New-York tribune., 1910-09-07
OPPOSES STATE CONTROL
OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Mr. Roosevelt Says Issue Is Question Of Special Corporate
Interests Against the People

mic Kan last week, was set forth still
| more clearly by him IN his speech to-day
! before the National Conservation Congress
! here He declared for governmental control
! of the countrys natural resources. and in
so doing placed himself directly against the
| advocates of state rights" whose opposi-
ton to the principles which he laid down
has furnished the liveiiest debates of the
conservation congress.
IF il had not been for corporate interests,
especially those which may be described as
predatory. We would never have heard Of
this question OF states rights" he de-
clared. And later he said:
1T is not really a question of state
against nation. II is really a question of
special corporate interests against the
people" He said the corporations were
anxious to have the states take UP the
work that they might escape all effective
control.
In speaking Of the federal control of cor
porations he said: In addition to the fact
that the federal government is better able
to exact justice from the corporations, I
also believe it is less likely in some gust of
popular passion TO do injustice to them
Il should like to see the people. through
the national government, give full justice
10 IIS COTElpI dllDIlSr Ilt Sdlu clSSN mere,
but l do not want the national govern
ment TO depend only upon the good will of
the corporations 10 get justice for the
people
Advice to the People.
In regard TO the control of waterways by
railroads. Mr.. Roosevelt said: You people
must not sit supinely and let the railroads
gain control of the boat lines, and then say
s1~.N ityI-ly
are very bad people. If you leave It to
them to get control of the boat lines. some
Of them are sure to do it. and it is to your
interest that the best and ablest among
them should do so. But do not let any of
them do # except under the conditions
which we lay down In other words. when |
YOU, of YOUR own will permit the rules of
the game to be such that you are abso- !
lutelv certain to get the worst of II at the !
hands of some one else, do not blame the /
other man. Change the rules of the game" /
He advocated drainage of swamp and !
overflow lands chiefly through the activity (
of the federal government. He defended /
the work done to establish national forests !
and recommended the establishment of |
federal bureau of health. When he came /
TO speak Of the National Conservation Com !
mission he made what was interpreted /
here as a sharp thrust al Congressman /
James 4. Tawney.
Mr RooseveIts speech was as follows: /
Americas reputation for efficiency stands /
deservedly high throughout the world. We
are efficient probably TO the full limit that
any nation can attain by the methods hith /
ertO used There Is great reason to be
proud of our achievements. and yet no
reason to believe that we cannot excel our
past. Through a practically unrestralned
individualism we have reached pitch of
literally unexampled material prosperity, /
although the distribution of this prosper
itv leaves much to be desired from the
point of view of justice and fair dealing.
Rrlt we have not only allowed the indi-
vidual a free hand. which was in the main
right; have also allowed great corpora !
tions TO act though they We're individ-
uais, and 10 exercise lhe rights OF lhoISIu-
bined power of high organization and
enormous wealth for their own advantage.
This development OF corporate action, II IS
true, is doubtless in large part responsl-
BILE for the gigantic development of our
natural resources. but it is not less respon-
on an equally gigantic scale.
The method OF reckless and uncontrolled
private use and waste has done for US all
the good il ever can. and it is time TO put
an end to it before 1t does all the evil 1t |
easily may. We have passed the time when
needless waste and destruction and AFRO
CANT monopoly are any longer permissible.
HenCefOrth must seek national en-
cheney by a new and q better way. by the
way of the orderly development and use,
coupled with the preservation, Of our ma
tional resources, by making the most or
what we have for the benefit Of all OF US.
instead of leaving the sources of material
prosperity open to indiscrinlinate eXploita-
tion. These are some OF the reasons WY ny
it is wise that we should abandon the ola
point of view and why conservation mas
become a patriotic duty.
Development of Waterways.
One OF the greatest Of our conservation
problems is the. wise and prompt develop
ton. The Twin Cities lying as they do at
the head waters of the Mississippi are not
upon the direct line of the proposed Lakes
to the Gulf Deep Waterway. yet they are
deeply Interested in its prompt completion,
as well as in the deepening and regulation
of the Mississippi TO the mouth of the Mis-
great trunk waterway, an arm OF the sea,
extending from the Gulf of Mexico 70 the
The Lakes TO the Gulf Deep, Waterway
and the development of the rivers which
flow into it should be pushed to Gompie-
ton vigorously and without delay; but we
must recognize at the outset that there are
certain conditions without which the peo-
pie cannot hope TO derive from IL the nene-
fits they have a right to expect |
In nearly every river city from 81. Paul
TO the Gulf the waterfront is controlled by
way in the United States, either directly
or indirectly, is under the same control
It goes without saying that (unleSs the peo.
ple prevent it in advance the railways VIII
attempt to take control of our waterways
as fast as they are improved and com
pleted: nor would l blame them If we, the
people are supne in the matter. We must
see to ii that adequate terminals are pro-
vided in every city and town on every I'M
proved waterway. terminals open under !
rea soma BILE conditions 10 the use Of every !
citizen and rightly protected against |
monopoly; and must compel the rail- !
continuously effectively and under reason |
able conditions. Unless we do so the rail- |
vav lines will refuse TO deliver freight to |
the boat lines, either openly OF by impos- |
ing prohibitiye conditions, and the water !
ways once improved will do comparatively !
little for the benefit of the people VINO pay !
the bill.
Adequate terminals, properly controlled !
and open through lines by rail and boat are !
two absolutely essential conditions TO the !
usefulness of inland waterway development |
believe furthermore that the railways I
should be prohibited from owning, control |
ling or carrying any interest in the boat /
lines on our rivers, unless under the strict |
est regulation and control of the Interstate |
Commerce Commission. so that the ship |
pers' interests MAJ be fully protected. . |
Where the states are unwilling or unable |
to undertake il, the drainage Q. swamp and |
overflow lands by the federal government IS |
a wise and necessary measure. Much OF II |
must be done oy the nation in any case. as |
an integral part Of inland waterway devel- !
for cooperation between the states and the |
nation
The National Forests. |
The reCple of the United States believe |
In the complete and rounded development |
Of inland waterways for all the useful pur- |
poses they can be made TO serve. They |
believe also In forest protection and forest |
ests in the West has been won. After a |
e.e ,r,raien in which the women OF Minnesota !