Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-04-15

tu0t uea9 Uoou IeIA0U 8UOuG 80 muC0
and understood 50 little. Disturbance
in administration circles ensued. The
principal Offenders Garfield, a faith.
full supporter Of. the Roosevelt inchot
policy and ri PE'l n the real
originator, Of the conservation move
ment,, had:to stand aside. Then the
people woke to the subject and
we're generally opposed to do some
thing; though they'*: scarcely knew
what: At this psychological: stage
OF a1a1xs our: governor, with; bis
advisors, ~ conceived the plan and
issued q proclamation, a. call; for this
congress with view to >ite permanent
organization:: The call was heartily
responder to and the organization waa
effected. A resolution was also
! passed recommending the counties to
organize, auxiliary :: associations to
work in harmony with the aims and
purposes of this congress.
The conception Of such an organiza-
tion, with its membership, and
almost unlimited scope of aims and
purposes; was certainly unique; while
the character of the program and
the personnel of the speakers combined
w AAAA3AV ~. q pk30AOAA0Ao4 0SAOC0S9s IL
Is not the! purpose of this article to
detract in the least from its educatlve
value. But when the whole affair is
reviewed as the flush of the fattery
subsidies, there are features dis
cernible, that, If once seen, would
materially check the wave of
enthusiasm with which it was re-
ceived.
Clifford Plnchot, in a letter dated
Feb. 4, 1910, replying to a reform
organization that had officially rendered
him its support In his efforts for
conservation, said, Nov that the
lines are being clearly drawn between
the special interests and the rest of as
in the fight for conservation and the
square deal, we shall win, for the
people are on our side. What has
happened to me is OF no consequence
except as it will help us to win. -
Speaking bsfore the Ethical society in
New York early in March, he said
The. battle is between special
privilege and equal opportunity and
The hight grows more bitter every
day." 60:
These statements indicate what
conservation means to him and also
to the plain thinking, manual labor
class OF the country, including tillers Of
the soil, as we'll as to an increasing
number in higher social position who
are concerned for the we'll being of the
nation and the preservation of our
republican institutions of govern
ment. But was there any hint from
the speeches made and papers read at
this congress that the Conservation
movement involved such an attitude
of interests? Does Its almost un.
limited scope of aims and purposes
include the support and promotion of
this increasing demand for equal
opportunity which constitutes the
only ''square deal necessary or
properly within the function of
government to dispense? Look 1t up.
The policy of the special privileged
interests has never been to openly
demand what they really want. As q
matter of fact. they never appear to
really want anything for themselves
their wants are all for the good of
the other fellow. Neither is it their
policy to resist an awakened public.
We're they to stand out by themselves
against any important public interest
they would soon be spotted and their
game stopped. But as soon as they
recognized set current of public
opinion liable to conflict with their
privileges they very Internationally get
into the swim, become very solicitous
for the cause, giving valuable, time
and money in aid thereof. All for
what? TO sidetrack the movement,
if possible, to their own ultimate
profits: -. -
Now consider the conservation move.
ment. President Taft, on the one
hand IS bound by campaign promises
to carry out what is called 1.-The Roose-
velt policies which includes this; on
the other, he is under obligations ia
Big Business or campaign support,
equally as binding, to see that their
interests are not lmperriled. What
can he do? From his speeches he
doesn't expect to accomplish much.
He has formally withdrawn certain
lands from public entry, but before
congress will enact legislation sustain.
ing it, he expects litigation at great
expense of money and in this easel
principally of time, until the public
get tired of waiting for the decision:
And then WHAT
And now comes our Minnesota State
Conservation and Agricultural De.
velopment congress to help along the
movement. In the membership it is
assumed that farmers are to be largely
in the majority so that any faction
determined upon would naturally
represent the judgment of the
farmers who are now such an i'm.