New-York tribune., 1910-09-06
rR. rAEr on coNsERr4TI0N.

NR. TAFT on C0ASERTATI0N.
conservation is a large and popular
word used by 4 great many persons who
have little practical conception of what
it means. To all such is 10 be com
monded the reading of President Taft's
speech st the National Conservation
Congress in Il. Paul. IN an admirably
clear way Mr. Taft tells what has been
done and what remains TO be done. We
know of no other document of so Tel&-
lively small compass which tells the
whole story so well. Each class of land
which the government has withdrawn
from entry is treated by itself. The
present state of the law with regard 10
that class of land is explained. Its de-
fectS are pointed out and Mr.. Taft out
lines the policy which he believes should
be followed, except in the case of water
power sites. regarding which he has not
made up his mind.
The speech is that of an ardent con
servationist. AS President Of the
United States" Mr.. Taft declares. Il
have. as it were inherited this policy.
and l rejoice in my heritage" He
shows his enthusiasm for it by his firm
adherence 10 the view that title 10 the
lands Withdrawn from entry should he
permanently retained 10y the public, and
he would have il retained by the ma
tionaI government, not turned over to
the state governments. except possibly in
the case Of water power sites which
involve problems that might he Simpli
fed by state control Ownership Of the
phosphate and oil lands and the i'm
mensely valuable coal lands Mr. Taft
would have the people retain. and he
would have the lands developed under 4
system If leasing which would properly
safeguard the general interest. To the
objection that capital viii not interest
Itself in the development of these prop
critics Oh the basis of leases Mr.. Taft
effectively replies that n large part Of
the mineral resources Of the country
new under development is being eX-
plotted 10y companies having only lease
holds. Furthermore. he points 10 the
success Of government ownership with
leases 10 private capitalists in develop
ing the coal fields of Australia. Tas-
mania and New Zealand. With regard
to water power sites on public lands. Mr..
Taft gives the arguments for and
against turning them over To the states
The problem is complicated by the fact
that the water To he used for develop
ing the power is in ali cases already IL
the control Of the states. in respect t.
this controversy Mr.. Taft says he does
rot express any opinion
The great merit of Mr.. Taft's speech.
aside from lis remarkably clear and full
statement of the situation. is that il
calls attention sharply To the need cf
this c"unHy's adopting 4 practicable
policy for putting TO Use this vast do
main no longer open TO private eXploita-
lion. Conservation is an accomplished
fact. but at least with regard to the coal.
oil and phosphate lands and water power
sizes. not stroke Of constructive work
has been done and not a stroke Of con
Sjluctiye work is possible until q policy
is agreed upon and enacted into law.
The time for general rhapScdies over
conservation. as Mr. Taft saEs. is gone.
Two-thrds Of the coal deposits OF the
country have passed into private hands.
That process Is now arrested. with the
title 10 the remaining one third in the
hands of the people. How and on what
terms is that third To he mined 50
lhat the public viii reap the benefit Of
interfering with the tendency toward
private monopoly: Il has a 0ne-third
interest in the potential coal industry of
the country. which should make il Il
powerful factor in that industry. Some
one with experience has said that a one
third interest in a corporation is usually
enough to insure its owner control rf
the corporation. The situation is similar
in respect to the other resources thar
have been conserved. But how is the
public 10 put lis holdings TO prompt and
practical use? This is the question
which must he driven home so ener2efi-
cally that what Mr. Taft calls the
'rhapS0dies'' Of conservation viii be for
gotten. and with them its quarrels and
its personalities