The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06
TArrs SENSIBLE srEECu.

~
In st. Paul yesterday. There was
nothing in 1t TO stir the groundlings.
nothing to excite the mob spirit moth
Ing but plain, reasonable. intelligent |
of "the preservation of our
natural resources for economical use,
30 as TO secure the greatest good to
the greatest number" He did not cali
liar, or swear any oaths
that this, that or the other must be
done" or prescribe the number of ba.
bies woman must have, or say that
'T' demand or Il" require. or It'll be !.
damned" or anything of the sort
Speaking like n man fully conscious
of his official responsibility as n pub
of craftsmanship, he impressed upon
the Convention the vast Importance OF
the work in which it is enlisted; he
explained, NOW that the would be
pioneers have come to realize that all
the richest lands in the country have
been taken up, we have perceived the
necessity for change of policy in
the disposition of our national re-
sources SO as to prevent the continue
nnce of the waste which has charac-
terized our phenomenal growth in the
past Conservation is not a ques-
zion of politics. or OF factions, or OF
persons "The problems are or very
great difficulty and call for the calm
sight "a satisfactory conclusion can
only oe reached promptly if we avoid
acrimony imputatons of bad faith,
and political controversy.
with the clear head of the judge.
weighing all the facts in the case. and
with absolutely no disposition to en-
phaslze his personality or to magnify
his office beyond the limitations that
the law has placed upon it, the Presi-
dent discussed his subject in orderly
fashion, explaining what the law Ia
and what the Government has accom-
plished in the way OF preserving our
agricultural, mineral, forest, coal, oil
and gas lands and phosphate lands; of
Ine felalIOllS tIlc SldleS anu -tllS Nj
ton TO these several matters; of the
Withdrawals of public lands from set
tlement and exploitation; Of the en-
tries that have been made by law; OF
the irrigation projects of the Govern
ment; of the state of the law; of the
Efforts he has made to make the things
that ought to be so that they can be
done with authority of law, the prob
lem of conservation being, in fact, as
he put 1t very clearly, how to save
and how to utilize, how TO conserve
and how to develop for no sane per-
son can contend that it is for the COM
mon good that, hatare's blessings
,hould be stored only for unborn sen--
nrations.'
Mr. Taft can hardly be called
strict constructionist OF our own type;
but he holds very decided views as to
the rights of the States, which are as
refreshing as a daisy in a cows
mouth in these days of new ma
.ionalsm. speaking of the Suggestions
that have been made for national
aid for the drainage of swamp lands
belongips to the states or to private
I owners, Mr. Taft deprecates the agita-
ton in favor Of such legislation, and
\ said yesterday:
=, Il am liberal in the construction OF
the Constitution With reference tc
Federal power; but l am firmly con
WINGED that the only safe course 70
z us to pursue is to hold fast TO the limi
1ations of the Constitution and to re
gard as sacred the powers of the
4 states. We have made wonderful
4 progress and at the same time hay
Il preserved with judicial eNactness The
restrictions of the Constitution. Their
s Is an easy way In which the Constitu
4 tion can be violated by Congress with
D out judicial inhibition, to wit by ap
preparations from the National Treas
+ ury for unconstitutional purposes. l
Will be a sorry day for this countr.
af the time ever comes when our fun
namental compact shall be habituall.
Z disregarded in this manner"
{ Mr.. Taft did not fail to mention Mr.
q Roosevelt and what he did for the con
seryatiop cause. The things Mr.. Roose
welt did without authority of law, MI
4, Taft has corrected by legislation
passed By Congress al his instance
4, He has picked UP the loose threads o
the Roosevelt Administration and t!et
u them together so that Whatever ha
ii been done under his direction, whethe
If wisely done or not, has been done de
s Gently and in order.
h AS to the coal measures and oil an
y gas lands of the Nation. Mr. Tai
4 would have them taken care of no
under permanent grants, but by Fys
TEN of leasing so that the Natlo
would be better protected in It's right
and these natural resources handle
Y with greater advantage TO the peopl
who are now and those VITA are
come after. He would have the ptios
phate lands husbanded carefully an
such legislation as would insure a
adequate supply for the needs OF Tn
country, making such a lease of thes
u lands from the Government as wonl
enable the Government to present.
The conditions upon which The sales