The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-06
WILD APPLAUSE.
Persistent Cheering Greets Col.
ROosevelt's Appearance
On the Platform at the Con.
servatiOn Congress.
HE SAYS A GOOD WORD
For President Taft and Is
Cheered Once More.
He Tells the Congress What He
Saw in Kansas.

81. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 6.-Theodore
Roosevelt's speech ON conservation. de-
nvered today at the national conserva-
ton congress was received with widest
applause 1t was several minutes after
he arose to speak before he could make
himself heard. so persistently did the
throng cheer him. Col Roosevelt out
lined his ideas as to conservation. Say
ing that the reckless and uncontrolled
waste of the past must be stopped, he
declared himself in favor of rigid steps
to preserve the country'S natural re-
sources for the benefit of the whole
people, and to check the power of
monopolistic corporations.
Much that have to say on the SUBJ
ject of conservation will be but a
repetition of what was so admirably
said from this platform yesterday" said
Col. Roosevelt. His compliment to the
president was received with a cheer.
Minnesota, he said, had been zone of
the first states to take hold of the
conservation policy in practical fash
ion.'
"And," he added, "she has done
grea. work representing a policy well
set forth in your governors address de-
livered yesterday. I am glad this con-
gress is held in a state. where we can
listen to such addresses as has been
made by your governor who had a
right to speak for conservation.
In speaking of the control of water
'Ways by the railroads Col. Roosevelt
warned the people not to sit supine and
let the railroads get control, only to
say later that those at the head OF the
railways were very bad men.
The ex-president then turned to the
question of drainage, departing from
his prepared speech Where the lana
to be drained lay entirely within one
state. he said, it might be well, for the
time, for the states to take control OF
the matter.
swamps which extend over parts OF
more than one state, he said, shouio
ment. and he thought it would be bet
ter if state swamp lands should be
ceded back to the general government
that it might do the drainage work.
"Au friends of conservation" he con-
timed, ..should be in heartiest agree
nent with the policy which the presi-
dent laid down in connection with the
coal. oil and phosphate lands. and I am
clad to be able to say that at it's last
session congress fully completed the
work of separating the surface title to
the land from the mineral beneath it.
.sThe average American is an eff
cient man. he added. There is great
reason to be proud of his achievement,
but there is no reason to think we can
not excel our past.
Speaking of the railway SITUATION COL
Roosevelt said:
s.There are classes of bulk freight
which can always go cheaper and bet
ter by water if there is an adequate
waterway and the existence of such
tvpe Of waterway in itself, helps to reg
ulate railroad rates.
Referring to his recent trip through
Kansas as showing the lively interes:
the people there have in spending their
own money for the improvement of their
waterways, the speaker held up as an
example that should be emulated by