The Mena weekly star., 1910-09-08
Clean of These
the resources for the people is fun os hope for us all
 State and Federal Control.


 Of assistance to others. there are prob- lems of our own which we must not over iook 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 to the judicious observer 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 to meet that issue if it is forced upon us, But there is no hope for the plain people in such conflicts of jurisdio- ton. The essential question is not one of hair-spiitting legal technicaiities. It ts simply this: Who can beet regulate the special interests for tho public goodf Most of the predatory corporations are Interstate or have interstate affiliations. Therefore they are largely out of roach of effective state control and fall of neces- city within the federal Jurisdiction. Ons Of the prime objects of those among them that are grasping and greedy is to avoid any effective control either by state or nation: and they advocate at this time state control simply because they believe 1t to be the least effective. In the great fight of the people to drive the special interests from the domination of our gov- ernment. tho nation is stronger and it's Jurisdiction is more effective than that of any state. The most effective weapon
 
 which are financed and owned on the Att lantic coast. win be federal laws and the federal executive That Is why I 80 strongly oppose the demand to turn these matters over to the states. It is funda- mentally a demand against the interest of the plain people. of the people of small means, against the interest of our chfi- dren and our children's children; and t is primarily in the interest of the great corporations which desire to escape all government control
 The Conservation Fight.
 On of the difficulties in putting into practise the conservation Idea Is that the field 10 which 1t applies is constantly growing in the public mind. It has been no slight task to bring before 100000 peo- pse great conception like that of con- sorvation. and convince them that it is right. This much we have accom- rl.shed. But there remains much to be cleared up. and many misunderstanding to be removed. These misunderstanding are due In part at least to direct mis- representation by the mon to whose interest 1t Is that conservation should not prosper. For example, we And 1t con- stantly said by men who should know better that temporary withdrawals. such as the withdrawals of coal lands. will permanently check development. Yet
  10 purpose except to prevent the coal lands from passing into private owner ship until congress can pass laws to open them to development under conditions just niiko to the public and to the men l uho will do the developins. If there Is | delay. the responsibility for it rests. not | m the men who made the withdrawals to | protect tho public interest. but on those who prevent congress from passing wise | iegfsiation. and so putting an end to tho | need for withdrawals.
 1 Abuses committed in the name of a just | eausa are familiar to all of us. Many | unwtse things arc done and many unwfse | measures are advocated in the name Of | conservation, either through ignorance. | or bv these whose interest lies not In pros 1 noting the movement but in retarding It. | For example. to stop water power devei- | opfnent by needless refusal 10 issue per- l nits for water power or private irrigation | works on the public lands Inevitably leadl | many men. friendly to conservation and | believers in It's general principles. to as- | sume that it's practical application is neo- | esaar,ly q check upon progress. Nothing | could he more mistaken. The idea, widely ! ~s-r,,iated of late. that conservation means | soc,-iro I'D of the natural resources for the | exclusive use of future generations. ia | wholly mistaken. Our purpose is to make | full use of these resources but to consid- | | sefyes. iust as farmer uae5 his farru | fin ways to preserve its future usefulness | ronservation Is the road to national eff | ncfency, and ft stands for ample and visa | development.
 1 put in spite of these dificulties. most | of which are doubtless inevitable In any | movement of this kind. conservation has | made marvellous progress. I have been | astounded and delighted on my return | .s-r | wns away We have right to congratu- | late ourselves on this marvellous progress; | tut there is no reason for believing that
 the f,sht is won Tn the beginning the
 speciai interests. who are our chief oppo-
 nents in the conservation fight, paid httie | heed to the movement, because tney nei- | thar understood it nsr saw that If II won | thav must lose But with the progress oi l eonaarvatiou fin tho nlirs7 of our people
 the fight is getting sharper The nearer l vvn approach to victerv. the bittcrer the
 opposition that we must meet. and the
 greater the need for caution and w7''h-
 fuIness Open opposition we can over.
 come. but I warn you especiaiy & aksans' | inc men who come to congresses snch ee tbls oeterssbly as disinterested cstizens
 hut ectraiiv as the paid agents ot tht | .,,aetat tsa rests heartily aDDrove the
 attitude or any corporation. interested m
 inc de!u tons of mcet'ng sucn as
 ths which comes hither to advocate. bs
 ia openly ,~rredited agents, views WhicH
 1t believes the meeting should nave ,r
 mind But condemn with equal readi'
 resa tho appearance of corporate agent
 hatora any convention who does not de-
 clare hir.seff frankly ns such
 r~hts co,sr-oaa ia a d'rert apeal to tho
 ra,rto,,arn of o.,r whnie people Ths
 notion wisely ioos~ 'n such gatheringf l tor counsel and iead rship. Let tna'
 ,aaaersb.n be sound. definite. practical and on the side of all the people. II
 y,ouid he no small misfortune 1T 0 meetine
 such as this should ever fall into tns
 hands of the open enemies or false rr'eno' of the great movement which H repro
 sents.
 .x,s iana of ours a better home for the
 COG. but our duty does not stop there
 vvs must also work for a better nation tf
 ,,v. in this better land. The development l a,d conservation of our national cnarac nta~ and our free institutions must e hand in hand with the development ane
 san.ervafIon of our natural resources , which the governors conference so wei ! eal,ed the foundations of our prosperity whatever progress we may make as , nation. whatever wealth we may accu ..,,,ate however far we may push me
 nsan,cst development and production, VI l .,aii never reach a point where our wei sarc can depend in the last analysis oi . anvthing but honesty. courage. loyalty and rood citizenship. Tho homeiy WIT tues are the lasting virtues and the roa'
 ,vhich leads to them is the road 70 gen | uine and lasting success
 : what thls country needs is what ever : -. a,,,rtrv must set before It as m i nroat goal toward which It worNs.l' .,l