The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-06
Gigantic Waste of
Resources Must Stop
One Of the Greatest Speeches Ever Heard in West Delivered
at National Conservation Congress by the
Strenuous Ex-PreSident
CROWDS CHEER As He TRAVELS BETWEEN TWO CITIES

ST. Paul, Sept. 6.-Never in the his
tory of the west has there been more
interest in public meeting of any
kind than in the great conservation
congress that opened here yesterday,
with an address by President Taft and
before which Col. Theodore Roosevelt
delivered remarkable address today.
While the address of Theodore
Roosevelt was the feature Of the
national conservation congress pro-
gramme today, the delegates were
greatly interested in the appointment
Of committees.
Clifford Pinchot, who was absent
making a speech against Congressman
Tawney yesterday while President Taft
was here, returned today and was
slated by the arrangements committee
to participate in the functions prepared
for the entertainment Of Colonel
Roosevelt.
Roosevelt Day.
This is Roosevelt day in the twin
cities. Colonel Roosevelt arrived in
Minneapolis from Fargo early this
morning, and after taking breakfast
was escorted to ST. Paul, where he was
scheduled to make two addresses, one
before the national conservation con-
gress in the morning and one at the
state fair grounds in the afternoon.
Crowds Cheer Roosevelt.
Colonel Roosevelt was greeted by
crowds of cheering men, women and
children along the entire route from
his Minneapolis hotel to the state capt.
tai at st. Paul. Flags and national
colors were displayed on stores and
residences throughout the two cities
and numerous large pictures of the
distinguished guest were displayed in
the windows and on the fronts and
sides of buildings.
Auditorium Packed.
Two hours before Colonel Roosevelt
arrived at the auditorium the crowd
began to file into the building by the
doors reserved for those holding
tickets. At 1880 the doors were
thrown open to the general public and
within five minutes there was only
standing room left That was soon
taken and the immense hall was pack
ed. At 1880 President Baker called
the meeting to order and called for
reports on committee on resolutions,
pending arrival of Colonel Roosevelt,
who was holding a conference at a st.
Paul hotel with newspaper men.
Minnesota" he said, "has been one
OF the first to take hold Of the con-
servation policy in a practical fash
ion, and" he added, "she has done
great work and has been an admirable
example to the rest of us doing work
representing the policy we'll set forth
in your governors address. delivered
yesterday.
II am glad that this congress is
held in such a state where we can
listen to such addresses as have been
made by your governor, who had a
right to speak for conservation
In speaking of the control of water
ways by railroads, Colonel Roosevelt
warned the people not to sit supine
and let the railroads get control, only
to say later that the men at the head
of the railroads were very bad men.
Left Prepared Speech.
The ex-president then turned to
the question of dratnags. departing
from his prepared speech. Where
the land to be drained lay entirely
within one state he said, it might be
well, for a. time, for the states to
take control of the matter.
Swamps which extend oveS parts of
more than one state, he said, should
be improved by the federal govern
ment, and he thought it would be bet
ter If state swamp lands should be
decided back to the general govern
ment that it might do the drainage
work.
"All friends of conservation" he
continued. should be in heartiest
agreement with the policy which the
president laid down in connection
and am glad to be able to say that
at its last session congress finally
completed the work Of separating the
surface title to the land from the
mineral beneath it,"
THE average American is an eff
cient man. he added; 'he can do his
business and it is recognized through
out the world that this is his type.
There is great reason to be proud OF
his achievements, but there is no rea-
son to think that we cannot excel our
past
Speaking of the railroad situation,
Colonel Roosevelt said: There are
classes of bulk freight which can al
ways go cheaper and better by water
IL there is an adequate waterway, and
and the existence of such type of
waterway in itself helps to regulate
railroad rates.
Kansas an Example.
Referring TO his recent trip through
Kansas as showing the lively interest
the people there have I'm spending their
own money for the Improvement of
their waterways, the colonel held up
as an example that should be emulated
by other states, the course that had
been followed by Kansans.
When Roosevelt came to that part
of his speech referring to the national
conservation commission ne told the
story Of the Introduction into the
house OF representatives by "a con-
gresham from Minnesota OF an
amendment TO the civil service bill
which ne said was designed to put an
end to the work OF communication