Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-06
Roosevelt Hero of the Ma
tionaI Conservation
Congress.
IDEAS AGAIN GIVEN
Reiterates Argument Against
Permitting Waste Under
Corporate Control.

- dul, MILL, 0SpL o. LIS 10
Roosevelt day in the twi-cities. Roose-
selt arrived in Minneapolis at this
morning and after taking breakfast,
was escorted to ST. Paul, where he was
scheduled to make two addresses, one
before the National Conservation con-
gress In the morning and one at the
state fair this afternoon. The party,
escorted by the st. Paul battery of the
national guard, passed through crowds
Of cheering people to the state capitol.
Sees Original Roosevelt Club.
At the capitol Roosevelt was met by
the Original Roosevelt club and Span
ish War veterans, who escorted him
to st. Paul hotel, where Roosevelt had
a short reception for members of the
club, which bears his name. After a
brief rest, Roosevelt, with the same
escort, proceeded to the auditorium to
deliver his address before the conser-
vation congress.
Hall is Filled.
st. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 6.-The con-
servation congress reconvened in the
Auditorium at 1920. The hall was fill
ed to its limit. Pending Roosevelt's ar
rival reports of committees were call
ed for.
Roosevelt's speech was received with
the widest applause. 1t was several
minutes after he arose to speak before
ne could make himself heard so per-
sistent did the throng cheer him.
Roosevelt in his speech declared the
reckless and uncontrolled waste of the
past must be stopped. He declared
himself in favor OF rigid steps to pre-
serve the country's natural resources
for the benefit Of the whole people, and
to check the power of monopolistic
corporations. A complimentary refer
ence to President Taft was received
with cheer
Stirs 'Em Up Again.
When Roosevelt came to that part
of his speech referring to the national
conservation commission he told of the
introduction into the house "by con-
gressman from Minnesota of an
amendment to the civil service bill
which, he said. was designed to end
the work of the commission. His re-
cital of this story threw the crowd into
an uproar A man in the balcony
shouted: Now, what do you think of
Tawney?"
Would Have Ignored Law.
The colonel went on to say that the
matter came up just at the close of his
term. If he had remained president,
he said, he would have paid no atten-
ton to this provision of the law, be-
cause he believed it to be unconstitu-
tional. This declaration was applaud
ed loudly.
The ex-president said: Americas rep
utation for efficiency stands deservedly
nigh throLs--~,-, We are
efficient 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 reason to believe that we cannot
excel our past. Through a practically
lunrestrained 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
gof justice and fair dealing.
But we have not only allowed the in
dividual 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 own advantage.
Cause of Waste.
This devcIopAIent of corporate ac-
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
ly gigantic scale
The method of reckless and uncou-
troned private use and waste has done
for US all the good it ever can. and it
Is time to put an end to ii before it
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 4 new and better way,
by the way Of the orderly development
and use. coupled with the preserva-
stion of our natural resources. by max
ing the most of what we have for the
benefit of all Of Us, instead Of leaving