Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-06
STYLES for BOys-Sams Shapes as GrOwnups SO to So

pie az large from the waste ana disslpa-
ton OF our national wealth is not one
which quickly impresses itself on the peo-
pie OF the older communities, because its
most obvious instances do not occur in
their peighborhood, while in the newer
part OF the country the sympathy with ex-
pansion and development is so strong that
the danger IA scoffed at or ignored Among
scientific men and thoughtful observers,
however, the danger has always been pres
ent, but II needed some one to bring home
the crying need for remedy Of this evil
so as to Impress itself on the public mind
and lead. to the formation of public opin-
ion and action by the representatives of the
people. Theodore Roosevelt took up this
task in the last two years of his second ad-
ministration, and we'll did he perform It.
las president of the United States 1 have,
as It were. inherited this policy, and Ie-
jolce ih my heritage prize my high OPP
poriunity to. do all that executive can
do to help a great people realize a great
national ambition. For conservation is ma
tional II affects every man of us. every
woman, every child What can do In the
ca1se, / shall do, not as president of a
party, but as president Of the whole peo-
pie Conservation Is not a question OF
politics, or of factions. or OF persons. I'll
is a question that affects the vital welfare
of all OF us-of our children and our chill
dren's children. l urge that no good cam
come from meetings OF this sort unless we
sscribe to those who take part in them,
and who are apparently striving worthily
in the cause all proper motives, and unless
we judicially consider every measure or
method proposed with a view to its effect
iveness In achieving our common purpose,
and wholly without regard to who proposes
It or who will claim the credit for its
adoption. The problems are of very great
difficulty and call for the calmest con-
sideration and clearest foresight. Many of
the questions presented have phases that
are new to this country and It is possible
that in their solution we may have to at
tempt first one way and. then another.
What wish to emphasize however, Ia that
a satisfactory conclusion can only be
reached promptly n we avoid acrimony,
imputations OF bad faith and political con-
troversy.
Coal Lands.
THE present congress passed a bill of
great Importance severing the ownership
OF coal by the government In the ground
from the surface and permitting homestead
entries upon the surface OF the land which,
when perfected, give the settler the, right
to farm the surface, while the coal beneath
the surface is retaiaed In ownership by the
government and may be disposed OF by 1t
underl other laws, ",
There is no crying need for radical re-
form In the methods OF disposing OF what
are really AGRICULTURAL lands. The present
laws have worked we'll. The enlarged
homestead law has encouraged the success
full farming Of lands in the semiarid regions
OF course the teachings OF the Agricultural
department as to how these subarid lands
may be treated and the soil preserved for
useful culture are OF the very essence OF
conservation. Then conservation OF agri-
cultural lands Is shown in the reclamation
of arid lands by irrigation and should
devote few words to what the government
has done and Is doing In this regard
by the reclamation act a fund has been
created OF the proceeds OF the public lands
OF the United states with which to con-
struct works for storing great bodies, of
water at proper attitudes from which, by a
suitable system of canals and bitches, the
water Ia to be distributed over the arid
and subarid lands OF the government to be
sold to settlers at price sufficient to
pay for the improvements. Primarily, the
projects are and must be for the improve
ment OF public lands Incidentally where
pfivate land is also within. the reach of
the water supply the furnishing at cost
or profit OF this water to private owners
by the government is held by the federal
court of appeals not to be a usurpation
Of power 's~s..
Limitations of Constitutions.
"EuEEestlons have been made that the
United States ought TO aid in the drainage
OF swamp lands belonging to the states or
private owners, because, II drained, they
would be exceedingly valuable for aSrt-
culture and contribute to the general well
fare by extending the area Of cultivation. l
deprscate the agitation In favor OF such
legislation. 1t 10 inviting the general gov
srnment into contribution from its treasury
toward enterprises that should be CON
Quoted either by private capital or at the
instance Of the state In these days there
10 disposition TO look too much to the
federal government for everything l am
liberal In the construction OF the constltu-
ton with reference to federal power; but
] am firmly convinced that the only safe
course for MS to pursue is to hold fast to
the limitations OF the constitution and to
regard as sacred the powers OF the states
We have made wonderful progress and al
the same time have preserved with judicial
exaotness the restrictions OF the consutu-
ton. There is a. easy way in which the
constitution can be violated by congress
without judicial inhibition to-wit; by ap-
preparations from the national treasury foi
Unconstitutional purposes. IL will be q
sorry day for this country II the time ever
comes when our fundamental compact shall
be habituaIiy aisregarded Ia this manner.
Nothing can be more Important Ia chs
matter Of conservation than the Treatment
OF our forest lands. IL was probably thu
ruthless destruction OF forests In th'
older states that first called attention q
. halt In the waste OF our resources. Thh
was recognised by congress by an &C
authorizing the executive 10 reserve from
entry and Get aside public timber lands a.
national forests Speaking generally their
has been reserved Of the existing forests
about 70 per cent OF all the timber lands o.
the government The law now prohibits
The reservation Of any more forest lands Il