Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1910-09-09

action ana good win the task Of saving
the resources for the people 10 full Of
hope for US all
State and Federal Control.
But while we OF the United Staten are
anxious, as believe we are able, to be
or assistance to others, there are prob
lens OF our own which we must not over
look. One OF the most important con-
servation questions OF the moment relates
10 the control of water power monopoly
In the public interest. There is apparent
TO the 5udicious observer a distinct ten-
dency on the part of our opponents to
cloud the issue by raising the question of
state as against federal jurisdiction. We
are ready to meet that issue II It Is forced
upon us, But there is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts OF juricdic-
ton The essential question Is not one
Of hair-splitting legal technicalities, 1t is
simply this: Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public good?
Most OF the predatory corporations are
Interstate or have Interstate affiliations.
Therefore they are largely out of reach OF
effective state control, and fall OF neces-
sty within the federal jurisdiction. Ono
OF the prime objects of those among them
that are grasping and greedy Is to avoid
any effective control either by state or
nation; and they advocate at this time
state control simply because they believe
1t to be the least effective. In the great
fight OF the people to drive the special
interests from the domination of our gov
eminent, tho nation 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 ana owned on the At
lantic coast, will be fedora, laws and the
federal executive. That Is why I SO
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
alters over to the states. 1t Is funda-
mentally 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 II
Is primarily in the interest OF the great
corporations which desire TO escape all
government control. aasr..
9y The Conservation Fight.
on Of - difficulties in putting into
practise the conservation idea Is that the
field to which II applies Is constantly
growing in the pubic mind. 1t has been
no slight task to bring before 100000 peo-
pie n great conception like that OF con.
servation and convince them that 1t 10
right. u This much we have accom-
pnshed. But there remains much TO be
cleared up, and many misunderstanding
to be removed These MISUNDERSTANDING
are duetin part at least to direct mis-
representation by the men to whose
interest II is that conservation should NOT
prosper. For example. we And It con.
stantly said by men who should know
better that temporary Withdrawals.
such as the withdrawals Of coal lands,
will permanently check development. Yet
the fact IL that these Withdrawals have
no purpose EXCEPT to prevent the coal
lands from passing into private owner
ship until congress can pass laws 10 open
them to development under conditions
Just alike TO the public and to the men
who will do the developing.
Abuses committed in the name OF iust
cause are familiar to all Of US. Many
unwjse things are done and many unwise
measures are advocate In the name OF
conservation. either through Ignorance.
or by tI,ose whose interest Hes not IN pro-
noting the movement. but In retard'ng IL.
For exsmple. to stop water power deVei-
opnient, by needless refusal to Issue per-
mits for water power or private ifrisauon
works on the public lands inevitably leads
many men. friendly TO conservation ana
believers In its general principles. to as
sumo that it's practical application Ia nee
essarily check upon progress. NothinS
could be more mistaken. The idea, widely
circulated Of late. thst conservation means
locking UP Of the natural resources for tho
exclusive use Of future generations. -
wholly mistaken. Our purpose is to mako
fu,l use OF these resources. but to consid.
or our sons and daughters as well as our
selves. tust as a farmer uses his farm
In WAYS To preserve It's future usefulness.
| Conservation Is the road 10 national Ell
rficiency and 1t stands for ample and wise
| DEVELOPMENT. sasSSs !Gt Sag
But in spite Of these difficulties. most
| Of which are doubtless inevitable IN any
| movement Of this kind, conservation mas
made marvellous progress. 1 have& been
astonnded and delighted on nv return
from abroad at the progress made while I
was away We have a right to congratu-
late ourselves on this marvellous progress;
but there IL no reason for believing mat
the FIGHT Is won. In the beginning the
special interests. who are our cnleI oonn-
nents IN the conservation night paid httie
heed to the movement, because thew nell
ther understood II nor saw that y y "a'.
thew must lose Rnt with the progress NJ
conservation In the srrinds OF our reon'e
the nght is getting sharper. The nearer
\ ,.c apnr1ach ia victory. the hittrrer tbs
opposition that We must meet, ana mo
greater tn. need for caution ana watch-
fulness. Omen opposition we can over.
come but 7 warn you especially hsa'nst
the men who come to congresses sven rs
tbis cstensIbly as disipterested citizens,
srecial interests heartily approve the
attitude of any cornoration. interested IN
the authorizations ~" n meeting sr"h ~
tbs. witch comes h.ther to advocate nv
its crenly accredited a~enls. V'"Ws "hlrH
II believes the meeting should raw" IN
mind But ] condemn with enn"' re'''-
ness tI1e appearance Of cnrnnrate a0"rt
before any cnryertinn who does not de-
clare himself frankly AS such
fc
na+riotism Of our whole people Tf@
ation wisely looks 80 srch GATHERINGS
nv counse, and LEADERSHIP. Let. tn,t
leadership be sound. definite. practical.
and on the side OF all the people. IL
would be no small misfortune y m@et're
such, as this should ever IAN 1n'o ms
hands Of the open enemies or raise 1rchds
of the, great movement which II repre-
SCENTS. in ST.. -r55-., -..ar
{ r. :. our dnty and our desire to mako
tb,a land 81 ours better home for the
re 70 I, hut our duty does not stop there
WE mist also work for a better nation to
jiy.e, n thfs better land. The DEVELOPMENT
ard conservation OF our national charac-
acter and 'our' free institutions must 20
hand lin hand with the development, ana
conservation OF our naturs! resources;
witch the governors conference so well
ca,lea The foundations of our prosperity.
whateyer progress we may make as q
nation whatever wealth we may accu-
r,ulate. however far we may push me-
chanical development and production, We
sh all never reach a point where our well
fare, cap depend in the last analvsts on
ANYTHING but honesty. COURAGE. lhvaltv,
and good citizenship. The homely vir.
tues are, the lasting virtues. and the road
which, leads TO them is the road to gen.
uint and, lasting success. -A
What this country needs IS what every
fres cnnntrv must Get before Il As the
great Roal toward which II works-an
equal joportunity for nte. liberty and tho
pursuit, ~ happiness for every one OF its
Citizens TO achieve this end we must
!put d stop 10 the improper political do
minsop, no iess than to the IMPROPER eco.
nomic dominion, of the great special