Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-03

benefit of the people of the country in
the widest sense of those words.
"'rhere has been a good deal of mis-
understanding due to the statements of
| the enemies of conservation; that what
| that conservation policy means is to
| leave. the natural resources undeveloped
| for the benefit of future generations.
Nothing could be more false. They
should be developed, and developed as
promptly and as fully as the needs of
the present generation demand, but at
the same time they should be so de-
| veloped and so used that the non-re-
| newable resources shall not be wasted,
| and the renewable resources shall be
placed in still greater abundance for
the use of those who are to come
after US"
My second question was: ut has been
charged that conservation If applied
will retard the development of the west.
What is your opinion?" To this Mr.
Pinchot replied:
This statement is based either on
complete misapprehension of the pur-
pose and effect of these policies, or is
made by the enemies of the policies
with intent to deceive. The conserva-
tion people have always stood vigor
ously by the idea that development, and
prompt and orderly development, was
of the first Importance, and the declara-
tion of principles of the National Con-
servation association states that fact
at the very beginning. One thing that
conservation means is preservation by
wise use; but 1t means use-and not
stagnation."
My third and last question was:
what will be the effect of the present
agitation upon the conservation move
ment?' Mr.. Pinchot's reply was:
Conservation has made more prog
ress in the minds OF the people of this
country in the last three years than in
the previous three centuries. Our peo-
pie now understand what conservation
means, and 1 suppose there is no other
policy which has SO few enemies out
side of the men who are pecuniarily
interested in retarding or defeating it,"
Mr. Pinchot might have added with
absolute truth that conservation has
made more progress since he was dis
missed by Mr.. Taft than in all the
previous years. 1t Is the one all-ab-
sorbing topic. / said as much and he
replied that it was not a question of
men but of principles, and that he be-
lieves the nation was at last awaken
ing to a conception OF its true import
ance. Men might be dismissed, but the
sentiment in favor of sane conserVa-
tion would always grow.
Before leaving l explained to Mr..
Plnchot that the convention of the
American Minging congress would be
held in Los Angeles this fall and
pointed out to him that the occasion
would be an excellent opportunity to
present his views to the miners of the
west. On behalf of the Sierra Madre
club I invited him to accept an invita-
tion to speak on Conservation in its
Bearing Upon Mining" and he readily
accepted, with the remark: "The tuna
are running about that time at San
Clemente." And so 1t is practically
certain that Los Angeles will have an
opportunity of listening to Mr. Pinchots
explanation of all the events of the
past six months and at the same time
will also be privileged to listen to the
two chief opponents of his policies.
Both Senator Hepburn and Senator
Borah have consented to speak upon
the same subject and so we are as
sured of one of the most interesting
debates that has ever taken place in
the west. All three speakers will be
the personal guests of the Sierra Madre
club during their stay in Los Angeles.