Crittenden record-press., 1910-11-03

I nope Tor US all.
State and Federal Control.
But while we OF the United States are
anxious. as I believe we are able. to be
OF assistance 10 others. there are prob
lens of our own which we must not over
look One OF the most important con-
/ servation questions OF the moment relates
To the control Of water power monopoly
In the public interest. There is apparent
20 the judicious observer n distinct ten
dency on the part Of our opponents to
cloud the issue by raising the question Of
state as against federal Jurisdiction. We
are ready 90 meet that issue N II is forced
upon us. But there II no hope for tho
plain people I'm such conflicts OF jurisdic-
ton. The essential question IN not one
, OF hair-splitting legal technicalities. II 10
simply this Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public goodf
Most Of the predatory corporations are
Interstate or have Interstate Affiliations,
Therefore they are largely out OF reach ~
effective state control. and fall of neces-
sitv within the federal jurisdiction. Ons
of tho prime objects Of those among them
that are grRspinR and greedy II to avoid
any effective control either by state or
nation. and they advocate AZ this tims
state control simply because they bellows
n 10 he the least effective. In the great
fght % the people 10 drive the special
interest. from the domination or our gov
ernmert. the nation II stronger ana its
Jurisdiction IL more effective than that of
arv state The mo.t effective weapon
against these great corporations. most or
which are financed and owned on the At
lantic coast will be federal laws and tho
federal executive That r. why ] 80
strongly oppose the demand 20 turn These
matters over 90 the states. u y funda-
mentally a demand against the interest,"
~ the plain people ~ the people OF small
-. Of
dren and our children's children. and u
T. primarily in the interest OF the great
corporations which desire 20 escape all
government control
The Conservation Flight.
on ~ tho dirHcuities in putting into
practise the conservation idea is that tho
nsld TO which II applies II constantly
growing in the public mind. II has been
No slight task 60 bring before 10000 peo-
p'e a great conception like that OF con-
-ervation. and convince them that N ~
rfrht This much we have accom-
pished But ,her. remains much 20 be
cleared up and many misunderstanding
20 he removed Th.se misund-ry tndings
are due in part at least 10 dire I mis-
rerresentafion by the men 10 whose
/ Interest, II is that conservation should NOT
prosper For example. We nnd II con-
r,nntly said by mon who should Know
such as the withdrawals 81 coal lands.
will permanently check development Yet
/ ,hs fact IL that those Withdrawals have
no purpose except 70 prevent the coei
Z ands from passing into private owner
F sitp until congress can pass laws to open
B them - development under conditions
/ ,u.t alike 20 the public and 20 the men
who will 40 the developing II there 10
s.isv N. responsibility for n rests. not
IN The men who made the Withdrawals 10
4 rro,e~t the public interest. but ON thoss
who prevent congress from passing wise
/ leE,.ls,ion and 80 putting ar end 10 the
need FOR withdrawais
Abuses committed IN the name % inst
e.use are familiar 20 all ~ u- MANY
I m wise things are done and many unwis"
Z measures ar. advocated In the name or
! conservation either through Ignorance.
/ or nv those whose interest lies not In pro-
/ r,o,ing the movement but In retarding "
/ For example To stop water power deNei-
/ opmsrt by needless refusal 20 Issue per-
rr,,. Tor water power or private irrigation
works on the pubic lands inevitably leads
many men. friendly 20 conservation ana
Ssiisv.rs in ~. general principles. 10 as
! sumo that its practicai RpplicatSn Is nee
sssarily a check upon progress Nothins
] could be more mistaken The idea. widely
circulated of late. that conservation means
locking up 81 tho natural resources Tor ms
[ exclusive use ~ future generations -
I wholly mistaken Our purpose II 20 make
I suil US. Of these resources hut ~ consid-
! er our sons and daughters a. well a. our
selves jus, as farmer usss his farm
/ IN wavs to preserve i's 'utnre usefnineS.'
/ Conservation T. 'he road 10 national ef-
setsncv and ~ stands FOR ample and wise
| development
Rut in spite % these difficulties. most
/ Of witch are doubtless inevitable In any
movement ~ this kind. conservation has
made marvellous progress haN" been
s.,oundci and delighted an my return
I f-orn abroad ~ the proGree- made while l
ss. away W. have right 20 congratu-
LAT. ourselves on this marvellous progress.
| Sut ,hsr, 10 no reason for believing that
IN. rrht IL won In the beginning the
sp.ciai interests who are our chief oppo-
| nents IN the conservation hght. paid MUS
heed to the movement. because they nell
! ,her understood ~ nor saw that " ~ won
,N.v must lose Bu. with the progress OF
| conservation In the minds OF onr peopls
IN. nsht II getting sharper. The nearer
". approAch 20 victory. the htterer ths
opposition that We must meet. and the
greater the need ror caution ana wateh'
euine.s Omen opposition we can over
com. but I warn YOU especially sEains'
the men who come 10 congresses such nc
,hi. osfersihiv as disintrrested citizens
bu, actually as the paid agents OF me
.necial interests heartily approve the
attitude ~ any corporation. interested In
the deliberations ~ meeting such M
tbs which comes hither 20 advocate. by
It's openly accredited agents. views which
n believes the meeting should have In
mind But 7 condemn with equal readi'
ne.. tn. appearance ~ n corporate agent
before any convention who does not de-
cIsre himself frankly as such.
Thi- congress Is direct appeal TO th'
patriotism ~ our whole people. The
nation wisely looks 10 such gatherings
for counsel and leadership Let thai
leadership ne sound. definite. practical
ana on the sfne ~ all the people. "
would he no small misfortune " meeting
such as this should ever fall into the
hands Of the open enemies or false friends
~ the great movement which " repro
sent.
" 10 our duty ana orr desire to make
this land OF ours better homo for the
race hut our duty does not stop there
We must also work for q better naticn n
live In this better land The development
and conservation ~ our national charac-
acter and our free institutions must -
hand in hand with the development and
conservation Of our natural resources