New-York tribune., 1910-09-07

One of the prime objects of those among
them that are grasping and greedy Is 70
avoid any effective control either by STAT
state control simply because they beileve "
to be the least effective. In the sreat nsiiI
OF the people TO drive the special Interests 3t
from the dominion of our government 'ne
nation is stronger and its jurisdlction Is
more effective than that of any state one ne
most effective weapon against a tae5g 5{rsnesd e
and owned on the Atlantic Coast, Will De
federal laws and the federal EheCutlse'
That is why / so strongly Oppose tlie t tbe
mand to turn these matters over 10 Ins
states It is fundamentally a demanQ
against the interest of the plain people OF
the people of small means against I5e m
terest Of our children and our children
children and il is primarily IN the t lnteles -
of the great corporations, which desire 10
escape all government control
The Conservation Fight.
One of the difficulties in putting INTO
practice the conservation idea IS that tne
Held 70 which It applies is constantly
growing in the public mind. 1t mas Deen
no slight task to bring before one hunared
million people great cohcept.Gn d mi ,bot -
is right. This much we have accomplished.
But there remain much to oe cleared u up
and many misunderstanding to be re
moved These misunderstanding are due,
in part at least, to direct miSrepresentatlo tlon
by the men to whose interest II IS 'hdI
conservation Sn0uld not prospect VI
ample, we find it constantly said by men
who should know better that temporary
Withdrawals. such as the W1tndra as VI
coal lands, will permanently check deVei-
opment: vet the fact is that these with
draVals have no purpose except 10 pre-
vent the coal lands from passing INTO prl-
vate ownership until congress ,3t can ,,pds- pds~
conditions just alike to the public ana 20
the men who will do the developing. II
there is delay. the responsibility 1or ~
ho u
drawals to protect the public interest put
on those who prevent Congress from pass.
ing wise legislation, and SO putting an emu
to the need for Withdrawals.
Abuses committed in the name OF just
cause are familiar to all Of us. Many un-
wise things are done and many uh"lse
measures are advocated in the name OF
conservation, either through ignorance OF
by those whose interest lies not IN pro
noting the movement, but IN retardlng Is.di IL
For example. to stop water power deVeI-
opment by needless refusal to issue per
rnitS for water power or private rl1Sdlloh
works on the public lands inevitably leads
many men. friendly TO conservation ana
believers in lis general principles. 10 as
sumo that its practical application Is neces-
SoiIld be more mistaken. The idea. widely
circulated of late, that conservation means
locking up the natural resources for tne
exclusive use of later generations is wholly
mistaken. our purpose is 10 make 1ull use
of these resources, but TO consider our
sons and daughters as well as ourselves
just as farmer uses his farm m ways 20
preserve its future usefulness. Conserva,
tion is the road to national efficiency. ana
1t stands for ample and wise development
But in spite of these difficulties, most OF
which are donbtIess inevitable in any move
ment of this kind, conservation has mace
marvellous progress. 1 have been astound.
at the progress made while | was away
We have q right 10 congratulate ourselves
on this marvellous progress. nut tnere Is no
reas son for believing that the fight IS won
In the beginning the special interests who
are our chief opponents in the conservation
deht Maid little heed to the movement, be-
cause they neither understood it nor saw
that if ii won, they must lose. But with
the progress of conservation IN the minds
of our people the fight is getting sharper.
The nearer we approach to victory the bit;
terer the opposition that we must meet. ana
the greater the need for caution and Watch-
fulness. Open opposition we can oVerCoHle,
but ! warn YOU especially against the men
who come to congresses such as this osten-
siblv as disinterested citizens, but actualy
a. the paid agents of the special interests.
I heartily approve the attitude of any cor
poration interested in the deliberations of
to advocate. by its openly accredited agents;
views which il believes the meeting should
have in mind. But l condemn with equal
agent before any convention who does not
declare himself frankly as such.
This congress is a direct appeal 70 the
wisely looks to such gatherings for counsel
and leadership. Let that leadership be
sound. definite, practical ana m on the sac
misfortune if a meeting such as this should
ever fall into the hands of the open enemies
or false friends Of the great movement
which it represents.
Stop improper Political Dominion.
II IS our duty and our desire to make this
nd of ours a better home for the race, but
our duty does not stop there. We must
also work for a better nation 10 live In TINS
better land The development and conser-
walton of our national character and our
free institutions must go hand In hand with
the development and conservation of our
natural resources, which the governors
conference so well called the foundations or
our prosperity. Whatever progress We may
make as a nation, whatever wealth we may
accumulaIe however far we may push
mechanical development and production.
we shall never reach a point where our
welfare can depend in the last analysis on
ANYTHING but honesty, courage. loyalty and
Good citizenship. The homey virtues are
The lasting virtues, and the road which
leads to them is the road 10 genuine and
lasting success.
coal toward which it works-an equal op-
portunity for life, liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness for every one Of its citizens
To achieve this end we must put a stop TO
the improper political dominion, no less than
10 the improper economic dominion of the
great special interests. This country, It's
natural resources its natural advantages
its opportunities and its institutions, belong
10 all it's citizens They cannot be enjoyed
fully and freely under any government IN
which the special interests such have
voice The supreme political task of our
day, the Indispensable condition or national
efficiency and national welfare. Is 70 drive
I.I g,,ta ~