The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1910-09-09

triotio duty CATS upon us. We owe II to
ourselves and to them to give the Ameri-
can republics all the help we can. The
no less instructive than the cases in
which we have succeeded With prompt
action and good will the task OF saving
the resources for the people 10 full of
hope for us all.
State and Federal Control.
But while we of the United States are
| anxious, as I believe We 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 monopoly
| In the public interest. There is apparent
to the judicious observer 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 Is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts OF jurisdic-
tion. The essential question is not ono
OF hair-splitting legal technicallties. 1t is
simply this: Who can best regulate the
special interests for the public good?
Most of the predatory corporations are
Interstate or have Interstate affiliations.
Therefore they IRE largely out OF reach OF
effective state control. and fall of neces-
sity within the federal Jurisdiction. Ono
| of the prime objects OF those among them
that are grnsp!nE and greedy Is to avoid
my effective control either by state or
nation: and they advocate at this time
state control simply because 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 gov
eminent, the nation Is stronger and Its
Jurisdiction is more effective than that of
any state. The most effective weapon
against these great corporations. most OF
l A
lantic coast will be federal laws and tho
federal executive. That is why so
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. 1t Is fundn-
mentally a demand against the interest
OF the plain people. OF the people of small
means. against the interest of our chill
dren 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.
On OF the difficulties in putting into
practise the conservation Idea Is that tho
field to which It applies Is constantly
growing in the public mind. 1t has been
no slight task to bring before 100 600 peo-
pie n great conception like that of con-
sorvation. and convince them that 1t Is
right. This much we have accom-
plshed. But there remains much to he
cleared Up. and rnanv nisunderstandings
are due in part at lenst to direct ms
representation by the men to whose
Interest II Is that conservation should not
prosner. For example. We find It con-
stantly said by men who should know
better that t~mpornry Withdrawals.
such rs the Withdrawals of coal lands.
will permanently check deralopment. Yet
the fact IL that these Withdrawals nave
No PURPOSE eScnpt to prevent the coal
lands from passing into private owner
rtt
them to development under conditions
just attic to the public and to the men
who will do the DEVELOPING.
Abuses committed in tho name of n fust
carsa are familiar to MI ot us. N',y
unw'se things are done and many unw'se
measures are advocated in the name OF
conservation. either through Ignorance,
or nv those whose interest lies not In pro-
noting tho movement. but In retard'nr 't-
For exnrrp'e. to stop water power dev"l-
opment by needless refusal to issue per-
mIts for water power or private irrigation
WORKS on the pub''c lands Inevitably LEAFS
many men. friendly TO conservation and
believers in its general PRINCIPLES. to as
sumo that Its practical app''caton IL noe
es.ar'Iv a check upon PROGRESS. Nothing
could be more mistaken. The Idea, widely
circulated of late. that conservation means
lnrr'ne up of the natural resources for tho
exclusive use of future generations. IS
wholly mistaken. Our purpose II to nare
frll use of these resources but to consid-
or our sons and dnughters as well rs our
selves: lust as a farmer uses bis farm
In wavs to preserve Its future usetulness-
Conservation Is the rond to national eff
rc'e,cv and II stands for ample and wis'
DEVELOPMENT
But in spite of these difficulties. most
of which are doubtless Inevitable In any
movement Of this kind conservation has
made marvellous PROGRESS. I have been
pstounfcd and del'chtpd on my return
from abroad Mt the progress made white
was awav We have a r'Cht to con"-atu-
late ourselves on this marvellous progress:
hut there is no reason for believing th't
the n-ht Is won. In the beginning tho
snec,,l interests who are our chief op,o-
rerts IN TIE conservation N-ht. paid h'''e
heed to the movement, because they nell
tier understood n nor saw that " II Won
they must lose But with the progress ot
rorsary-a ton In the minds of our peHDle
the fcNt Is getting sharper. Th" nearer
we arprnach to victory. the h'tterer f"e
opposition that we must meet, and the
rroa-er tn" need for caution and watch
fu,oosa Omen opposition ran over
come. but warn YOU especially against
the mon who come tn rono-essas su"h os
this ostere'blv dls'nterAsted citizens.
hut actually ps the paid agents of no
spac'a' interests I henrt'ly nnprove mo
attitude ~ anv CORPORATION. Interested in
the deliberations Of n meeting such
ths which comes h'ther to advocate. nv
It's oronlv accredited AGENTS. v'ews which
II believes the Meeting should have n
MIND But I condemn with EQUAL read'-
noes the appearance Of a cnrn'rate ag"rt
before anv convention who does not de-
clare hirrs frankly as such.
THIS congress is direct apeal to no
patriotism Of our whole people. Tire
nation wisely looks to such GATHERINGS
for counsel and Leadership. Let tNot
leadership he sound, definite, prac''~-l.
and on the side of all the people- t
would be M small misfortune y a n'"''7s
such ms this should ever fall into 'he
hands OF the open enemies or false friends
Of the great movement which 1t repre-
sents.
It is our duty and our desire to maize
this land OF ours better home for tho
race but our duty does not stop there.
We must also work for a b.tter nation to
live in this better land. The development
and conservation of our national charac-
acter and our free institutions must co
hand n hand with the development and
conservation of our natural resources.
which the governors conference so we'll
called the foundations of our prosperity.
whatever progress NAV make
nation. whatever wealth We may accu-
r,ulate. however far may push me-
chanical DEVELOPMENT and production.
shall never reach n point where our well
fare ran depend in the last ANALYSIS on