The Detroit times., 1910-09-06

sociation was organized II took up
the work which otherwise would not
have been done, and IL exercised q most
useful influence In preventing bad leg
islation, In securing the introduction
of better conservation measures at the
past session of congress, and In pro-
noting the passage OF wise laws. II
deserves the confidence and support OF
every citizen interested In the wise
development and preservation of. our
natural resources, and in preventing
them from passing into the hands OF
uncontrolled monopolies II Joins with
the National Conservation Congress In
holding this meeting. I am hee by
the Joint invitation OF both.
Pan-Americnn Conservation.
When the government OF the United
States awoke TO the idea of conserva-
tion and saw that IL was good. II lost
tages OF the new point OF view TO Its
Immediate neighbors among the ma
tions. a North American Conserva-
tion Conference was held In Washing
ton, and the cooperation OF Canada
and Mexico In the great problem OF de-
veolping the resources OF the con-
asked and promised The nations upon
our northern and southern boundaries
wisely realized that their opportunity
TO conserve the natural resources was
destruction and monopolization had not
gone so far as they had with us. SO
y Is with the republics OF Central and
the verge of a period OF great material
progress. The development of their
natural resources-their forests their
will create enormous wealth. II Is TO
the mutual interest OF the United
States and our sister American repub-
lies that this development should be
wisely done.
II is clear that unless the govern
ments OF our southern neighbors take
steps In tho near future by wise legis.
lation to control the development and
will probably fdii into the hands Of
concesslonaires and promoters; whose
permanent welfare of the land in which
they work, will he TO make the most
possible money In the shortest possi-
bic time. There will be shameful
sighted disregard OF the future. as 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 pro-
mote their legitimate and reasonable
development. future generations will
owe their nisfortunes 10 us OF today.
a great patriotic 6oty calls upon us.
We owe II 70 ourselves and TO them
help we can. The cases in which we
have failed should be no less instruc-
tive than the cases I'm which we have
good viii the task OF saving the re-
sources for tho people is full OF hope
for us all.
state md Federal Control.
But while we or the United States
are anxious. as / belie~> Va are able.
TO be or assistance to others. there are
problems, OF our own which we must
not overlook. One OF the most impor-
tsnt conservation questions OF the mo-
ment relates TO the control OF water
power monopoly In the public interest.
server a distinct tendency on the pa
or our opponents to cloud tho issue by
raising the question OF state as against
meet that issue IL IL is forced upon us
But there Is no hope for the plain peo-
pie In such conflicts OF jurisdictions.
The essential question is not one OF
iair-splitting legal technicalities II
! Is simply this: Who can best regulate
the special interests for the public
good? Most OF the predatory corpora
state affiliations. Therefore they are
! largely out of reach OF effective state
control, and fall OF necessity within
the federal Jurisdiction. Ono OF the
prime objects OF those among them
that are grasping and greedy Is 10
avoid any effective control either by
state or nation; and they advocate az
this time state control simply because
they believe u TO be tho least effective.
In the great iRht OF tho people 10 drive
the special interests from the domina-
tion of our government. the nation Is
stronger and it's Jurisdiction is more
effective than that OF any state Tho
| most effective weapon against these
great corporations. most OF which arc
| financed and owned on the Atlantis
coast, will be federal laws and the fed :
| eral executive. That IL WHY an
strongly oppose the demand 10 turn
| these matters over 20 the states n
| Is fundamentally n demand against tho
| interest OF the plain peopIe Of the
people OF small means. against the In
terest or our children and our chii
| dten's children; and II Is primarily in
the Interest OF the great corporatIons q
which desire to escape all government
control.
The Conservation Fight.
One OF the difficulties In putting into
practice the conservation idca Is thar
the field 20 which Ii applies IS CON
stantly growing in the public mind
| II has been no slight task 10 hrin o.
| before 100000, 600 people great con,
ception like that OF Conservation and
convince them that 10 Is right This
much we have accomplished Rut there
| remains much TO be cleared up. and
many MISUNDERSTANDING TO be re-
moved These MISUNDERSTANDING are
due in part at least to direct misrep-
reseptation by the men TO whose inter
est " In that conservation should NOT
prosper. For example, we Ind IN con
stantiy said by men who should know
betfes that temporary Withdrawals.