River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-09-08
: the~-resourees for the people Is fun OF
hope for US all.
state and Federal Control.

! tie--resourees- for the people Is fali OF
hope for US all.
State and Federal Control.
But while we of the United States are
anxious, as I believe we are able, to be
or assistance to others there are prob
iems OF our own which we must not over
look. one of the most important con-
servatlon questions of the moment relates
70 the control of water power monopoly
In the public interest. There is apparent
10 the Juoiclous observer 0lsunct ten
oency 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 II 1t Is forced
upon US. But there is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts OF 1urisdic-
tlon. Inc essential question ID not one
OF halr-splitting legal technicalites. 1t Is
simply this: Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public good?
Most OF the predatory corporations are
interstate or have interstate afnhatlons
Therefore they are largely out or reach or
effective state control, and fall OF neces-
sity 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 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 ana 1ts
jurisdiction is more effective than that Of
any state. The most effective weapon
against these great corporations, most OF
which are financed and owned on the At
lantic coast, will be federal laws and the
federal executive. That Is why so
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. 1t is 1unda-
fsa1 Ixy al m
Of the plain people, of the people of small
means, against the interest of our chill
dren and our children's children; and 1t
Is primarily in the interest or 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 it applies is constantly
growing In the public mind. 1t mas oeen
no slight task to bring before 100000 peo-
pie great conception like that or con-
servation. and convince them that IL IS
right. This much we have accom-
plished. But there remains much to be
cleared up, and many misunderstanding
to be reno ed These misunderstanding
are due in part at least to direct mis-
representation by the men TO whose
interest 1t is that conservation should not
prosper. For 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 develn pment. Yet
the fact Is that these Withdrawals nave
no purpose except to prevent the coaI
lands from passing into private owner
ship until congress can pass laws TO open
them to development under condluons
lust alike to the public and to the men
who will do the developing. If there Is
delav the responsibility for 1T rests. net
on the men who made the Withdrawals I'd
protect the public interest, but on those
who prevent congress from passing wise
legislation. and so putting an end to the
need for withdraw is.
Abuses committed in the name OF just
cause are familiar to all of US. Many
unwise things are done and many unwise
measures are advocated in the name or
conservation either through Ignorance,
or by those whose interest lies not IN pro-
noting the movement, but In retardlng IL.
For example. to stop water power deve!'
opment 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 it's general principles, TO as
sumo that its practical application is nee
essarily check upon progress. Nothing
could be more mistaken. The Idea, widely
circulated
locking up of the natural resources for the
exclusive use Of future generations. Is
wholly mistaken. Our purpose ls to make
full use of these resources, but TO conSlo-
err our sons and daughters as well as our
selves: Just as a farmer uses his farm
in WAYS to preserve its future usefulness.
Conservation is the road to national eff
fciency and it stands for ample and wise
development.
But in spite Of these difficulties, most
of which are doubtless inevitable in any
movement Of this kind, conservation has
made marvellous progress. 1 nave been
astounded and delighted on my return
from abroad at the progress made while |
was away We have a right to congratu-
late ourselves on this marvellous progress:
hut there is no reason for believing that
the fight is won In the beginning the
special interests, who are our, chief opDo-
nents in the conservation fight paid little
heed to the movement, because they nell
Their understood It, 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, ana the
greater the need for caution and watch
fulness. Omen opposition we can over
come but I warn you especially against
the men who come to congresses such as
but actually as the paid agents OF the
specia1 interests I heartily approve the
attitude of any corporation, Interested in
the deliberations of a meeting such as
tbs which comes hither to advocate by
its openly accredited agents views which
1t believes the meeting should have In
mind But I condemn with equal readi-
ness the appearance of a 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. 1t
would be no small misfortune II meeting
such as this should ever fall into the
hands Of the omen enemies or false friends
Of the great movement which 1t repre-
sents.
It IS our DUTY and our desire to make
this land of oUls a better home 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 as
nation, whatever wealth we may accu"
mulate however far we may push me-
chanical development and production, we
shall never reach point where our well
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 gem
uine and lasting success.