The Dickinson press., 1910-09-10
LOOK. OUT FOR
TRUST INFLUENCE
This Is Rooseve|t's Warning ID
Speech at St. Paul. .
We ARE RECKLESS sPEnDERs

-
st. Paul, Sept. a-America's reputa.
ton for efficiency stands deservedly
high throughout the world. We are
emcient probably to the full limit that
any nation can attain by the methods
hitherto used. There Is great reason to
be proud of our achievements and yet
no eason to believe that we cannot
excel our past. Through a practically
unrestrained individualism we have
reached a pitch Of literally unexam-
pied material prosperity, although the
distribution Of this prosperity leaves
much to be desired from the standpoint
Of Justice and fair dealing.
But we have not only allowed the in
dividual a free hand, which was In the
main right; we have also allowed great
corporations to act as though they
were individuals and to exercise the
rights of individuals, in addition to
using the vast combined power of
high organization and enormous
wealth for their W advantage.
This development of corporate &C.
ton, it is true, is doubtless in large
part responsible for the gigantic de-
velopment Of our natural resources,
but It is not less responsible for waste,
destruction and monopoly on an equal
~ gigantic scale.
The method. of reckless and uncou-
trolled private use and waste has done
for us all the good it v can, and it
Is time to put an end to it before 1t
does all the evil it easily may. We
have passed the time when needless
waste and destruction and arrogant
monopoly are any longer permissible.
Henceforth we must seek national
efficiency by a new and a better way,
by the way Of the orderly development
and use, coupled with the preserva-
ton Of our natural resources, by max
Ing the most Of what we have for the
benefit Of all Of us, instead of leaving
the sources Of material prosperity open
to indiscriminate exploitation.
These are some Of the reasons why
it Is wise that we should abandon the
old point Of view and why conserva.
ton has become a patriotic duty.
Waterways. (.
One Of the greatest OF our conserva-
ton problems is the wise and prompt
development and use Of the waterways
Of this nation.
The Twin Cities, lying as they do at
the headwaters Of the Mississippi, are
not upon the direct line Of the pro.
posed lakes to the gulf deep waterway.
Yet they are deeply interested in its
prompt completion, as we'll as in the
deepening and regulation Of the Mis-
sissippi to the mouth of the Missouri
and to the gulf.
The project for a great trunk water
way, an arm Of the sea, extending
from the gulf Of Mexico to the great
lakes, should not be abandoned. The
lakes to the gulf deep waterway and
the development Of the rivers which
flow into it should be pushed to COM
pletion vigorously and without delay.
But we must recognize at the outset
that there are certain conditions with
out which the people cannot hope to
derive from 1t the benefits they have
a right to expect.
In nearly every river city from st.
Paul to the gulf the water front is con-
trolled by the railways. Nearly every
artificial waterway in the United
States, either directly or Indirectly, is
under the same control.
1t goes without saying that. unless
the people prevent it in advance the
railways will attempt to take control
Of u waterways as fast as they are
improved and completed, nor would I
blame them If we, the people, are su-
pine in the matter.
We must see to it that adequate
terminals are provided in every city
and town on every improved water
/ way, terminals open under reasonable
conditions to the use Of every citizen
and rigidly protected against monopo.
~. And we must compel the railways
to cooperate with the waterways con-
~AuOO0AyS SASStAVCAy anu uuuCI l00'
sonable conditions.
Unless we do so the railway lines
will refuse to deliver freight to the
boat lines, either openly or by impos-
ing prohibitory conditions, and the wa
terways once improved will do com.
~paratlvely little for the benefit Of the
people who pay the bill.
The National Forests. fs
The people Of the United States be-
lieve in the complete and rounded de
velopment Of inland waterways for all
the useful purposes they can be made
to serve. They believe also in forest
protection and forest extension.
The fight for our national forests In
the west has been won. After a cam.
paign in which the women Of Min.
nesota did work which should secure
to them the perpetual gratitude OF their
state Minnesota won her national for
est and will keep 1t, but the fight to
create the southern Appalachian and
White mountain forests in the east q