Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-09-08

ing and greedy is to avoid any efec-
tive control either by state or nation,
and they advocate at this time state
control simply because they believe it
to be the least effective. 4.
In the great fight of the people to
drive the special interests from the
domination of our government the ma
ton is stronger and its jurisdiction is
more effective than that of any state.
The most effective weapon against
these great corporations, most of
which are financed and owned on the
Atlantic coast, will be federal. laws
and the federal executive. 1893
That is why l so strongly oppose
the demand to turn these matters over
to the states. 1t is fundamentally
demand against the interest of the
plain people, of the people Of small
means, against the interest Of our chill
dren and our children's children; and
it is primarily in the interest of the
great corporations, which desire to es-
cape all government control
The Conservation Fight.
One of the difficulties in putting into
practice the conservation idea is that
the field to which it applies is con-
stantly growing in the public mind
1t has been no slight task to bring be-
fore 1OO,O0O,OOO people great con-
ception like that of conservation and
convince them that it is right
no
But there remain much to be cleared
up and many misunderstanding to be
removed. These misunderstanding are
due in part at least to direct misrepre
sentation by the men to whose interest
it is that conservation should not pros
per.
For example, we find it constantly
said by men who should know better
that temporary Withdrawals, such as
the withdra walls of coal lands. will per-
manently check development
Yet the fact is that these withdraw
ais have no purpose except to prevent
the coal lands from passing into pri-
vate ownership until congress can pass
laws to open them to development un-
der conditions just alike to the public
and to the men who will do the de-
veloping. =
If there is delay the responsibility
for it rests not on the men who made
the withdrawals to protect the pub
lie interest, but on those who prevent
congress from passing wise legislation
and so putting an end to the need for
Withdrawals
We have right to congratulate our
| selves on this marvellous progress. But
there is no reason for believing that
the fight is won. In the beginning the
! special interests. who are our chief Op-
ponents in the conservation fight. paid
little heed to the movement. because
! they neither understood it nor saw
that if it won they might lose. But
with the progress Of conservation in
the minds Of our people the fight is
getting sharper. -:
| The nearer we approach to victory
the bitterer the opposition that we
must meet and the greater the need
for caution and watchfulness. Open
opposition we can overcome. but l
warn you especially against the men
who come to congresses such as this.
ostensibly as disinterested citizens,
but actually as the paid agents of the
special interests. $50
heartily approve the attitude Of any
corporation. interested in the deliber.
ations Of meeting such as this, which
comes hither to advocate by its openly
accredited agents views which it be
neves the meeting should have In
mind. But l condemn with equal read
mess the appearance Of corporate
Iagent before any convention who does
not declare himself frankly as such.
This congress is a direct appeal tt
the patriotism Of our whole people
The nation wisely looks to such gath
erings for counsel and leadership. Lei
that leadership be sound, definite
practical and on the side Of all the
people. It would be no small misfor
ture IL a meeting such as this shoul6
ever fall into the hands Of the ope1
enemies or false friends Of the grea1
movement which 1t represents.
What this country needs IS what ev
cry free country must set before 1t al
the great goal toward which it work:
IAN equal opportunity for life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness fol
every one Of It's citizens To achieve
this end we must put a stop to til,
improper political dominion no les.
than the improper economic dominion
of the great special interests.
This country, its natural resources
Its natural advantages, its opportuni
/ ties and its institutions belong to al
its citizens .. .y5sS
They cannot be enjoyed fully AMI
i freely under any government in whicl
/ the special interests as such have
voice. The supreme poll ical task 8
our day, the ndispensable condition o
national efficiency and national wei
fare y to drive the special interest
out q our public lite.