New-York tribune., 1911-02-20
P|NCHOT HITS LEADERS
Defines Progressive Movement
Before New Rochelle Audience.
PEOPLE TO RULE, He SAYS
Tells What Has Been Done IN
Line of Conservation, and Pre-
diets Further Advance.

Before two thousand persons in the Ne"
Rochelle Theatre yesterday afternoon riI-
ford Pinchot spoke. on ~ Report Of Prog
Tess" during which he said the progressive
movement was nothing more than the ue-
termination of the American people 10 'ahe
their own affairs back into their own hahus
and manage their own business themselves
Mr.. Pinchot declared that the conserNa-
ton idea was progressing steadily anu ne
predicted great advancement year oy year.
He asserted that the election OF uni'eo
States Senator's by direct vote Of the people
would carry New York with rush lhen
he fred his broadsde: "Who viii dare 10
maintain that Sheehan is the choice OF
majority OF the Democratic voters OF Ne"
York-Sheehan, wnom Murphy, except lot
little group of patriotic men. would already
have inflicted on the state?'
Under our political theory the Will or
the people is supreme. Under the politicai
practice of the old line politicians the
function Of the people has often been I'M
ited TO voting for one or several candidates
or tickets. the success OF any Of which VIII
mean, and ia known in advance 10 mean
tho total disregard Of the popular Will
Examples Of how old line politicians dis
regard the will Of the people crowd upon
US from many sides Who will venture TO
assert that Lorimer would have been the
choice Of the people Of Illinois-Lorimer'
whose defenders are reduced TO making II
appear by sums in fractions that the ad-
mitted corruption Of his election was not
quite sufficient 10 invaldate II altogether!
Mr.. Pinchot said there were two prtnci-
pal tasks before the American people to-
day. the first being the conservation OF our
material resources.
This is the most fundamental Of all
| tasks" said he because as we decide II
this nation in the future will be poor and
| helpless or rich and strong. The second
is the conservation Of our political rights.
I'VE have checked the Guggenheirns in
their efforts to absorb Alaska. and have
opened the way for use OF the vast resources
OF that territory mainly for the benefit OF
OF the people OF Alaska and the United
States. That fight is not yet ended, for
privilege in possession let's go slowly, but,
| thanks 10 the fearless. self-sacrifce of
an honest man q mean that soldier Of the
common good, young Glavis). we have won
back TO where a victory is possible and
believe we shall yet save The coal and all
the rest.
within the last two years an effort of
the water power monopolies TO turn the
water powers OF the nation over to the
control Of the states whence they might
more easily pass into the hands Of the
men who always know exactly what they
want. was born. 1ourished and disappeared
Its death blow was an announcement from
the White House that a wise federal water
power policy has been adopted by the ad-
ministration. The position thus taken by
| the President along the lines already laid
down by Garfield and Roosevelt deserves
and doubt not, will receive the indorse-
ment and support Of every friend OF con.
! servation and every enemy Of monopoly.
My experience Of Washington covers
| fifteen years. In all that time have never
| known a more numerous or a hungrier SCI
OF lobbyists than the swarm which besets
the dying hours Of the present Congress
March will mark the close Of an era as
well as the end of a Congress. and foi
many a man and many a project this is the
final chance. Water power men are ir
| Washington eager TO acquire without due
compensation the property OF all OF US. as
in the case Of the Long Sault project. In
the ST. Lawrence River, where 10000 horse
power is at stake.
In a word Washington is crowded with
men trying 10 get from Congress what they
ought not to have. II is small wonder that
there is distrust"