Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-09
Roosevelt Gets Enthusiastic
Greeting in Atlanta.
CROWDS OUT IN THE RAIN
Colonel Addresses the Southern Con.
servation Congress.
URGES FOREST RESERVATION
Warns Against Allowing Men De-
fcient in Honesty to Secure Coun-
try's Natural Resources.

| trY'S Natural resources.
! ATLANTA, Ga, October 8.-Theodore
Roosevelt came into Georgia today and
found awaiting him a welcome which
was as warm as that he has received
in any section OF the country during
his recent travels.
| On his arrival in Atlanta he was
greeted by crowds which blocked the
streets. needless Of the pelting rain,
and cheered him as he rode at the head
of parade through the business Sec
tion of the city.
Earlier in the day he spent several
hours at Rome. Ga. inspecting the
Martha Berry School for poor noun
tain boys and girls, and in speaking to
another throng Of cheering Georgians.
Col. Roosevelt made three speeches
in Atlanta. His first was at the South
ern Conservation Congress. He urged
the people of the south to take care
of their natural wealth and said that
if the countrys resources should fall
into the hands of a monopoly the peo-
pie would revolt. After taking dinner
with Mayor Maddox. he spoke at the
Uncle Remus day celebration, which is
the home OF the late Joel Chandler
Harris, author Of the Uncle Remus''
stories. and preserve it as memorial
to his work. After speaking Of the
spoke on new nationalism. Then he
| talked to the negroes Of Atlanta in a
negro church.
Hall Only Half Filled. =.
The auditorium was only half dlled
| when Col. Roosevelt delivered his ad
dress on conservation. for admission had
| been denied to the public, only holders Of
tickets being permitted to enter the
| building. The colonel began his address
with a reiteration of his faith in the
conservation movement.
II believe in conservation with all my
heart" he said. Il believe that the time
has passed in this country when it Is
possible for reasonable men longer TO
permit the waste Of natural resources. /
belieye that nation and state can Coop
crate In this great movement, and there
are only one or two impressions which
think we should endeavor to remove
from the public mind.
Here and there, and notably in the
west. you will ind men who say that our
purpose is to lock up the natural re-
sources of the country. That is just as
absurd as If private individual should
say that the farmer were endeavoring to
lock up the natural resources Of his
farm when he declined to till his land in
such way that 1t permanently lost its
fertility. We do not intend to lock up a
single resource. but We do intend that the
resources shall be used without waste.
While it is our duty to give every
proper reward to the proper exercise of
Individual initiative it is also our duty to
see that the man of exceptional ability
displays that ability in our interests and
not against our interests. I want to give
him all the reward to which he Is hon
estly entitled, but l want that reward
not because he swindles U.S.
Reply to Critics.
Certain of the papers which are edited
in the shadow Of Wall street regard the
doctrine which I have enunciated as
smacking Of anarchy. / think 1t is really
the height of conservatism. think it
will help the honest men OF influence and
wealth when We discriminate In the
sharpest manner between them and their
dishonest brothers. Now, 1t Is peculiarly
necessary to do that in connection with
our natural resources, the ownership Of
which. if allowed to go into, one hand,
or the hand Of one great corporation,
may establish peculiarly oppressive
monopoly. Let us then make II the busi-
ness OF the government, natlOnal or state,
as the case may be- to see that the min
eral resources, so far as we still have
power over them, that the water power
of the country. that all similar powers,
are used under such governmental regu-
lation as will allow ample profit to the
users, and at the same time guarantee
the public at large it's rights.
II think that Is AN essential position
for the government to take. I do not
believe that we can AFFORD longer to
alln Of ShYAWHnaSH
| times with a lack Of scrupulousness. to
get possession of the natural resources
of the country. and then treat them as
purely their own. to do with as they
is permitted to grow up in extenso.
sooner or later the people will revolt
against 1t. and when they revolt against
it under such conditions. that revolt
righteousness Of attitude great un-
righteousness Of attitude, and the then
holders of the privileges would run
great risks of suffering the effects Of
ecessors had been treated with an Inn
proper leniency."
For Appalachian Forest Reserve.
Col. Roosevelt then spoke Of the ne
cessity Of preserving the forests. and
| continued:
II hope that Congress will pass the bill
for the creation OF the great Appalachian
forest reserve. These forests lie In sew
eral different states. The waters which
rise in them often go through more than
one state, and it should be peculiarly
the work Of the national government to
see to their preservation. ! hope. there
fore. that your representatives in Con-
gress will bestir themselves in this mat
| ter
NO portion of our country Is going to
show a greater rate Of development than
the south will show In the course OF the
next thirty or forty years. l ask you
to see that this marvellous development
Of the south takes place In such fashion
that II will represent not a mere ex-
ploitation OF territory. not a mere feverish
growth in wealth, luxury or honey
combed foundation Of morality and good
! Judgment, but that II will represent
solid and an abiding and enduring pros
perity.'