Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-10
PRESIDENT ON
CONSERVATION
Says Too Much is Expected
Of Federal Government.
FAVORS STATE RIGHTS.

Mr. Taft, Before National Congress,
Declares For Liberal Interpretation
OF Constitution Of Federal Powers,
But Insists Rights Of States Must
Sc Preserved.
Monday was William II. Taft's day
In ST. Paul. MINI. Ten thousand peo-
pie who heard him speak at the Audi
toriun yelled; 25. 900 more at the state
fair grounds gave their approval by
cheers and the waving OF flags. and
scores Of thousands of others lined the
psvements OF the streets over which,
Mr.. Taft whirled. declared Il. too. in
40 uncertain fashion.
in the hotel Hobbies where the poll.
tcisns congregate the verdict was:
He made a great speech at the con.
servatiou congress-" Some went SO far
as 70 say that IL was the best speech.
the most comprehensive. the most
straight from the shoulder" talk that
he has ever made
The president asserted that thereI
was disposition to look too much tCl
the federal government for everything
and added with emphasis that caused
a profound impression:
i am liberal in the construction oil
the constitution with reference 10 fed.
eral power. but I am firmly convinced
tina, the only safe course for us 20 pur
sue Is 20 hold fast TO the limitations
or the constitution and to guard as sa
cred the powers of the states"
He insisted that the time for rhap
sodies had passed: that those who
urge conservation must feel the ne
Cessity Of making clear how conserva
ton can he practically carried OUT
and must propose specific methods
and legal provisions"
Guard States Rights."
Again as touching on the real con
troversy that Is likely to break out
into bitter fight later in the week
state control OF resources versus ma
tional cOntrol-the president said: "lI
call attention TO the fact that a veryI
important part Of conservation mustI
always fail upon the state legislatures.
and that they would better be up and
doing"
subject on which this controversy
turns az present he took neither side
This came out in his discussion oil
water power sites. The president sell
forth the arguments made for statcI
control of the power sites and the ar
suments for federal control. and them
added
i do not express an opinion uponI
the controversy thus made or a pref
erence as TO the two methods of treat.
ing water power sites. / shall submit
the matter TO congress and urge that
one or the other OF the two plans bel
adopted
References TO former President
Roosevelt We're eagerly looked for and
carefully weighed by the 2O0O dele.
gates sitting in the congress.
Praises Roosevelt Policies.
or the inception of the conservation
work he said:
Theodore Roosevelt took up this
task in the last two years OF his sec.
ond administration. and well did hsI
perform IL. AS president of the Unitedl
states, ] have. as il were. inherited
this policy. and | rejoice in my herit.
age What | can do in the cause n
shall do, not as president of a party.
but as president OF the whole PEG
pie"
Again he said:
When President Roosevelt became
fully advised OF the necessity for the
change In our disposition of publicI
lands he began the exercise of the
power of withdrawal by executive or
der. The precedent he set in this mat
ter was followed by the present ad
rninistration."
Mr. Taft pointed out that he had
obtained from congress at its last ses
sion an act specifically to legalize such
Withdrawals
MIR. TAFT emphasized the fact thatl
real conservation involves wise. non.
wasteful use by the present genera
ton. He said the problem was dificultI
but that the burden is on the present
generation promptly TO solve it and
not to run away from it as towards
lest in the attempt 10 meet IL we may
make some mistake"
PIunqes From 26-storv a.fIdirn \