Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-09
CLIFFORD PINCH0T
TALKS SAT ST. PAUL
Former Forester Makes Extended Ad-
dress Upon Conservation
Problems.
FIGHTING EPOCH IS REACHED
Has Now Begun to Interfere with
Peoples Profits.
PUBLIC BELIEVES IN MOVEMENT
Fundamental PRINCIPLES of Conserva-
tion Few and Simple.
PEOPLES HERITAGE TO BE SAVED
Denial thHt EE-FOrester VIII he Cam
didute for Office. B. white OF
kansas city VIII he Next
President.
las Now Begun to Interfere with
Peoples Profits.
IBLIC BELIEVES IN MOVEMENT
PRINCIPLES of Conserva-
ton Few and Simple.
PEOPLES HERITAGE TO BE SAVED

ST. PAUL, Sept. S--The national conser-
walton congress, which by the program,
should continue tomorrow, will probably
end Its sessions late tonight. II has been
strenuous convention and delegates and
visitors want a rest.
The presidency is expected to go to j. s.
White of Kansas City, the present chair
man of the executive committee.
Giford Pinchot, who is president of the
national conservation association. told his
friends that he would not be a candidate.
He made his address on conservation prob
lens today, as did Henry S. Graves United
States forester.
Members of the resolutions committee
met early to draft a platform.
At noon the resolutions committee re-
ferred TO the Subcommittee on revision for
reduction into approved English various
planks for the conservation of natural re-
sources, from insectverous birds to water
sites. The committee demanded control
by the nation rather than by states.
Corporation Lawyer Talks.
In addressing the convention Frank II,
Short, representing the water companies of
California grew sarcastic.
This audience" he said 'in listening to
! my address will no doubt have in mind the
/
| to them in advance to forstall the evil
| influences of my humble remarks. 1 am
a Mlssourian, having committed the in
discretion Of being born in the show me,
state-but not in Kansas. All of my youth
was spent in the middle west in the oc,
cupation of a rough rider. and | stil enjoy
a fight or a foot race as much as though
| l were real colonel. Further confessing
l have lived for many years in California
and am a lawyer by profession, and have
committed the offense of allowing my self
| to be retained, and am now employed by
a considerable number of large companies
and other corporations, diligently endeavor-
! ing tn commit the crime of investing capt.
tai under the laws OF the western states
in the development OF industries and re-
! sources OF those states"
Clifford Pinchot in his speech said:
! Like nearly every great reform con-
! servation first passed through a period Of
agitation and general approval. During this
period it met with little opposition. for as
yet 1t interfered with no mans private
prof.. From the beginning of the world the
preaching of righteousness in general terms
has been contemplated with entire equa-
nimity by the men who rise in violent
protest the moment their own particular
privilege graft OF advantage GOUltS pIdC-
tcally into question. That protest marks
the second phase of the reform.
within the last two years conservation
has passed out Of the realm of an unim-
peachable general principle into that of a
practical, fighting attempt to get things
done. 1t has begun to step on the toes of
the beneflciares and the prospective bene-
ficaries of unjust privilege and the result
ing opposition, considering the quarters
whence II comes. is one of the best proofs
that conservation is a live movement for
the general good.
THE people believe in conservation. Now,
when any great movement has established
itself so firmly in the public mind that a
direct attack upon 1t will not pay, the regu-
lar method is TO approve 1t in general
terms and then condemn its methods and
its men. So now the demand from the
opponents of conservation is not at all that
we shall abandon the principle of the great
est good of us all for the longest time i'm
using our natural resources. The soft
pedal conservationists merely ask that con-
servaton as applied shall be what they
call rational, safe and sane. Safe and sane
legislation as that expression is used by
, the men who use 1t most, means legisia ton
not dnfriendly TO the continued control OF
our public affairs by the special interests
Sa1e ana sane conservation, as that ex-
preston is used by these same men, means
conservation so carefully sterilized that il
will do the special interests no harm and
the people no good.
When the conservation movement began
TO tell it developed without delay that the
one great obstacle to practical progress Law
: In the political power OF the special inter
ests. Every effort to conserve any natural
resources for the general welfare was mot
by tho legislative agents Of the men, who
wanted to exploit 1t for their private rrofit
: The effort to get things done in con.
p sorvation taught MS clearly, unmistukap,y
and with little delay, that so long as the
political domination of the great business
! Interests endures, their corrupt control OF
legislation will carry with it the monopo.
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