The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-09-06
to be the least effective.

to be the least effective.
In the great fight OF the people to
drive the special interests from the
domination Of our government the ma
ton is stronger and its Jurisdiction is
more effective than that of any state.
The most effective weapon against
these great corporations, most Of
which are financed and owned on the
Atlantic coast, will be federal laws
and the federal executive.
That is why so strongly oppose
the demand to turn these matters over
to the states. 1t is fundamentally a
demand against the interest Of the
plain people, Of the people Of small
means, against the interest Of our chill
dren and our children's children, and
it is primarily in the interest Of the
great corporations, which desire to es-
cape all government control
The Conservation Fight.
One Of the difficulties in putting into
practice the conservation idea is that
the field to which it applies is con-
stantly growing in the public mind.
It has been no slight task to bring be-
fore 100000 people a great con-
ception like that Of conservation and
convince them that it Is right.
This much we have accomplished.
But there remain much to be cleared
up and many misunderstanding to be
removed. I lese misunderstanding are
due in part at least to direct misrepre.
sentation by the men to whose interest
1t is that conservation should not pros
per. s.
For example, we find it constantly
said by men who should know better
that temporary Withdrawals, such as
the withdrawal of coal lands, will per-
manently check development.
Yet the fact Is that these withdraw
ais have no purpose except to prevent
the coal lands from passing into pri-
vate ownership until congress can pass
laws to open them to development un-
der conditions just alike to the public
and to the men who will do the de-
veloping.
If there is delay the responsibility
for 1t rests not on the men who made
the Withdrawals to protect the pub
lie interest, but on those who prevent
congress from passing wise legislation
and so putting an end to the need for
withdrawals
We have right to congratulate our
selves on this marvellous progress But
there is no reason for believing that
the fight Is won. In the beginning the
special interests, who are our chief op-
ponents In the conservation fight, paid
little heed to the movement. because
they neither understood it nor saw
that If it won they might lose But
with the progress Of conservation in
the minds Of our people the fight is
getting sharper. . ...
The nearer we approach to victory
the bitterer the opposition that we
must meet and the greater the need
for caution and watchfulness. Open
opposition we can overcome, but ]
warn you especially against the men
who come to congresses such as this,
ostensibly as disinterested citizens,
but actually as the paid agents Of the
special interests. o.. .....
heartily approve the attitude Of any
corporation, interested in the deliber-
atoms Of meeting such as this. which
comes hither to advocate by it's openly
accredited agents views which it be-
lieves the meeting should have in
mind. But condemn with equal read
mess the appearance Of a corporate
agent before any convention who does
not declare himself frankly as such.
This congress is direct appeal to
the patriotism Of our whole people.
The nation wisely looks to such gath
erings for counsel and leadership. Let
that leadership be sound. definite,
practical and on the side of all the
people. 1t would be no small misfor,
ture if meeting such as this should
ever fall into the hands of the open
enemies or false friends Of the great
movement which it represents. r.
What this country needs Is what ev-
cry free country must set before it as
the great goal toward which it works
an equal opportunity for life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness for
every one of its citizens TO achieve
this end we must put stop to the
improper political dominion no less
than the improper economic dominion
Of the great special interests.
This country. its natural resources,
Its natural advantages, its opportuni.
ties and its institutions belong to al
Its citizens.
They cannot be enjoyed fully and
freely under any government in which
the special interests as such have q
voice. The supreme political task OF
our day, the indispensable condition OF
national efficiency and national vel
fare is to drive the special interests
out Of our public life.