El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-08

by the special interests. safe ana
sane conservation, as that expression
is used by these same men, means con
servation so carefully sterilized that
II will do the special interests no harm
and the people no good
Power of the Interests
When the conservation movement
began to tell, it developed without de-
Law that the one great obstacle TO
nractical progress lay in the political
power of the special interests Every
effort TO conserve any natural resource
for the general welfare was met py
the legislative agents of the men VINO
wanted to exploit II for their private
profit The effort to get things done
In conservation taught us clearly, uh-
nistakably. and with little delay lhat
DO long as the political domination OF
the great business interests endures'
their corrupt control of legislation Will
carry with it the monopolistic control
Of the natural resources also rms Is
what we face today in the effort TO
apply conservation
The fundamental principles or con-
servation are few and simple. One OF
the first is that the natural resources
and natural advantages belong TO all
the people and should be developed
protected. and perpetuated directly Tor
the benefit OF all the people, and not
mainly for the profit of a few.
Another is that the natural re
sources still owned by the people
which are necsesaries of life, like coal
and water power, should remain in
public ownership and should be dis
posed of only under lease for limited
periods and with fair compensation
20 the public for the rights granted
Ownership of Forests.
"AlI forests necessary for the public
welfare should be in the public own
ership. such as the national 1oresCs
already In existence, the proposed APP
palachian and White mountain ma
tional forests. and the state forests OF
New York Pennsylvanis Wisconsin,
and other states.
aTbe protection of forests against
fire is the first duty in forestry Oh
states and nation alike. The way u
stop fires is to get men 70 Inem a
soon as they begin. The maintenance
and extension of forest fire patrol by
the ration the states and their SUP
divisions. and by associations or pr
vate citizens who own timber 4anos' Is
absolutely necessary.
Land bearing forests should be
+axed annually on the land = value
alone. and the timber crop should be
taxed when 1t is cut. so that private
forestry may be encouraged
sThe private ownership OF foreS'
land is a public trust, and the people
have both the right and the duty to
regulate the use of such lands In the
general interest.
Use of Land.
Every acre of land should be put &c
whatever use will make 1t NOSE usetu
to all the people
81 object ldnC
nolicv should be the making and main
+enance Of permanent prosperous
homes. Land monopoly and excessive
holdings must not be tolerated
settlement must be encouraged by
every legitimate means on all land that
will support homes. Thus the ulaole
land in public ownership within and
without the national forests shoulo De
disposed Of in fee simple TO actua
hornemakers, but not to spectators
The first and most needy thing &c
do for our cultivated lands is TO pre-
serve their fertility by preventing ero-
sion
Rights 10 the surface Of the public
land should be separated from rights
10 the forests upon it, and the min
erals beneath 1t. and each should o'
held subject to separate disposal
Mineral Rights.
Mineral lands still TeIhdl hlhS II
government ownership should not o.
sold hut should be leased upon term.
favorable for their development up Il
the full requirements of our people
Until legislation to this effect can 81
enacted. temporary Withdrawals O
uand containing COAL oil, gas, and
phosphate rock are required IN oroei
70 nrevent speculation and monopoly.
"A national health service is needed
~ act in cooperation with similar
agencies within the states for the pur
nose of lengthening life, decreasing
suffering. and promoting vigor an'
efficiency Of our people.
I'm the effort to conserve our nat
ural resources. we recognize that com
binations against the public welfar
which extend beyond state lines, cal
be met effectively only by agencie
equally capable Of operating across
such boundaries
while 1 do not believe that the state