Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1910-11-03
the resources for the people h fun q
hope for us all.
State and Federal Control.

the resources for the people h fun q
hope for us all.
State and Federal Control.
But while we of the United States are
anxious, as l believe we able, TO be
OF 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
TO the control of water power monopoly
In the public interest. There is apparent
TO the Judicious observer a distinct ten
dcncy 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 If it is forced
upon us. But there Is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts of jurisdic-
ton. The essential question is not one
, Of hair-spltting 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 ont OF reach Of
effective state control and fall Of neces-
sity within the federal jurisdiction. One
Of tho prime objects Of those among them
! that are graspng 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
fight OF the people to drive the special
interests from the domination OF our gov
eminent, the nation Is stronger and its
Jurisdiction is more effective than that or
any state. The most effective weapon
against these great corporations. most or
which are financed and owned on the At
lartic coast will be federal laws and tho
federal executive. That is why ] so
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. 1t Is funda-
mentally n demand against the interest,"
~ the plain people of the people OF small
means, against tho interest of our chill
dren and our chidrens children and IL
IS primarily in the interest of the great
corporations which desire TO escape all
government control.
The Conservation Fight.
On Of tho difficulties in putting into
practise the conservation idea Is that the
field to which 1t applies is constantly
growing in the public mind. II has been
no slight task TO bring before 100000 peo-
ple n great conception like that of con-
servation, and convince them that 1t Is
right This much we have accom-
, plished But there remains much to be
cleared up. and many Observation-Disclosures
TO he removed. These misunderS Indings
are due in part at least to dire t mis-
representation by the men to whose
interest It is that conservation should not
p-osper. For example. we md II 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 is that these Withdrawals have
! no purpose except to prevent the coal
/ lands from passing into private owner
7 shin until congress can pass laws to open
/ them 10 DEVELOPMENT under conditions
| ,ust alike to the public and to the men
who will DO the developing. 1f there Is
| delav the responsibility for II rests. not
I IN the men who made the Withdrawals 70
/ nrotect the public interest. but on those
who prevent congress from passing wise
! legislation. and So putting an end TO the
| need for Withdrawals.
| Abuses committed IN the name Of lust
! cause are familiar to all Of us. Many
unwise things are done and many unwise
! measures are advocated In the name or
| conservation either through ignorance,
/ or by those whose interest lies not In pro-
notipc the movement, but in retarding II.
| For example to stop water power deNel-
! onment by needless refusal to Issue per-
rnits for water power or private irrigation
| works on the public lands inevitably LEADS
many men, friendly 10 conservation ana
| believers In Its general principles, TO as
| sumo that its practical appncat~n is nee
! eesarily a check upon progress. Nothins
| could be more mistaken. The idea, widely
! circulated Of late. that conservation means
| locking up Of the natural resources Tor tne
exclusive use of future generations. ~
wholly mistaken. Our purpose Is 10 MAKE
! full use of these resources. hut N consld-
er our sons and daughters as well as our
selves. lust ms farmer uses his farm
/ IN WAYS to preserve It's future usefulness.
! Conservation Is the road to national ef-
| ecIencv. and II stands for ample and wise
development.
But in spite Of these difficulties. most
! Of which are doubtless inevitable In any
movement OF this kind. conservation has
| made marvellous progress. | have been
astoun6ed and delighted on my return
| from abroad Al the progress made while l
| was away. We have 2 right TO congratu-
| late ourselves on this marvellous progress;
but there is no reason for believing that
| the fight Is won. In the beginning the
| special interests, who are our chief oppo-
nents in the conservation hsht. paid little
| heed to the movement. because they nell
| Their understood II. nor saw that IT IL won
| they must lose. But with the progress OF
| conservation In the minds Of our people
| the fight is getting sharper. The nearer
we approach TO victory. the httterer tne
| opposition that we must meet, and the
| greater the need for caution ana watch-
| fulness Open opposition we can over
come but I warn you especially against
! -
| this. ostensibly as dlsinterested citizens
but actually as the paid agents or the
special interests. 7 heartily approve the
attitude OF any corporation, Interested In
| the deliberations Of a meeting such as
this. which comes hither to advocate. by
| it's openly accredited agents. views which
| II believes the meeting should have In
mind. But condemn with equal readi-
| ness the appearance of a corporate agent
before any convention who does not de-
clare himself frankly as such.
This congress is direct APPEAL to the
patriotism of our whole people. The
| nation wisely looks to such gatherings
| for counsel and leadership. Let that
leadership be sound, definite. practical.
and on the SIDE Of all the people. II
would be no small misfortune II a meeting
such as this should ever fall into the
| hands OF the open enemies or false friends
OF the great movement which 1t repre-
sents.
Tt is our duty and orr desire to make
! this land OF ours n better home for the
race. but our duty does not stop there.
| We must also work for better nation to
| live In this better land. The development
| and conservation OF our national charac-