The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-08


business-follow methods which in pri-
vate affairs bring those responsible be-
fore the bar of justice?
We as a nation take just pride in our
business successes-we attribute them
to the brains we put into our work-to
the thoroughness with which we study
what we do and what others have done
that we may profit by experience.
1 have frequently been asked by
those who know our system of getting
over the country feel in regard to con-
servation; are they in favor of it in all
its aspects, or do they seem to be in
terested only in certain features?"
AS that is a question that has direct
bearing on the business of the country
we naturally had made careful inquiry
regarding it, and we had learned that
the majority of the people do not un-
derstand enough about 1t to hold any
real opinion. They have no adequate
idea what conservation means as ap-
piled, for instance, by this organization
to our natural resources.
Object of Conservation.
In spite of exhaustive reports issued
by the departments-in spite of
scholarly and illuminative articles on
the subject. the people generally do not
yet understand the real object of con-
servation. A busy people in trade do
not have time to read government re-
pOTLS Vi lOl1S SPCCSAACS OAA eAAAy O0OJO~S'
and of course no one can do justice to
even one element of this great subject
in a short article.
The net result is therefore that there
is no general understanding of even
the A. B. c of conservation-such as
should be given to the people-such as
they would be glad to have, and such
as they must have before there is war
rant for feeling that the foundation
stones of conservation are so firmly
grounded that no transitory wave of
agitation sunimportant details can be
successfully used to dislodge them.
The majority have not yet grasped
the idea that one of the prime objects
of this conservation movement is To
preserve fertility and productiveness
of the soil, on which we all depeno Ior
our food supply.
They are not aware that already in
many parts of this country. where
formerly any man who rented farm
lands was entirely free to use them
with indifference to their future. he Is
now required by the owners to enter
into a. written contract which provides
lust how the land is to be cultivated
how the crops are to be rotated, and
fertilizers used. The owners of these
lands today require their tenants to
practice conservation.
When this nation of business people
understands that conservation is sim
plv another term for business manage
ment of the peoples capital. the pres
sure of public opinion will be SO strong
behind this movement as to brook no
interference or delay in the passage
and enforcement of the laws needed
to begin at once a business admins
tration.
HOW to spread more widely cor
rect understanding of such facts is to-
day a most important problem. How
shall we reach the people who have
a
Droha hilitv will not be reached by any
thing published in the usual way?
I have a suggestion to make which
[ ask YOU to take to the governors VINO
you to attend this congress-
that is. that each one Il mean each
povernor) summon to his capitol, for
consultation, say six of the leading
business men of the state-selecting
those who in their own business nave
by successful use of modern adVer-
tising, demonstrated that they nave
learned from experience how to reach
the individual-how to tell him some
thing they want him to know. Know
ing how to do that is just as much a
matter of education and experlence-
in fact, education from experlence-as
are the methods of the forester or OF
the politician who is a past master
at the game.
Give the people of your state the
benefit of this experience. 1t can pc
had for the asking. The business men
can be depended on to help whenever
called l1pon. They will be particularly
ready in this matter which. in proper
ton as it is successful will make for
good trade and stable business cond1-
tions.
VIII Help Business.
The conservation of our natural re-
sources stands for more stable busi-
ness conditions year after year in that
it tends to reduce the chances of de-
stroying our new wealth-the crops.
just when they seem to be practically
assured.
Ask such a group of successful ad-
vertisers to formulate a scheme of
reaching the public generally with the
kind of information they want. and
should have about conservation. En-
list the cooperation of the army of
commercial travellers within the state
there are no more loyal American
citizens anywhere-none who can do
more in such a campaign-none who
will more gladly lend hand when
once they are advised along proper
conservation of our natural resources
can be in the upbuilding of business
everywhere, and through it. the gen.
eral prosperity of our people.
Ask this business council to formu-
late ways of making known not only
supply, and the Importance of these
facts to every individual man. woman
and child in the nation. but why we
in the United States average 1315
bushels of wheat per acre. instead of
2311 bushels. as they do in Germany,
and 80 $40 bushels in the United
Kingdom of Great Britain; how this is
making homestead lands scarce, and
prices high, because we only get half
the amount of crops we should get
from the land we have under cultiva-
tion, and consequently the supply is
getting less every year in proportion
to the demand. When we find our
production is less to the acre each sue
ceeding year and more mouths to feed,
it is time everybody knew why
Tell them in the simplest and most
direct manner possible what is meant
by the "pork barrel in politics-how
it is being used to retard the proper
development of our natural resources.
and why. therefore. it stands in the
way of the nations progress Let