The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-06
COLONEL STORMS,
SHAKES HIS FIST
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Jnhh[J Mo fllI
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railread magnate, sat Cheer after
'heer GREETED his demand for Federal
control.
His Speech.
Colonel Roosevelt said in part.
The method of reckless and I'M
controlled private use and waste has
lone for us all the good IL ever can,
and tt Is time TO put an end 10 1t be-
'ore 1t does all the evil Ii easily may.
We have passed the time when heed
less waste and destruction and arro&
CANT monopoly, are any longer permits
,ible.
Waterways.
"one of the greatest of our conser-
ration problems IL the wise and
prompt development and use Of the
waterways of this nation.
Adequate terminals properly con-
rolled and open through lines by rail
md boat are two absolutely essential
conditions to the usefulness of inland
aterway development. | believe fur
.hermore that the railways should be
prohibited from owning controlling
er carrying any interest in the boat
ines on our rivers, unless under the
Hrictest regulation and control of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Where the States are unwilling or
unable To undertake IL. the drainage
of swamp and overflow lands by the
Federal government Is a wise and
necessary measure, Much OF II must
be done by the nation in any case.
ss an integral part of inland water
way development. Ii affords most
promising field for cooperation he
:ween the States and the nation.
The people Of the United States
believe In the complete and rounded
1eyelopmant of inland waterways for
all the useful purposes they can he
made to serve.
The investigation of the Country
life Commission have led the farmers
of this country to realize that they
nave not been getting their fair share
Of progress and all that IL brings.
some Of our farming communities in
.he Mississippi Valley and In the Mid
die West have made marvellous pro-
gress. yet even the best of them, like
communities Of every other kind. are
not beyond Improvement, while much
naeds to he done in some other sec
ions 10 improve country life.
Human Efficiency.
AS Il people we have not yet learn
go TIC economize- one OF the virtues
We Americans most need is thrift II
Is a mere truism to say that luxury
and extravaganza are not good for
1ation.
1t Is clear that unless the govern
merts of our southern neighbors take
steps in the near future by wise legis-
iation to control the development and
use OF their natural resources, they
VIII probably fall into the hands OF
eoneessionaires and promoters. whose
single purpose, without regard TO the
permanent welfare of the land in
which they work, will be to make the
most possible money in the shortest
possible time. There Will be shame
fui waste, destructive loss and short
sighted disregard OF the future. az We
have learned by bitter experience here
at home.
Unless the governments OF all the
American republics, including our
own, enact In time such laws as will
both protect their natural wealth and
promote their legitimate and reason
able development. future generations
will owe their mistortunes to us of
to-day. A great patriotic duty calls
upon US. We owe IL to ourselves and
TO them To give the American repun-
lies ali the help we can.
State and Federal Control.
But while we OF the United States
are anxious, as l believe We are abIs
10 be OF assistance TO others, there
Are problems of our own which we
must not overlook. One of the most
important conservation questions of
the moment relates to the control of
water power monopoly In the pub
lie interest. There Is apparent to the
judicious observer distinct tendency
on the part Of our opponents 10 cloud
The issue by raising the question of
State as against Federal Jurisdiction.
We are ready to meet the issue if
1t Is forced upon U.S. But there is no
hope for the plain people In such
conflicts OF jurisdiction. The essen
tial question Is not one OF hair-split-
Ting legal technicalities. 1t Ia simply
his: Who can best regulate the spe-
cial Interests for the public good
Most of the predatory corporations
are Interstate or have inter-S State
Affiliations. Therefore they are large
~ out of reach of effective State con-
trol and fall of necessity within the
Federal jurisdiction. One OF the prime
objects OF those among them that are
yrasping and greedy ~ to avoid any
effective control either by State or
nation; and they advocate at this time
State control simply because they be-
ieve 1t to be the least effective. In
the great fight OF the people TO drive
the special interests from the DOM
melton OF ur government. the nation
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 At
lantic coast will be Federal Jaws
and the Federal executive, That In
why 30 strongly oppose the demand
TO turn these matters over to the
States. 1t Ia fundamentally a demand
against the interest of the plain peo-
pie. of the people OF small means,
against the interest OF our children
and our children's children; and II is
primarily In the interest OF the great
corporations which desire to escape
Ill government control.
Tho Conservation Fight.
sOne Of the difficulties In putting
into practice the conservation idea is
that the field to which 1t applies Is
constantly growing in the public mind
It has been no slight task to bring
before 90 600 900 peoplo 4 great com