The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-09-23

Gov NJ. E. Hay arrived last night
and made the principal address this
afternoon before the members of
the Washington State Press Associa-
ton. Gov. Hay took very promi-
nent part in trying to organize the
western governors with the object
of securing proper recognition for
he West in the st. Paul conserva-
ion congress. Gov Hay is a strong
advocate OF state control of nation
al resources and said in part regard
ing the Pinchot steam roller and his
views on conservation, as follows:
In this day and age it is the man
behind the pencil instead of the man
behind the throne who shapes the
destines of states and nations. As
d natural consequence, most men in
public life court every opportunity
10 get right with the moulders OF
popular opinion. Readily yielding
20 the force of this consideration,
accepted with distinct pleasure the
invitation of your president to at
lend this meeting and deliver an adj
dress. Candor induces me to state
thus frankly one of the compelling
considerations that brought me here.
and l trust you will grant me equal
honesty when l state that my mo-
tives are not wholly selfish.
The theme | have chosen for my
address is the states interest in the
conservation of our natural re-
sources. / trust you will bear with
me while | present the views l have
come to hold after long and serious
study of this question, while at the
same time I hope to be SO fortunate
as to induce those among you who
disagree with me to give more care
full thought to the side of the shield
which has been pretty effectually
concealed heretofore.
Before proceeding on my theme.
permit me a little further to plead
my disinterested attitude in this
matter. In the first place, as you
all know, there was a large element
of accident in my debut into the po-
litical stage in this state. My en-
trance into the drama was as little
expected by me as foreseen by you,
and ! shortly thereafter found my
self playing role for which / had
never made preparation, and which
| embraced with trepidation and
foreboding. One advantage that I
had, however, over most actors of
that part, was that the very unex-
pectedness of my elevation left me
absolutely untrammelled and free to
act according to my best judgment
and the dictates of my conscience.
Now / submit that if desire for lead
ership and ambition to continue in
office were my chief solicltude. on
ly those policies that are known to
be popular would have received my
endorsement, particularly at this
time when the espousal of popular
policy is an open sesame to politi-
cal advancement. Further, it is but
natural to desire to be on the pop
ular side of almost any issue; that
is the line of least resistance so en-
ticing to the ambitious politician
Unfortunately for me, however,
find the principle involved in pub
lie question will not permit me to
trim my sails to meet the varying
breezes of political fortune. So il
is that / find myself now in the mi
nority in advocating local self-gov.
eminent in conservation. ! believe
you will give credit to the assertion
that I am not influenced by selfish
interest in the position l have taken
Il went to the recent convention
al st. Paul convinced that home con-
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