The Ordway new era., 1910-09-09
de resources for the people II fun Of
hope for US all.
State and Federal Control.

State and Federal Control
But while we Of the United stahes ars
anxious I believe we are able, to be
Of assistance to others. there are prob
lens OF our own which we must not over.
look. One OF the most important con-
servation questions of the moment relates
to the control OF water power monopolv
in the public interest. There Ia apparent
to the tudicious observer a distinct ten
dency on the part OF our opponents to
cloud the issue by raising the question OF
state as against federal Jurisdiction. We
are ready to meet that issue II II Is forced
upon Us. But there IL no hope for tho
plain people in such conflicts Of jur1sdic.
tion. The essential question IL not one
OF hair-splittinR legal technicalities. 1t IL
simply this: Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public good?
Most of the predatory corporations are
interstate or have interstate afiiliations
Therefore they are largely out OF reach Of
effective state control. and fall Of neces-
sity within tho federal Jurisdiction. One
Of tho prime objects OF those among them
that are Erasping and greedy 10 to avoid
any effective control either by state or
nation: and they advocate at this time
state control simply because they believe
II to be tho least effective. In the great
night Of the people to drive tho special
interests from the domination OF our gov
ernment. tho nation IL stronger and its
Jurisdiction IL more effective than that Of
any state. The most effective weapon
against these great corporations. most Of
which are financed and owned on the At
lantic coast. will be federal laws and the
federal executive. That IL why 10
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. 1t IL fundA-
mentally a demand against tho interest
Of the plain people. OF the people Of small
means. against the interest of our chill
dren and our children's children: and II
II primarily in the interest of the great
corporations which desire TO escape all
government control.
The Conservation Flight.
On of the dimculties in putting into
practise tho conservation idea In that tho
held to which II applies II constantly
growing in the public mind. It has been
no slight task to bring before 100. 900 peo-
servation. and convince them that Hs>
right This much we have accom-
plished. But there remains much to be
cleared up. and many Observation-Disclosures
to be removed. These Misunderstanding
are due in part At least to direct mis-
interest It is that conservation should not
prosper. For example. va flnd II con-
stantly said by mon who should know
better that temporary wthdrawals.
such as the Withdrawals Of coal lands.
will permanently check development: Yet
the fact 10 that these Withdrawals have
no purpose except TO prevent the coal
lands from passing into private owner
ship untfl conRress can pass laws to open
them to development under conditions
Just alike to the public and to the men
who will DO the developing. II there 10
delay, the responsibility for II rests. not
on the men who made the Withdrawals to
protect tho public interest but on those
who prevent congress- from passing wise
legislation. and no putting an end to the
need for w1thdrawals.
Abuses committed in the name OF inst
cause are familiar to all Of US. Many
unwise things are done and many unwise
measures are advocated in the name OK
conservation. either through Ignorance.
or by those whose interest lies not In pro
noting the movement. but in refard'ng It.
For example. to stop water power devei-
opment by needless refusal TO issue per-
mits for water power or private irrigation
works on the public lands inevitably leads
many mon. friendly to conservation and
believers in Its general principles. to A.
sumo that its practical application is nee
essariiy a check upon proRress. Nothing
could be more mistaken. The idea. widely
circulated Of late. that conservation means
locking UP Of the natural resources for the
exclusive Use Of future generations. 10
wholly mistaken. Our purpose n to make
full use Of these resources. but to cons1d-
er our sons and dauehters a. well A. our
selves: Just rs a farmer uses his farfh
in ways to preserve its future usefulnese-
Conservation is the road to national ef-
fciency. and II stands for ample and wise
development.
But In spite Of these dif1culties. most
of which are doubtless Inevitable in any
movement OF this kind. conservation has
made marvellous progress. have bean
n.tounded and aerehted on my return
from abroad ~ 'he proPre-s made while
was awav We ha-" n r'cht to conerntu-
late ourselves on this marvellous proSress:
hut there - no reason for believing thnS
tAe o-ht Ia won. In the beginning the
roccial intcrrc'-. -'No arc o,ir chief oppo-
rer.s IN tive cN-----..~''-.' "~"t paid litfle
%.oS to .hc novemert because thew nei-
'-"r understood ". nor saw that II II won
they must losc. Rut with the progress OF
con.~r~,t'on IN N" minds Of our people
the fight Is getting sharper. The nearer
We an,roach to victory. the h'tterer tho
opposition that We must meet. and the
rro,.nr tho need for caution and watch
f,,lrnss Omen opposition we ran over
corr. but I warn you especially against
tho men who come to con1resses such a0
this, ostc,.'blv a. dis'nt"rested citizens.
but nctun,lv as the paid agents Of the
s,cc'nI interests. 7 heartily Improve the
attitu6" of INV CORPORATION. Interested In
tho deliberations of n meeting such A.
tbs which comes h'ther to advocate. by
It's or"nlv accredited agents. views which
II believes the meeting should have in
mind. But condemn with equal readi-
moss the appearance" Of a cornorate agent
before any convention who does not de-
clare himself frankly as such.
THIS congress Is direct appeal to tn"
patriotism Of our whole people. The
,nt,on wisely looks to such gatheringf
ror counsel and leadership. Let tha'
leadership he sound. definite. practical
and IN the side OF all the people. I,
would he no small misfortune II a meeting
such as this should ever fall into the
hnnds Of the open enemies or false friends
Of the great movement which It repre-
scnts.
It Ia our duty and our desire te make
this land of ours a better home for the
race. but our duty does not stop there.
We must also work for n better nation to
live in this better land. Tho development
and conservation Of our national charac-
acter and our free institutions must 20