Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-08
P|NCH0T TELLS NEED
Former Forester Gives Views
to Conservation Congress.
MANY PROBLEMS TO SOLVE
Says Fight for Forests Will Have to
Be Continued.
MAY CUT SESSIONS SHORT
Effort to So Hurry Program That
Adjournment May Be Taken To-
nfght-White for President.


Adjournment May Be Taken To-
night-white for President.
ST. PAUL. September SIT A. possible
that the National Conservation Congress.
which. by the program. should continue
tomorrow. will close tonight President
Baker said that he would crowd the pro-
gram as much as possible to this end and
perhaps hold a night session. II has been
q strenuous convention. and delegates and
visitors want TO rest.
The presidency is expected TO 60 10 ].
b. White of Kansas City. the present
chairman OF the executive committee.
Pinchot Not a Candidate.
Clifford Pinchot, who is president OF the
National Conservation Association, told
his friends that he would not be a candi-
date.
Members OF the resolutions committee
met early TO draft a platform. 4. Gil
bert Pearson of North Carolina, secre-
tary OF the National Association OF Au-
dubon Societies introduced a plank Tor
the protection OF wild birds.
He stated that the losses 10 the agri
culture and forestry interests OF the
United States annually amount to si.coo.
100000 through the ravages OF insects.
and that this per cent is on the in
crease, owing to the decreasing number
OF birds, which constitute one OF the
chief natural enemies of injurious insects.
Among the speakers today were Ginord
Pinchot and Henry :. Graves. who sue
ceeded him as United States forester.
Mr.. Pinchot's address had been awaited
with a great deal Of interest.
Privilege Likes Generalities.
Like nearly every great REFORM" said
Mr.. Pinchot conservation first passed
through a period OF agitation and gen
eral approval. During this period IL
met with little opposition. for as yet IL
interfered with no mans private profit.
From the beginning of the world the
preaching of righteousness I'm general
terms has been contemplated with entire
equanimity by the men who rise In vio-
lent protest the moment their own par
ticular privilege. graft or advantage
comes practically into question That
protest marks the second phase OF the
reform.
Within the last two years conserva-
tion has passed out Of the realm or an
unimpeachabie general principle into that
OF a practical fighting attempt TO get
things done. 1t has begun to step on the
toes of the beneficiaries and the pro
spective beneiciaries or unjust privilege.
the quarters whence IT comes. Is one or
the best proofs that conservation n .
live movement for the general good
Believe in Conservation.
THE people believe I'm conservation.
Now when any great movement has es-
tablished itself so firmly in the public
mind that a direct attack upon IL will not
pay the regular method is to approve It
in general terms, and then condemn Its
methods and its men. So now the de-
mand from the opponents or conserya-
ton is not at all that We shall abandon
the principle OF the greatest good OF US
all for the longest time in using our nat
ural resources. The soft pedal con-
seryationists merely ask that conserva-
ton as applied shall be what they call
rational. safe and sane. Safe and sane
legislation, as that expression Is usea ps
the men who use IL most. means iesisia-
ton not unfriendly to the continued con-
troll of our public affairs by the special
interests. Safe and sane conservation. as
that expression Is used by these same
men, means conservation so careluiiy
sterflized that IL will do the special m
terests no harm, and the people no good
when the conservation movement pc
gan to tell. IL developed without delay
that the one great obstacle TO practicai
progress lay in the political power OF the
special interests. Every effort TO con-
serve any natural resource for the general
welfare was met by the legislative agents
OF the men who wanted TO exploit II Tor
their private profit.
Problem Faced Today.
"The effort to get things done In con-
servation taught US clearly. unmistaka-
bly, and with little delay that so long
as the political domination Of the great
business interests endures. heir corrupt
control OF legislation will carry with ii
the monopoiistic control of the natural
resources also. This Is what We face
today I'm the effort to apply conservation.
The fundam :1tal principles Of conser-
vation are few and .imple. One OF the
first Is that the material resources ana
natural advantages belong to all the peo-
ple and should be developed. protected
and perpetuated directly for the benent or
all the people. and not mainly Tor the
Another is that the natural resources
still owned by the people which are nee
essaries of life. like coal and water
power, should remain In public ownership
and should be disposed OF only under
lease for limited periods and with fair
compensation to the public for the rights
granted.
"As to our waters:
Il. Every stream should be made useful
for every purpose in which IL can be
made 20 serve the public. Tho prepara-
tion of a broad plan is needed without
delay for the development OF our water
ways for navigation. domestic supply. ir-
rigation, drainage and power.
- Every power site now in state or
federal control should be held SO. and
should be disposed OF only under lease for
4 limited time and with fair compensation
90 the public.
'.3 In the development OF our water
WAYS the cooperation Of the states with
the nation Is essential for the general well
fare.
Needs of the Forests.
"As to our forests:
81. All forests necessary for the pub
lie welfare should be I'm the public own
ership, such as the national forests al
ready in existence, the proposed Appa-
lachian and White mountain national
forests. and the state forests of New
York, Pennsylvania. Wisconsin and other
states.
y. The protection OF forests against
fire In the first duty In forestry OF states
and nation alike. The way to stop fires
Is to get men to them as soon as they
OF forest fire patrol by the nation, the
states ands their subdivisions. and by as
sociations or private citizens who own
timber lands, is absolutely necessary.
~ The protection of existing forests
by wise use IL the first step In forestry.
Is the second
- Land bearing forests should be
taxed annually on the land value alone.
and the timber crop should be taxed
when II is cut. so that private forestry
NAV be encouraged