legal
,echnicallties. It is simply this: Who
can best regulate the special inter
ests for the public good? Most of the
predatory corporations are E
state affiliations. Therefore they are
largely out OF reach of effective
state control. and fall of necessity
within the federal jurisdiction. One
of the prime objects of those among
them that are grasping and greedy Is
to avoid any effective control either
by state or nation; and they advocate
at this time state control simply he-
cause they believe 1t to be the least
effective.
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedly high throughout the
world, We are efficient probably 10
the full limit that any nation can
attain by the methods hitherto used.
There is great reason TO be proud of
our Achievements, and yet no reason
to believe that we cannot excel our
past Through practically nnre.
strained indivdualism, we have
reached pitch of literally uneS-
ampled material prosperity, although
the distribution Of this prosperity
leaves much to be desired from the
standpoint of justice and fair deal.
ing. But we have not only allowed
the individual a free hand, which was
in the main right; we have also al
lowed great coTpofarens to act as
though they were individuals, and TO
exercise the rights Of individuals, in
addition to using the vast combined
power of high organization and
enormous wealth for their own ad.
vantage. This development of cor.
porate action, it is true, Is doubtless
in large part responsible for the
gigantic development of our natural
resources, but 1t is not less responsi
bic for waste, destruction and monop.
oily on an equa.--- gigantic scale
The method OF reckless and uncon-
trolled private use and waste has
done for us all the good 1t ever can,
and il Is time toNprN an end to it
before 1t does all the evil 1t easily
may. We have passed the time when
needless waste and destruction, and
arrogant monopoly, are any longer
permissible. Henceforth we must
seek national efficiency oy new
and better way by the way Of the or
derly development and use, couple |
with Che preservation, OF our national
resources, by making the most OF
what we have for the benefit of all
of us, instead of leaving the sources
Of material prosperity open to in.
discriminate exploitation. These are
some OF the reasons why 1t is wise
that we SHOULD abandon the old point
of view, and why Conservation has
become patriotic duty.
Waterways.
One of the greatest of our Conser.
walton problems Is the wise and
prompt development and use Of the
waterways of this nation. The Twin
Cities, lying as they do at the head
waters of the Mississippi. are not
upon the direct line of the proposed
Lakes to the Gulf Deep Waterway
Yet they are deeply interested in its
prompt completion, AS well as In the
deepening and regulation OF the Mis-.
sissippi to the mouth Of the Missouri
and to the Gulf The project for a
great tank waterway an arn ~ tha