The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-03
Had Already Passed Resolution
Condemning Practice.
QUESTION IRRITATES
Answers Delegate Who Inter-
rupts His Speech.
Jokes About His Position and
People Are Pleased.

Denver, Oct. 3.-In a speech to the
public lands convention here today,
President Taft fatty disagreed with
the sentiment of that convention in
regard to leasing of public lands by
the federal government expressed in
resolution. adopted yesterday.
The president declared the west
needed capital to develop it's public
lands and said that only through
federal leasing system could such cap
1tal be induced to come west.
The president spoke in the auditor
lum, buIlt to hold more than 1000
persons, and few seats were vacant.
In spite of his diSa agreement with the
views expressed by the convention the
president was we'll received. When he
made some of his points against the
proposal of the convention, that eth
er public lands be disposed of to in
diVlduals or else placed under the care
of the separate states, the crowd ap-
plauded vigorously and when he con-
GUIDED, the cheering was long and
loud.
At one point in his speech, the
president was discussing the public
domain in general terms.
Irritated by Question.
Who owns the public domain, Mr..
President shouted an old man, sit
ting just under the platform.
The United States owns the public
domain" said Mr.. Taft. showing some
heat, and the United States is the
people OF the United States
The president said that he knew that
he was in a peculiar position; since
the convention had already reached
its verdict with respect to public
lands.
4 know said Mr.. Taft how ir-
ritating it is to have somebody else
lay down rules for your moral uplift,
but youV We got to stand a great deal in
order to make progress. I will end
as I began am not in agreement
Nit.
President Taft pleaded for conces-
sions upon the part of the convention
and suggested that when men were sent
to Washington to argue with congress
about matters affecting the public
lands and the policy of conservation;
they should not be tied with strings
SO they could have no leeway
The president said that the discus
sion of conservation, at least east of
the Missouri river, had now reached
stage where points of difference were
looked at calmly and dispassionately
From the mistakes of the past, he said,
the country will now learn to go about
saving its natural resources in the best
way possible and with the best re-
suits.
kicking Doesn't Help.
Mr.. Taft admitted that in the old
days public lands had been grabbed
i'll many instances by com binations,
and declared that to prevent a repeti-
ton of such grabbing was the work of
the present and future. While the
west, he said might fret under sys-
tenn that seemed slow, in the end it |
would prove the best.
I'VE may kick against the situa- |
ton as it is, but you are philosophers |
out here in the west and know that |
kicking against the brakes doesn't help |
and it doesn't do to abuse everybody |
that doesn't help a bit Certain of |
us can stand it, and have got to the
point where it is a normal condition.
This sally, directed apparently at
himself, appealed to the audience and
laughter quickly spread through the
hall.
The president explained that he does
not desire through a federal leasing
ury with funds that shall lie there I'M
used, but pointed out that filling the
treasury would aid the west in getting
appropriations in the future.
I'm president of the whole coun-
try he said, land what 1 am trying
to do is to get you together. 1t is any
thing but getting on that counts. It's
real development that counts. Your
proposition is that the leasing system
went bring capital to the west and
my proposition is that it will. I am
appealing against your decree
Mr.. Taft spoke highly of Mr.. Fish
er's work, who. he said, has all the
energy and steam that Chicago fur
nishes a man" And who, he contin-
ued, had evinced an understanding
and an appreciation of the needs of
the west that We're bound to bring
about good results. Before closing,
the president briefly defended the adj
ministration's reclamation policy.