New-York tribune., 1910-07-16
An Argument as to Who was
the Real Father of
Conservation.
ROOSEVELT, SAYS PINCHO1
J. w, Powell. Insists Speaker
Ex-Forester Says There
Will Be No Third Party
at This Time.

while SaCh
highest personal regard for the other and
both agreed that conservation of the ma
tion's natural resources should be encour-
aged, they differed as to VINO was u'e
father of conservation.
MIR. Cannon who spoke first. said that |
the late J. W Powell At one time director |
of the governments Geological Survey. de-
served the honor. but Mr.. Pincnot as
serted that Theodore Roosevelt was the !
father of conservation
NIr Cannon explained that he was on MS |
way to Winfield Kan, to make MS TlfSt
Chautauqua appearance.
.'T am not in the Chautauqua work regu-
1arly" he added. "and / am asking no Zee
for my present appearance.
He said that conservation and reclama-
ton were important subjects, but they were
not his specially.
Il never specialize. except in the business
of playing czar.'' he said
Speaker Cannon said that Columbus broke
an egg and made 1t stand on end and that
any man could do the same thing after
Columbus had shown him how.
And J. ". Powell was the father of con-
servatisrn'' = shouted the Speaker.
It was Powell. the Speaker said. who ap-
pealed to him when he was chairman of
the Committee on Appropriations to do
something for conservation
Il sent Powell to Senators Hale and Ali
SON and the Senate result of his con-
ference with those Senators, started legis-
lation TO withdraw all public lands that
could be irrigated. as well as all reservoir
sites.
The House was in favor OF the legisla-
ton. but the Senate fought it. But in 1880
the civil sundry bill as passed contained
a provision withdrawing all the water
power sites, and that was the pioneer work
of conservation We lost In our fight with
the Senate in our efforts 10 withdraw from
entry all public lands that could be irri-
gated. but we won on the other PROPOSE
! ton
Third Party.
Turning to Mr. Pinchot Mr.. Cannon said;
II have the greatest personal regard for
| you but I understand you now en-
gagged in conservation work for the or
ganization of q new party.
II tell you. sir that party cannot stand
on a single issue. although our party did
stand on a single issue once in that great
conflict between servile and free labor"
Speaking of his record as a public official
NJ. Cannon said:
Il admit I have made mistakes. Great
in the last thirty-fve years. There are
other fellows in Congress who have been
! wrong Just as often, but they are not hon
| est enough to admit it"
Mr.. Cannon shook hands with Mr. Pin
chot at the conclusion Of his speech and
/ apologized because he had to leave the
city without hearing Mr.. Pinchot
II have to catch train for Winfield I'M
nediately." said the Speaker. Brother
Pinchot I am sorry had to speak first.
! always talk better when some one ex-
pectorates in my face or kicks me on the
J shfns.
Mr. Cannon was not on the regular pro-
| gramne, but, having stopped at the hotel
where the dinner was given. he was in
vited to attend and responded to an invi-
! tation TO address the club
MIR. Pinchot's Remarks.
When Mr.. Pinchot rose to speak the
audience stood up and cheered him for sew
eral minutes He said in part:
| Theodore Roosevelt was the father of
| conservation in this country. The national
| conservation association is continuing the
work ne started. The last session OF Con-
| gress did great work and our association
was largely responsible for It. The with
drawal bill it passed was due largely to
the efforts Of the association
compensated for what the private interests
get The old practice of giving perpetual
grants to private interests now is lmpos-
sible. and the future - now safe against
The oppression of monopoly.
The fundamental idea Of conservation is !
to make of this country q better home for
the race and 10 make the race a better one
in that home. The nation should think OF
iIs marvellous riches. Conservation does
not mean 70 stop Development but so 10
use the countrys natural resources that
the people who come after us may also en-
/ JOY them
believe new school ~ policies is COM
ing In the United States. This new school
will decide whether the country shall be
governed by money for profit or by men
| made a speech in St Paul recently, and
in connection with that speech somebody
tion Of a new party Mr.. Cannon's refer
ence to me in that connection doubtless is
due to his having read some headlines at
that time. The essential questions before
the people now are outside OF party lines.
In looking. over the names of those who
voted for the Payne-A1drich tariff bill I am
led to believe that regular Republicans and
regular Democrats are the same
I am Republican. and I do not believe
in the necessity Of third party al this
time and there will not be any.
am not a Cannon Republican or an
Cummins- -Beveridge-La Toilette Murdock-
Norris s-Stubbs Republican, and l Ike to be
counted among that kind OF men
I am on my way 10 speak for an lnsur-
gent candidate for Congress in California.
This is my first appearance in politics
A Single Issue.
Mr. Cannon said that party cannot
stand on one issue. Well, / know that peo-
ple will never become enthusiastic on the
one proposition OF standing pat want 10
be counted with the men who go ahead
I have an exceedingly kindly feeling Tor
the Speaker The Speaker III his hEht with
MuTdCck and the other insurgents stood
for an obsolete tradition. but he was manly
aI,nut II His courage has made him great
while fshting for a proposition in Which
think ne was mistaken. IL is SAD thing
vher, men who have done their work must
stand aside and give the leadership 10
others Put this has ever been the story
OF progress
II think I am as good Republican as
Mr.. Cannon" continued Mr.. Pinchot
But some Of us are Democrats" shouted
some one in the audience.
Il am glad you said that answered Mr..
Ptnchot. "fof the ideals OF public spirited
Democrats are exactly the same as the
ideals of public spirited Republicans. We
-7ust ali work together to put the special
interests out of politics" He continued:
The Sneaker mentioned Major Powell. He
was a great man FREDERICK II NeWelI Is
fhA same kind Of man. | consider Mr..
Newell the best officer in the federal service
nj washington at the present time
The greatest tribute ever given Mr..
Roosevelt was that OF an hnsnsh writer
who said that when President of the United
states Mr. Roosevelt surrounded himself
r,tth tbs most effective. the most enthusi-
sxHr .Ou1na11v OF young men ever engaged