The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-09-06
HOW SPECIAL INTERESTS PACKED
THE CONSERVATION CONGRESS
BY w. G. SHEPHERD.
Staff Correspondent of The Press.

ST. PAUL, Sept. 6.-The St. Paul
conservation congress is packed"
by the special interests, mostly
water power interests, and TheO-
dore Roosevelt, when he made his
address today, knew that this was
fact, when he said
~ warn you especially against
the mon who come to such con.
crosses as this ostensibly as dis
interested citizens, but actually
as the paid agents Of the special
interests. ! condemn the appear
ance of corporate agent before
any convention who does not de-
clare himself frankly as such. 1t
would be no small misfortune IL a
meeting such as this should fall
into tho hands of the open enemies
or false friends Of the great move
ment which 1t represents"
| was on the ground and l saw
the packing" done.
The Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific railroads did it.
Water powers are the tidbits the
interests are striving to swoop into
their own hands at this convention.
Louis Hill has represented the in
terests in the packing"
He practically controlled the
committee of st. Paul business men
which was appointed to represent
the city in entertaining the conven-
ton.
Hill was not on any of the COM
mittees but he sat in executive ses-
sions with them.
Hill wants state control" of
water powers 1t is easier to grab"
from state than from the federal
government, especially in these lat
ter, days of national progressivism.
He didn't like the program because
there was too much of Roosevelt's
federal control" on it. He pro-
coded to change 1t, using the local
\ committee as tool. He worked
} both underhandedly and openly.
He tried to get open anti-conser-
vationists on the program. Such
men as Congressman Mondell and
Senator Tom Carter. openenemies
of the Roosevelt and Pinchot poll
cies. were suggested by the local
SpcdhluS I1lIl,
for places on the program.
A demand that five western gov
ernors be placed on the program
came from Hill and the water
power seeking interests. These gov
errors (the Hill railroad runs
through the states of some of
them are believers in States
rights" conservation, and Hill, in
order to cloud the conservation
issue, had scared them and by
other means forced them into cry
ing states rights"
These plans of Hill fell through
and he then brought about the re-
volt Of governors at Salt Lake City.
These governors are now here with,
a States rights" platform. They
have each appointed Is delegates to
the congress and these delegates
will undoubtedly argue for states
rights" in the various discussions.
Hill showed open opposition to
Pinchot in st. Paul during the
early days of preparing the pro-
gram. and. at banquet of st. Paul
business men to Pinchot, practi-
cally violated the laws of hospital
ity in questioning PinchOt's poll
cies.
Hill openly threatened that. UNI
less men representing his ideas,
were placed on the congress pro-
gram, he would start develop
ment congress" in st. Paul in op-
position to the conservation con-
gress, to be held at the same time.
Howard Elliott. president of the
Northern Pacific road, and Hill Of
fgfed to open their homes, during
the week of the congress. to the
western governors, who are going
to stand for States rights" at the
congress.
Hill has boosted in the hearing
of Thomas Ship, secretary Of the
conservation congress, that, In this
congress, the policies Of Pinchot
and Pinchot himself would 90
down."
The local committee. managed by
Hill, refused at all times to work
with the representatives of the ma
tional congress. In the preparation
of plans for the congress.
This local committee. under the
Hill influence, brought about
presidents and governors day"
&Ehe presence of Taft in st. Paul.
Monday was supposed to be boom
for Taft, and 1t was hoped that 1t
would be an offset for Roosevelt
and the federal conservation poll
cies advocated by Pinchot.
It Is the water power interests
that have packed the congress.
Louis Hill IL working for and with
them. II was the water power In
terests that Roosevelt struck at In
his address today.
States rights" is the cry of the
water power interests and of other
land, timber and mineral seeking
monopolies.
Louis Hill has so packed the con
gress that states rights" will he
advocated many times during the