The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-09-09

expression Is used by these same
men. means conservation so carefully
sterllized that IL will do the special
Interests no harm, and the people no
good.
Special Interests Power.
when the conservation movement
began to tell II deve,oped without
delay that the one great obstacle to
practical progress lay in the political
power OF the special Interests. Every
effort 10 conserve any natural re-
source for the general welfare was
met by the legislative agents OF the
men who wanted TO exploit Il for
their private profit The effort to
get things done In conservation
taught US clearly. unmistakably. and
with little delay. that ~ long as the
political domination of the great
business Interests eudures. their cor
rupt control OF legislation will carry
with i the monopollstic control OF
the natural resources also. This II
what We face today in the effort TO
apply conservation.
The fundamental principles OF
conservation are few and simple. One
OF the first ~ that the natural re.
sources and natural advantages be-
long to all the people. and should be
developed. protected and perpetuated
directly for the benefit OF all the peo-
pie. and pct mainly for the profit OF
few.
Another e that the natural re-
sources sii,l owned by the people
which are necessarles OF lie. like
coal and water power. should remain
in public ownership and should be
disposed OF only under lease for I'm
tied periodic, and with fair compens-
alton to the public for the rights
granted.
As 10 Our Waters.
| q. Every stream should be made
useful for every purpose in which II
can be made TO serve the public The
preparation Of a broad plan Is needed
without delay for the development of
our waterways for navigation. domes
tic supply, irrigation. drainage and
1ower.
80 Every power site now In state
or federal control should be held 50
and should be disposed OF only under
ease for a limited time and with fair
Compensation TO the public.
As Ia lands.
81 Every acre OF land should be
put to whatever use viii make II
most useful 20 all the people.
20 The fundamental object OF our
land policy should be the making and
maintenance Of permanent pros
porous homes Land monopoly and
excessive holdings must not be toll
Grated.
80. Settlement must be enoour-
aged by every legitimate means on
all land that will support homes.
Thus the tillable land ia public own
ership within and without the ma
tional forests should be disposed OF
In fee simple to actual home makers.
but not TO spectators.
"a. The first and most needy
thing to do for our cultivated lands
Is to preserve their fertility by pre-
venting erosion.
-. The non-irrigable arid public
grazing lands should be administered
by the government In the interest OF
the small stockman and the home
maker until they can pass directly in
to the hands OF actual settlers.
&c. Rights to the surface OF the
pubic land should be separated from
rights TO the forests upon II. and the
minerals beneath Il. and each should
be held subject to separate disposal.
The timber and stone act should be
repealed.
States Too weak.
While | do not believe that the
state alone can carry out the conser-
walton program in the face of inter
slate attacks upon II, DO not fall to
recognize the great and useful part
winch the states must pay In this
great movement for the permanent
welfare OF all our people. Also, ! APP
preclate that in much OF the work
ahead co. operation between the states
ana the nation Is an essential condi-
ton OF success. But when | see the
special interests attempting TO take
lrelnge behind the doctrine OF states
rixhfs I.far..,....,. :. 1890. a. .....I