The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-20
PINCHOT VS.. CANNON.
Debate Over COnservation-Eaoh
Puts Up Man as Father Of the
Movement-Ex-Fo Forester Outlines
His Brand Of Republicanism.

AS DAu1Au VI INcDuOl1CamSn.
Kansas City, Mo-, July 15.-Gifford
Pinchot and Speaker Joseph G. Can
non engaged in an extemporaneous
debate upon subject Of conservation
before the Knife and Fork Club in
this city tonight, and while each gave
expression to the highest personal re-
gard for the other and both agreed
that conservation of the national re-
sources should be encouraged. they
differed on the question of who was
the father Of conservation.
Mr. Cannon, who spoke first, said
that the late j. w. Powell, at one
time director of the government geo.
logical survey, deserved the honor
put Mr. Pinchot asserted that Theo-
dore Roosevelt was the father of con-
servation.
Speaker Cannon said that Colum-
BUS broke an egg and made it stand
on the end and that any man could
do the same thing after Columbus
had showed him how.
And j. w. Powell was the father
of Conservation" shouted the speak,
er. 1t was Powell, he said. who ar
Piled to him when he was chairman
or the committee on appropriations
to do something for conservation.
Il sent Powell to Senators Hale
and Allison. and the senate, as a re-
suit of his conference with these sem
ators, started the legislation toward
withdrawing all public land that
could be irrigated, as we'll as all res
ervoir sites.
THE house was in favor of the leg
islation, but the senate fought it; but
IN 1890 the civil sundry bill as
passed contained a provision with
drawing all the water power sites
and that was the pioneer effort to
withdraw from entry all public lands
that could be irrigated, but he won
on the other proposition"
Turning to Mr.. Pinchot, Mr.. Can
non said: 'I have the greatest per-
! sonal regard for you, but under
stand that you are now engaged in
| conservation work for the oragniza-
ton of a new party.
Il tell you. sir, that a party can
not stand on a single issue, although
our party did stand on a single issue
once in that great conflict between
servile and free labor"
Mr.. Cannon shook hands with Mr..
Pinchot at the conclusion of his
speech and apologized because he
had to leave without hearing Mr.. Pin
chot.
Mr.. Cannon was not on the regular
programme, but having stopped over
at the hotel where the dinner was
given he was invited to attend and
responded to an invitation to address
the club.
Mr.. Pinchot was given an ova-
ton when he rose to speak. The en-
tire club stood up and cheered him
for several minutes.
Theodore Roosevelt was the faith
er of conservation in this country
he said. THE natural conservation
association is continuing the work he
started. The last session of congress
did great work and our association
was largely responsible for it. The
withdrawal bill as it passed was due
largely to the efforts of the associa-
ton. The fundamental idea of con-
servation is to make of this country
a better home for the race and to
| make the race a better one in that
home. The nation should think of It's,
marvellous riches. Conservation does
not stop development, but to so
conserve what nature provides that
the people who come after us also
| may enjoy them.
Il believe a new school Of politics
is coming up in the United States.
This new school will decide whether
the country shall be governed by
money for profit or by men for hu-
man welfare.
Il made a speech in st. Paul re-
Gently and in connection with that
speech somebody mentioned the DOS
sibility of the organiza ton of a new
party. Mr.. Cannon's reference to me
in that connection doubtless is due
to his having read some headlines at
that time. | am a Republican and l