Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-08-06
HISTORY OF THE
CONSERVATION MOVEMENT
(By Ralph Hosmer.)

Commission by keeping the state
, Commissions in touch with one an
other and in general by acting rs n
clearing house for matters having TO
! do with Conservation.
Last summer at Seattle there was
formed the National Conservation
Congress. a popular organization, de-
aligned TO meet nj intervals for the
! consideration and discussion Of Con-
seryation problems. This Congress
J is closely modelled on the National
irrigation Congress. of which 1t is
really an outgrowth. II may be ex-
pectod in future to become an agency
/ to be rockonod with.
In the autumn Of 1909 there was or
ganized in New York the National
Conservation Association, under the
presidency of DR.. Charles William
! Eliot, late president OF Harvard. The
object Of this association is to crys-
talizc the interest of individuals into
effective work for the furthernncc of
the Conservation movement Recently
President Eliot has retired, to bc sue
ceoded as president by Mr.. Clifford
pinchot by Joining this society in
dividuals who might not otherwise
be able to help on the Conservation
movement can render definite aid in
a way that will count.
At the present time when the fun
damental points at issue are in dan
ger of being obscured temporarily by
the dust raised by the battle over
ant issues, It is especially desirable
tina tsuch an organization as the Ma
tional Conservation Association
should be given effective and hearty
support
: The National Conservation Associa-
ton is engaged in an active campaign
in favor of the passage Of Conserva-
ton bills. The stronger the assoCia-
ton Is in membership and funds, the
more effectively can II carry out its
program. Individuals can do little
alone; organized, few earnest men
are power. All of which, put In
other words means that the friends
OF Conservation in Hawaii can, II
they will, help as much as can those
on the mainland.
| Membership In the National Con-
servation Association Is two dollars
year: active members. five dollars.
CMr. Hosmer will he glad to receive
and forward the application Of any
one who would like to be enrolledD
Needs Of Hawaii.
And here II may not be inappropri-
ate parenthetically to remark that
there are few parts Of the Union where
the factors of Conservation come so
close to the average man as they do
here in Hawaii The whole economic
! fabric of this Territory is bound vi
with the right use of forests, waters
and lands. Under our characteristic
conditions OF climate and topography
an assured and dependable supply of
water rests absolutely on the
continuance of the forests. without
water what would our agriculture
amount to?
Next to using water and forests
wisely perhaps the greatest need In
Hawaii Is for better understanding
of the care OF the land itself-.the
I prevention of waste, the maintenance
of fertility and the increase of soil
productivity. With these material
questions, we In Hawaii also face in a
more intimate way than do many
communities some of the larger queS-
lions of public health, which no ,ess
than these others are problems OF
Hawaii are vitality concerned in this
matter and should be ready to dc
their part In seeing to Il that action
is taken that will put the principles oil
Conservation into active practice.
The Points ut Issue.
This brings the history of the move,
ment down to the present administra,
ton. Since the incoming of Presi,
dent Taft the progress of affairs has
not been so smooth as under the last
administration, II is complicated
situation that now obtains and tn,
time Is not yet when the end is II
sight. For II correct understanding
of the existing condition It is i'm
portant that certain facts be go
clearly In mind and that the essentia
points of variance be sharply def
ferentiated from quarrels arisinl
from the conflicting opinions OF in
terested individuals, especially wher,
these are concerned chiefly with tn,
Nltl 81