Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-09-05

will claim the credit for Its adoption.
The problems are Of very great Diff
ticulty and call for the calmest con-
sideration and clearest foresight. Many
of the questions presented have phases
that are new in this country, and 1t
is possible that In their solution we
may have to attempt first one way and
then another. What I wish to empha-
size, however is that a satisfactory
conclusion can only be reached
promptly If we avoid acrimony, impu-
tations of bad faith, and political con-
troversy.
Public Domain Large.
"The public domain Of the govern
ment Of the United States, including
all the cessions from those of the thir-
teen states that made cessions to the
United States and including Alaske.,
amounted in all to about 1900 100000
acres. OF this there is left as purely
government property outside of Alaska
something like 700,Oo0.ooo of acres. OF
this the national forest reserves in the
United States proper embrace 144,000,-
900 acres. The rest is largely noun
tain or arid country, offering some OPP
portunity for agriculture by dry farm
ing and by reclamation, and contain
ing metals as well as coal, phosphates.
oils, and natural gas. Then the gov
ern1nent owns many tracts of land
lying along the margins of streams that
have water power, the use Of which is
necessary in the conversion of the pow
er into electricity and its transmission.
II shall divide divide my discussion
under the heads of % agricultural
lands: (s) mineral lands-that is,
lands containing metalliferous miner
ais; (3) forest lands; (D coal lands;
(5) oil and gas lands; and (6) phos-
phate lands.
1.-THE president at this point devoted
much time to statistics and history.]
Time For Action, Not Talk.
"At the risk Of wearying my audi
ence have attempted to state as sue
cinctly as may be the questions Of
conservation as they apply to the pub
lie domain of the governm ent. the con-
ditions to which they apply. and the
proposed solution Of them. In the out
set alluded to the fact that conser-
walton had been made to include a
great deal more than have discussed
here. OF course, as I have referred
only to the public domain of the fed
eral government have left untouched
the wide field Of conservation with re-
spect to which a heavy responsibility
rests upon the states and individuals
as we'll. But think it Of the utmost
Importance that after the public atten-
tion has been reused to the necessity OF
change in our general policy to pre-
vent waste and a selfish appropriation
to private and corporate purposes Of
what should be controlled for the pub
lie benefit those who urge conservation
shall feel the necessity Of making clear
how conservation can be practically
carried out, and shall propose specific
methods and legal provisions and reg
ulations to remedy actual adverse con-
ditions l am bound to say that the
time has come for a halt in general
rhapsodies over conservation, making
the word mean every known good in
the world; for, after the public atten-
ton has been reused, such appeals are
Of doubtful utility and do not direct
the public to the specific course that
the people should take or have their
legislators take, in order to prom
the cause of conservation. The rous-
ing Of emotions on a subject like this.
which has only dim outlines in the
minds of the people affected, after
while ceases to be useful. and the
whole movement will. If promoted on
these lines, die for want of practical
direction and of demonstration to the
people that practical reforms are In
tended"
The president got most demonstra.
tive welcome at the conservation con-
gress and when he arose to speak was
enthusiastically cheered.
RooseveIe's Name cheered.
The presidents first mention OF
Roosevelt called out a demonstration
which lasted about as long as the one
in greeting him. While it continued
the president took off his reading
glasses and smiled good naturedly.
Taft was constantly interrupted by
cheering.
Leaving the conservation congress.
the president was escorted to the st.
Paul hotel, where he was entertained at
luncheon. The president will make an
address at the fair grounds at 1870 p.
M, and after spending the late after
noon in Minneapolis, will leave for
Beverly at s:15.
His Most Telling Speech.
The speech Of President Taft, de-
manding detailed statements for or
against conservation Of natural re-
sources rather than glittering general
tiles calculated to stir public opinion
without pointing the way, was the fea-
ture of the national conservation con-
gress today. The president was said by
those who are with him on his present
trip to have made his most telling
speech. He was applauded without
reference to faction.