The state herald., 1910-09-09

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tsiotie DUTY caus upon ~. We ews n b
ourselves and to them to gtvs the Amers-
can republics all the help ws can. The
cases In which We have failed should b.
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 are able, to be
OF assistance to others. there are prob
lens of our own which we must not over
look. One of tho 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 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 It is forced
upon US. But there is no hope for the
plain people In such conflicts OF jurisdic-
ton. The essential question is not ono
OF hair-splitting legal technicalities. 1t 10
simply this: Who can best regulate tho
special interests for the public good!
Most of the predatory corporations are
Interstate or have Interstate Affiliations.
Therefore they are largely out of reach OF
effective state control, and fall of neces-
sity within the federal Jurisdiction. One
OF tho prime objects OF those among them
that are grasping and greedy is 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 the least effective. In the great
tight Of the people to drive the special
interests from the domination of our gov
Ia q
Jurisdiction Is 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 tho
federal executive. That is why I 80
strongly oppose the demand to turn these
matters over to the states. II Is funda-
mentally n 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 II
IS primarily in the interest Of the great
corporations which desire to escape all
government control
The Conservation Flight
On of the difficulties In putting into
practise the conservation Idea is that tho
ield to which 1t applies Is constantly
growing In the public mind. II has been
no slight task TO bring before 10000 peo-
pie a great conception like that of con-
servation. and convince them that It II
right. This much we hive accom-
plished. But there remains much to be
cleared up, and many misunderstandings
to be removed. These misunderstandings
are due In part at least to direct mis-
representation by the men to whose
interest II Is that conservation should not
prosper. For example. we fnd II con-
stantly said by men who should know
IA NythdYn
such as the Withdrawals Of coal lands.
will permanently check development. Yet
the fact r. that these Withdrawals have
no purpose except to prevent the coal
lands from passing into private owner
shin until congress- can pass laws to open
them to development under conditions
lust alitc to tho public and to the men
who will do the developing.
Abuses committed in the name of n lust
cnu-. are familiar to all Of us Many
unwise things are done and many unwiss
measures are advocated in the name of
conservation. either through Ignorance.
or nv those whose interest lies not in pro-
noting the movement. hut In retsrding ~.
For example. to stop water power devel-
opment by needless refusal to issue per-
miis for water power or private irrigation
works on the public lands Inevitably leads
many men. friendly to conservation md
believers In Its general principles. TO as
sumo fhnt It's prhcuch nppnrhton " nee
e-rsrilv check upon progress. Nothing
could he more mistaken. The idea. widely
circulated Of late. that conservation means
locking up Of the natural resources for tho
exclusive us. Of future generations. Is
wholly mistaken. Our purpose II to mako
full use of these resources. hut TO eonsid-
er our sons and daughters as well h- our
reiv--: Just AS "A farmer uses his farm
in WAYS IN preserve lis future usefulness.
Conservation IL the road TO national ef-
nclcrcy. and II stands for ample and wiso
development.
But in -nite of these dif1cuitie.. most
of which are doubtless Inevitable in any
movement Of this kind. conservation has
made marvellous progress, I have been
astounsea and delighted on my return
from abroad ut IN. progress made while
was nwsv W. have q rirht TO eonvratu-
late ourselves on ihi. marvellous progress:
hut there Il no reason for believing that
the neht n won, In tho beginning tn"
rneciai interests. who are our chief onnn-
nen'- In The conservation n-ht. paid iiiils
heed to tho movement. because 'h~v nell
'her understood II. nor rsw that N n won
they must lose. nut with the progress of
conservation IN IN. minds of our peopl.
the fgh, II getting sharper, The nearer
We npnrnaeh to victory. the hitier-r tho
opno-if'or that we must meet, and tho
greater the need for caution and watch-
fulne-a onsn onpnsitlon we rsn over
come. but warn you especially against
the mon who come IN congresses such as
this os'e--ibiv a- disiniereSied citizens,
hut actually R- the paid agents Of ~.
rp~r'ai Interests. 7 heartily spprov~ tho
attitude NJ anv corpora'ion Interested In
the ds'ihsra'ions NJ meeting such H-
tbs. witch comes hither IN advocate hy
its orenlv accredited sren'-. views which
II believes the meeting should have n
mind, Rnt I condemn with equal r~sdi-
ns.- the appearance NJ = eornora's agent
before Pny convention who does not de-
ciHre himself frankly n- such
This congress II direct appeal IN Tho
patriotism ~ our whole people THO
ration wisely looks n such gatherings
for eou---i and leadership. let ihRt
ieaaer-hir he sound. aennits. prrciir-'.
and on the side ~ all the people. Y
worid be M nmsli misfortune N a m~~''as
such NJ 'hi- should ever fall into tNH
hands or the apen enemies or false friend,
~ the great movement which u repre-
ren's.
7, y MIR duty and our s.sir. ta mahs
th's iHni Of ours better home for tho
r4re but our duty does m, rtnn there.
We must also s.ork for = bstfsr nation IN