The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-09-09

can republics all the help we can. The
cases in which we have failed should be
no less instructive han the cases in
which we have succeeded. With prompt
action and o will the task of saving
the resources for the people is full Of
hope for us all. :
State and Federal Control.
But while we of the United States are
anxious, as I believe we are able, to be
of assistance to others, there are prob
lens of our W which we must not over
look. One OF the most important con-
servatfon 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
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 hat issue If 1t is forced
upon us. But there is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts of jurisdic-
ton. The essentiar 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 rave interstate Affiliations.
Therefore they are largely out Of reach Of
effective state control, and fall Of neces-
sity within the federal Jurisdiction. One
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
It to be the least effective. In the great
fight Of the people to driv the special
interests from the domination of our gov
eminent, the 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 nance and owned on the At
lantic coast, will be federal laws and the
federal executive. That is why I so
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters 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 1t
is primarily in the interest of the great
corporations which desire to escape all
government control.
The Conservation Fight.
On of the difficulties in putting into
practise the conservation idea is that the
field to which 1t applies is constantly
growing in the public mind 1t has been
no slight task to bring before 100, 900 peo-
pie a 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 be removed. These MISUNDERSTANDING
are due In part at least to direct mis-
representation by the men to whose
interest 1t is that conservation should not
prosper. For example. we find 1t 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
shin until congress can pass laws to 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 q 1ust
cause are familiar to all Of US. Many
unwise things are done and many unwise
measures are advocated in the name OF
conservation. either through ignorance,
or by those whose interest lies not In pro-
noting the movement, but In retardtng 1t.
For example, to stop water power devel-
opment by needless refusal to issue per-
mits for water power or private irrigation
works on the public lands inevitably leads
many men. friendly to conservation and
believers in its general principles, to as
sumo that It's practical application Is nee
essarily a check upon progress. Nothing
could be more mistaken. The idea, widely
circulated Of late, that conservation means
locking I'D Of the natural resources for the
exclusive use Of future generations. Is
wholly mistaken. Our purpose is to make
full use Of these resources, but to consid-
er our sons and daughters as we'll as our
selves: Just as a farmer uses his farm
in WAYS to preserve it's future usefulness.
Conservation Is the road to national eff
fciencv. 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. I have been
a~stounded and delighted on my 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 is no reason for believing that
the light is won. In the beginning the
special interests, who are our chief oppo-
nents in the conservation fight, paid little
heed to the movement, because they nei-
Their understood It, nor saw that If It won
they must lose. But with the progress Of
conservation in the minds of our people
the fght is getting sharper. The nearer
we approach to victory. the bitterer the
opposition that we must meet, and the
greater the need for caution and watch
fulness. Open opposition we can over
come, but I warn you especially against
the men who come to congresses such as
this. ostensibly as disinterested citizens,
but ~ctually as the paid agents OF the
special interests. I heartily approve the
attitude Of any CORPORATION. interested in
the deliberations of a meeting such as
this, which comes hither to advocate. by
its openly accredited agents. views which
It believes the meeting should have in
mind. But I condemn with equal readi-
ness the appearance Of . corporate agent
before any convention who does not de-
clare himself frankly as such.
This congress Is a 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. It
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.
It is our duty and our desire to make
this land Of ours a better home for the
race, but our duty does not stop there.
We must also work for . better nation to
rive in this better land. Tho development
and conservation Of our national charac-
acter and our free Institutions must 90
hand In rand With the development and
conservation NJ NpYr natural rAaA,,~c>~