Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-08

is primarily In the interest of the great
corporations which desire 70 escape all
government control
THE CONSERVATION FIGHT.
One Of the difficulties In putting into
practice the conservation idea L. that
the field to which 1t applies is constantly
growing in the public mind. 1t has been
no slight task to bring before loootD,0o3
people great conception like that of
conservation, and convince them that 1t
is right. This much we have accomplish
ed. But there remains much to be cleared
ny. ana many Observation-Disclosures to be
removed. These Observation-Disclosures are
due in part at least to direct rn.srepre-
sontation by the men to whose interest
it Is that conservation should not prosper
For example. we find It constantly said
by men who should know better. that
temporary w!thdra walls. such as the
Withdrawals of coal lands. will perma-
ncntly check development.
Yet the fact Is that these Withdrawals
have no purpose except TO prevent the
coal lands from passing into private
ownership until Congress can pass laws
to open them to development under condi-
tons just alike to the public. and TO the
men who will do the developing. If
there Is delay, tho responsibility for it
rests, not on the men who made the
Withdrawals to protect the public interest
but on those who prevent Congress from
passing wise legislation. and so putting
end to the need for withdrawals
Abuses committed in the name Of a
just cause are familiar to all of rs. Many
unwise things are done and many unwise
measures are advocated in the name of
conservation, either through ignorance
or by those whose interest lies not in
promoting the movement. but in retard-
ing 1t. For example, to stop water power
development by needless refusal to issue
permits for water power or private
irrigation works on the public lands
inevitably leads many men, friendly 10
conservation and believers in Its general
principles. to assume that its practical
application Is necessarily check upon
progress, Nothing could be more mis-
taken, The idea. widely circulated of
late. that conservation means locking up
the natural resources for the exclusive
use of later generations, Is wholly mis-
taken. our purpose is to make fun use
of these resources. but to consider our
sons and daughters as we'll as ourselves;
|
to preserve its future usefulness. Con-
servatiOn Is the road to national efficiency
md it stands for ample and wise develop
ment
But In spite OF these difficulties, most OF
which are doubtless Inevitable In any
movement of this kind, conservation has
made marvellous progress. l have been
| nstounded and delighted on my return
af ~ ia
| was away. We have n right to congrat-
ulate ourselves on this marvellous pro-
Eress; but there Is no reason for believing
that the fight Is won. In tho beginning
tho special interests. who are our chief
opponents In the conservation light. paid
little heed to the movement. because
they neither understood IT, nor saw that
II 1t won they must lose. But with the
progress Of conservation in tho minds of
our people, the fight Is getting sharper.
Tho nearer we approach to victory, the
bitterer the opposition that we must meet,
and the greater the need for caution and
watchfulness
Open opposition we can overcome. but
warn you especially against the men
who come to congresses such as this. os-
| tensibiy as disinterested citizens. but act
| ualiy asNhe paid agents OF tho special In
terests. l heartily approve the attitude
OF any corporation, interested In the de-
liberations OF meeting such AZ this.
which comes Ndther to advocate, by its
openly accredited agents. views which II
believes the meeting should have IN mind.
But ! condemn with equal readiness the
appearance of corporate agent before
any convention who does not declare him
self frankly rs such
This congress Is n direct appeal to the
patriotism of our whole people, The ma
ton wisely looks to such gatherings for
counsel and leadership. Let that leader
ship be sound, definite. practical, and on
| the side Of all the people. 1t would he no
small misfortune II meeting such US