Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-09-07
ROOSEVELT is FOR
NATIONAL CONTROL
Special interests WORKING
For State Control.
The Ex-President Made
Sharp Thrusts i'm Yes
terday's Speech At
St. Paul.
Especial to Times-Recorder.)

/
st. Paul, Mimi, September 6.-Ex-
President Roosevelt delivered his ad,
dress before tie National Conserya-
tion Congress today. He was recoiv-
ed with the same tumultuous welcome
that has greeted him in his trip
throughout the West, and his utter
ances were frequently interrupted by
| prolonged applause. The speech was
interpreted as distinct demand foy
national control, as opposed to state
] control, and declaration that the
special grabbing interests" were be-
hind tie movement to bring abo,:
state control of the nations undevel-
oped resources. In part the former
president said:
Americas reputation for efficiency
stands deservedly high Throughout the
world. We are efficient probably to
The full limit that any nation can al
tain by the methods hitherto used.
| There is great reason to be proud Of
our achievements, and yet no reason
TO believe that We cannot excel our
past. Through a practically unre
strained indiNdualism, we have reach.
ed pitch of literally unexampled
material prosperity; although he dis
trlbution of this prosperity leaves
much to be desired from the standpoint
OF justice and fair dealing But we
have not only allowed the individual
a free hand, which was in the main
right; we have also allowed great
corporations to act as though they
were individuals, and to exercise the
rights of individuals, in addition to
using the vast combined power of hien
organization and enormous wealth for
their own advantage. This develop
ment of corporate action, it is true, Is
doubtless in large part responsible for
the gigantic development of our mar
ural resources, but it is not less re.
sponsible for waste, destruction, aud
monopoly on an equally gigantic scale.
The method Of reckless and uncon-
trolled private use and waste has dona
for us all the good it ever can, and It
It time to put an end to it before it
does all the evil it easily may. We
Liaye passed the time when needless
waste and destruction, and arrogant
monopoly are any longer permissible
Henceforth We must seek national eff
hclency by new and a better way. by
the way of the orderly development
and use, coupled with the preserva-
ton, OF our natural resources, by
making the most of what we have for
the benefit of all of us, instead of Ieav-
ing the sources of material prosperity
open to indiscriminate exploitation.
These are some of the reasons why it
IS wise tLlat we should abandon tha
old point of view and why conserva~
tlon has become a patriotic duty.
AS a people we have not yet learn
ed to economize. One of the virtues
we Americans most need is thrift. It
IS a mere truism to say that luxury
and extravaganza are not good for a.
nation. So far as they affect character,
the loss they cause may be beyond ali
computation. Bat in the material
sense there is a loss greater than
is caused by bolts extravaganza AMI
luxury put together. | mean the need
less, useless and excessive loss 10
our people from premature death and
ayoidable diseases. Wholly apart from
the grief, the suffering and the wretch
edness which they cause, the material
loss each year has been calculated
at nearly twice what it costs to run
the federal government In addition
to the state and city health officers
and organizations, there is urgentle
needed Federal Bureau of Health.
to act, so far as the National Govern
ment properly may, to relieve our pep
pie from this dreadful burden.
But while we of the United States
are anxious, as [ believe we are able.
to be of assistance to others, there ar.
problems of our own which we must
not overlook. One of the most impor-
tant Conservation questions of the mo-
ment relates to the control of water
power monopoly in the public interest.
There is apparent to the judicious ob-
server a distinct tendency on the part
of our opponents to cloud the issue by
raising the question of state as against
federal jurisdiction. We are ready te
meet that issue If it is forced upon
us. But there is no hope for the
plain people in such conflicts of iuris-
dictions. The essential question IS
not one of hair-splitting legal techni-
calities. 1t is simply this: Who can
best regulate the special interests for
the public good? Most of the preda-
tory corporations are interstate or
have interstase affiliations. Therefore
they are largely out of reach of effec-
tive state control, and fall of neces-
sity within the federal jurisdiction.