The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-06

the question of state as against |
federal jurisdiction. We are ready |
to meet that issue if it is forced upon |
people in such conflicts of jurisdic- |
lions. The essential question is not |
one of hair-Splitting legal technfcalitieS. |
1t is simply this: Who can best regu- |
late the special interests for the pub |
lie good? Most of the predatory cor
porations are interstate or have in
terstate affiliations. Therefore they
are largely out of reach of effective
state control, and fall of necessity
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 be-
cause they believe it to be the least
effective. In the great fight of the
people to drive the special interests
from the domination of our govern
ment, the nation is stronger and its
jurisdiction is more effective than that
of any state. The most effective weap-
on against these great corporations,
most of which are financed and own
ed on the Atlantic coast, will be fed
eral laws and the federal executive.
That is why 1 so strongly oppose the
demand to turn these matters over to
the states. 1t Is fundamentally a de-
mand against the interest of the plain
people, of the people of small means,
against the interest of our children
and our children's children; and it is
! primarily in the interest of the great
corporations which desire to. escape
| all government control.
The Conservation Fight.
One of the difficulties in putting in
to practice the conservation idea is
| that the field to which it applies is
I constantly growing in the nuDliC
mind. 1t has been no slight task to
| bring before 90,000,000 people a
great conception like that of conser-
walton, and convince them that 1t is
right. This much we have accom-
plished. But there remains much to
be cleared up, and many misunder-
| standings to be removed. These mis-
| understandings are due in part at
| least to direct Misrepresentation by
the men to whose interest it is that
conservation should not prosper. For
example, we find it constantly said by
men who should know better, that
temporary Withdrawals such as the
Withdrawals of coal lands, will per-
manently check development. Yet the
fact is that these Withdrawals have
no purpose except to prevent the coal
lands from passing into private own
ership until congress can pass laws
to open them to development under
conditions just alike to the public and
| To IH6 Hl6H WHO VIII QO Tie OCfCiOP-
ing. If there is delay, the response
bility for ii rests, not on the mer
who made the Withdrawals to protect
the public interest, but on those who
: prevent congress from passing wise
legislation, and so putting an end tt
the need for Withdrawals.
Abuses committed in the name Of
a just cause are familiar to all of us
, Many unwise things are done and
many unwise measures are advocat
ed in the name of conservation, either
through ignorance, or by those who's,
; interest lies not in. promoting thu
movement, but in retarding it. Fo
, example, to stop water power devel
, opment by needless refusal to issu
permits for water power or privat
irrigation works on the public land
|, inevitably leads many men, friendl,
to conservation and believers in it
= general principles, to assume that it
\ practical application is necessarily
| check upon progress. Nothing coul
. be more mistaken. The idea, widel
. circulated of late, that conservation
means locking up the natural re
sources for the exclusive use of late
| generations. is wholly mistaken. Gu
S purpose is to make full use of thes
!, resources, but to consider our son
e and daughters as well as ourselves
It Just as a farmer uses his farm in way
: to preserve it's future usefulness. Con
e servation is the road to national ef
r ficiency, and it stands for ample an
t. wise development.
. Marvellous Progress.
v But in spite of these difficultie
i. most of which are doubtless inevi
able in any movement of this kin,
conservation has made marveloI
progress. / have been astounded an
delighted on my return from abroa
% at the progress made while / VIZ
away. We have a right to congratl
late ourselves on this marvellous prof
:, ress; but there is no reason for belize
s. ing that the fight is won. In the b.
ginning the special interests, who a.
a, our chief opponents in the conserv;
1t ton fight paid little heed to the NOV
1 ment, because they neither understood
m it, nor saw that if it won they mu
S. lose. But with the progress of CO.
~ servation in the minds of our peopl
IS the fight is getting sharper. The nea
lie er we approach to victory, the bite
A er the opposition that We must met
lg and the greater the need for cauti,
# and watchfulness. Open opposite
r. we can overcome but 1 warn you G
Dc pecially against the men who come
lie congresses such as this, ostensibly
es disinterested citizens, but actually
1.-The paid agents of the special interes