The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-06

It Is that conservation should noe pros
per. For example, we find 1t constant
| ly said by men who should know bet
ter, that temporary Withdrawals, such
as the Withdrawals Of coal lands, will
permanently check development Yet
| the fact is that these Withdrawals
have no purpose except to prevent the
coal lands from passing into private
ownership until congress can pass
laws to open them TO development
under conditions just alike to the pub
lie. and to the men who viii do the
developing. If there is delay, the re-
sponsibility for 1t rests. not on the
men who made the Withdrawals to pro-
ta'ct the public interest, but on those
who prevent congress from passing
wise legislation, and so putting an end
to the need for Withdrawals.
Abuses committed in the name OF
just cause are familiar to all Of us,
Many unwise things are done and
many unwise measures are advocated
in the name of conservation, either
through ignorance, or by those whose
interest lies not in promoting the
movement, but in retarding 1t. For
example, to stop water power devel-
oping by needless refusal to issue per-
mits for water power or private irri-
cation works on the public lands Ina
evitably leads many men, friendly to
conservation and believers in its gem
eral principles, to assume that its prac-
tical application is necessarily a check
upon progress. Nothing could be more
mistaken. The idea, widely circulated
Nf Ia 20 +HNnA 49,.
ing up the natural resources for the
exclusive use of later generations, is
mistaken. Our purpose is to make full
use of these resources, but to consider
our sons and daughters as we'll as our
selves; just as a. farmer uses his farm
in ways to preserve it's future useful
ness. Conservation is the road to ma
tional efficiency, and 1t stands for am
pie and wise development
But in spite of these difficulties, |
most of which are doubtless inevitable |
in any movement of this kind, con-
has made marvellous prog |
ress. / have been asrounded and de-
lighted on my return from abroad at /
the progress made while was away /
We have right to congratulate our
selves on this marvellous progress; but
there is no reason for believing that I
the fight is won. In the beginning /
the special interests, who are our chief /
opponents in the conservation fight, |
little heed TO the movement, because
they neither understood 1t, nor saw
that If it won they must lose. But with
lhe progress of conservation in the |
minds of our people, the fight is get
ting sharper. The nearer we approach
to victory, the bitterer the opposition
that we must meet, and the greater the
need for caution and watchfulness.
Open opposition we can overcome, but
warn you especially against the men
who come to congresses such as this,
as disinterested citizens but
4 ally as the paid agents
II the special interests. II
heartily approve the attitude of any
interested in the delibera-
ions of a meeting such as this. which
,omes hither to advocate. by its openly
accredited agents, views which 1t be-
ieves the meeting should have in mind.
But condemn with equal readiness
he appearance of a corporate agent
before any convention who does not
declare himself frankly as such.
This congress is a direct appeal to
he patriotism of our whole people. The
nation wisely looks to such gatherings
or counsel and leadership. Let that
leadership be sound, definite practical,
md on the side of all the people. Il
would be no small misfortune IL a
Meeting such as this should ever fail
nto the hands of the open enemies
n false friends of the great movement
which it represents.
Conclusion. II
It is our duty and our desire to !
make this land of ours better home {
or the race, but our duty does not |
top there. We must also work for
better nation to live in this better
and. The development and conserva-
ion of our national character and our ]