The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-09-15

GeCtsfcs in7t FROM Beginning
World the Preaching Of Rishteou
ness Has Been Opposed by Thos
Whose Particular Privilege Hs
Been Attacked-Fundamental Pdr
ciples OF the Idea Few and simpi.
ST. Paul, Sept. 9-The principa
speech Of the last days session o
the National Conservation congress
vas made BY Clifford Pinchot. depose,
chief forester. His subject was tn,
Conservation Programme" and b,
said. in part:
Like nearly every great reform con
s~ervation first passed through a period
OF agitation and general approval Dur
ing this period it met with little oppo.
sition. for as yet ii interfered with no
mans private profit. From the be.
ginning OF the world the preaching OF
righteousness in general terms has
been contemplated with entire equa-
nimity by the men who rise In VIC
lent protest the moment their own
particular privilege, graft or advan.
tage, m practically into question.
That protest marks the second phase
OF the reform.
Within the last two years conserva.
ton has passed out OF the realms OF
an un~impeachable general principle
into that OF a practical fighting at.
tempt 10 get things done. 1t has be-
u TO step on the toes Of the bene.
hciaries and the prospective beneficial
ries OF unjust privilege and the result.
ing opposition, considering the quar-.
tiers whence II comes, is one OF the
best OF proofs that conservation Is a
live movement for the general good.
Special interests Fight Idea.
When b conservation movement
began to tell 1t developed without de-.
lay that the one great obstacle to
practical progress lay in the political
power OF the special interests. Every
effort 10 conserve any natural resource
the general welfare was met by
the legislative agents Of the men who
10 exploit It for their private
The efforts TO get things tone
Ia conservation taught as clearly. I'm
and with little delay that
10 long as the political domination OF
he great business interests endures
heir corrupt control OF legislation will
;arry with IL the monopolistic control
II the natural resources also. This f.
shat we face today ia the effort TO
.pply conservation.
The fundamental principles OF con-
are few and simple. One or
hrst Is this-that the natural re-
ources n natural advantages belong
o all the people and should be de.
.e'0pef, protected and perpetuated di.
ectly for the benefit of all the people.
nd not mainly for the profit of a few.
Another Is that the natural re.
edrces stu owned by the people
Inch are necesgaries Of life, like coal
&c water power, should remain in
oSheTship and should be dis.
Ss@G % only under lease for limited
ssIa1s and Nth fair compensation to :
sssslle for The rights granted.
"a 70 Our Waters. ,
FssW-ErerY stream should be made
tsf every purpose in which IL
~ is slats 10 ssrre TIC public. The
's1afalI9I ~ a ttQ&9 plan IA needed q
'sintr assey t0r iEe Development OF
waterways fgr navigation, domes.
9 svj1a7s Arf2gstb0n. drainage and .
.
se'erzS-Ersry Dower site IN state :
: federal control should De held &c .
x sa1ssSe Se euD0sed u only under :
as& tof . limited time and with fair I,
~ the public. ;
Easfe-in the Development OF our :
.sssrSsyE the cooperation Of the J
sis% sith the nation Ia essential for !
" general welfare. :
As 10 Our Forests. :
Firgt-Ali forests necessary for tho ,
skAic welfare should be in the public
sEe7ship, such as the national for 9
We already In existence, the proposed +,
and White Mountain ma T,
9a&l forests and the state forests OF :
ss York. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin ,
~ other stated. .
SseoBd-The protection OF forest, ,
IRE Is the first duty in forestry ,
states and nation alike. The way /,
step fires Ii to get men to them as :
>ox ~ they begin. The maintenance ,
~ extension of forest fire patrol by ,
y sstlon, the states and their sub. ,
Hy1ssgns, and by associations or pri. ,
~ citizens who own timber lands. IA ,
esSgNtsiy necessary. :
TkifA--The protection Of existing
sesfs ~ wise use Is the first step
fefestry. R~eforestation is the sec
w. I
FssFfk~-Land bearing forests should ,
] taseA annually on the land value
aRe and the timber crop should be {
xsd when II II cut, so that private I
sestFy mAy be encouraged.
fvtths The private ownership of for.
4 iaad IL : public trust and the peo-
! have hath the right and the duty
saguiAts the . Of such lands In
q ssAeFai INTEREST.
~ 70 Our Lands.