The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-09-08

the wisdom Of having a man of ju-
dicial temperament in the White
House, although such course is not
in accordance with the Garfield
Pinchot theories of the Constitution.
The Presidents Alaskan policy of
permitting the opening of the coal
mines by the granting of leases, prop
erly safeguarded to prevent control
by monopoly, is in the interest of
progress. The people of the Pacific
Coast States need this coal and the
harm caused by our neglect to develop
this rich region is pointed out in this
address.
The visionary, schemes of those who
would include all kinds of projects in
conservation plans with no definite
idea as to how they are to be carried
out are condemned in forcible terms
by the President, when he says:
! II think it of the utmost Importance
that after the public attention has
been reused to the Necessity of a
change in our general policy to pre-
vent waste and a selfish appropr;d
ton to private and corporate purposes
of what should be controlled for the
public benefit, those who urge con-
servation shall feel the necessity of
making clear how conservation can
be practically carried out, and shall
propose specific methods and legal
provisions and regulations to remedy
actual adverse conditions. ! am bound
to say that the time has come for
halt in general rhapsodies over con-
servation. making the word mean ev-
cry known good in the world; for, aft
er the public attention has been rous-
ed. such appeals are of doubtful utili-
ty and do not direct the public to the
specific course that the people should
take. or have their legislators take,
in order to promote the cause OF con-
servation. The rousing of emotions
on a subject like this, which has only
dim outlines in the minds of the peo-
pie affected, after while ceases TO
be useful and the whole movement
will. if promoted on these lines, die Tor
want of practical direction and of
demonstration to the people that prac-
teal reforms are intended.
II beg OF you, therefore, in your
deliberations and in your informal dis
cuss.ons, when men come forward 10
suggest evils that the promotion or
conservation is to remedy, that you
invite them to point out the SPECIFIC
evils and the specific remedies; tnat
you invite them to come down TO de-
. tails in order that their discussions
lmay flow into channels that shall be
useful rathe" than into periods that
shall be elo uent and entertaining
without shedding real light on the
subject The eople should be shown
= exactly what is needed in order tha'
they make their representatives III
/, Congress and the State Legislature
do their intelligent bidding
This advice may not be acceptable
to a certain element, but it is very
much needed. In every important re-
form movement there are always those
who run to extremes and must be
held back. Without in the least dep
ecfting the importance OF any
movement for better and purer gov
eminent, it is no eXaggeration to say
! that particularly in the West there
{ has not been in many years so mucI
$ political hysteria as there is at th'
= present time. With some real grleV'
5 ances that need redress there is mix
{ ed considerable element OF quacK
cry and folly Fortunately these per
iods of Greenbackism and Populisn
pass away after they have run theil
! course. Out of the Conservation
e movement, much of which is wise, ant
S out of the Insurgent movement, par
of which is foolish, will come consid
cradle lasting good. The American
people. as a class are sane and sen
sible, despite occasional lapses, ant
history will show that in tim'
of much agitation and CONFUSION
William H. Taft was safe leader wh'
could keep his head and warn I'M
people against excuses and delusicns