The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-09-06
LOOK OUT FOX : :
TRUST INFLUENCE
This Is RooseVe|t's Warning In
Speech at St. Paul.
We ARE RECKLESS SPENOERS

Deals With State and Federal Control
Of Wsterwsys-Explains How Great
Conservation Fight Has Been Won.
Special interests Must Be Controlled.
st. Paul, Sept. 6.--America's reputa.
ton for efficiency stands deservedly
high throughout the world. We are
efficient probably to the full limit that
any nation can attain by the methods
hitherto 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
unrestrained indivldualism we have
reached a pitch of literally unexam.
pied material prosperity, although the
distribution of this prosperity leaves
much to be desired from the standpoint
of justice and fair dealing.
But we have not only allowed the in
dividual free hand, which was In the
main right; we have also allowed great
corporations to act as though they
were individuals and to exercise the
rights of individuals, In addition to
using the vast combined power Of
high organization and enormous
wealth for their own advantage.
This development of corporate ac;
ton, 1t is true, is doubtless In large
part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopment of our natural resources.
but Il is not less responsible for waste,
destruction and monopoly on an equal
ly gigantic scale.
OF course, there must he full cX-
animation and report on these pro-
jects by a body of trained experts be-
fore anything is done.
The method of reckless and uncou.
trolled private use and waste has done
for us all the good It ever can, and It
is time to put an end TO II before 1t
does all the evil It easily may. We
have passed the time when needless
waste and destruction and arrogant
monopoly are any longer permissible.
Henceforth we must seek national
efficiency by a new and better way,
by the way of the orderly development
and use, coupled with the preserva-
ton of our natural resources. by max
ing the most of what we have for the
benefit Of all of us, instead of leaving
the sources of material prosperity open
to indiscriminate exploitation.
These are some Of the reasons why
II Is wise that we should abandon the
old point Of view and why conserva-
ton has become patriotic duty.
Waterways.
One of the greatest of our conserva-
ton problems is the wise and prompt
development and use of the waterways
of this nation.
The Twin Cities. lying as they do at
the headwaters OF the Mississippi, are
not upon the direct line OF the pro-
posed lakes TO the gulf deep waterway.
Yet they are deeply interested I'm its
prompt completion. as well as in the
deepening and regulation of the Mis-
sissippi to the mouth of the Missouri
and to the gulf.
The project for great trunk water
way. an arm of the sea, extending
from the gulf of Mexico TO the great
lakes, should not be abandoned. The
lakes to the gulf deep waterway and
the development of the rivers which
flow into 1t should be pushed to com
pletion vigorously aud without delay.
But we must recognize at the outset
that there are certain conditions with.
out which the people cannot hope to
derive from 1t the benefits they have
a right to expect
In nearly every river city from st.
Paul 10 the gulf the water front is con-
trolled by the railways. Nearly every
artificial waterway in the United
States, either directly or indirectly, is
under the same control
1t goes without saying that unless
the people prevent 1t in advance the
railways will attempt to take control
OF our waterways as fast as they are
Improved and completed. nor would |
blame them II we. the people. are su-
pine In the matter.
We must see to II that ADEQUATE
terminals are provided In every city
and town on. every improved water
way, terminals open under reasonable
conditions to the use of every citizen
and rigidly protected against monopo-
ly, And we must compel the railways
to cooperate with the waterways con
tinuously, effectively and under rea-
sonable conditions
Unless we do so the railway lines
will refuse to deliver freight to the
boat lines. either openly or by impos
Ing prohibitory conditions. and the wa
terways once improved win do com
paratively little for the benefit Of the
people who pay the bill.
Tho National Forests.
The people Of the United States be
lieve in the complete and rounded de.
Ielopment of inland waterways for ali
the useful purposes they can be made
to serve. They believe also In forest
protection and forest extension.
The fight for our national forests In
the wast has bepn won Aftar a on m,