The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-04-05
NEED Of CONSERVATION
Roosevelt Also Talks On
Country Life.
STOP WASTE OF REsouRcs
Ex-President Says Control is Being
Wrested From People.

| WICoSGO IOm FcOple.
Colonel Roosevelt, In his speech at
St. Paul last Friday spoke 10 part as
follows:
"The purpose Of the progresslves in
this campaign is to restore and secure
to the plain people that position Of
control 10 the government of their
own country which In the working Of
our institutions Is being insidlousiy
wrested from them. I shall briefly
discuss two great public questions OF
vital and reaching Importance
the conservation OF natural resources
and the betterment OF country life.
upon conservation can be brief
What flrst called attention to the
gravity OF the question was the de-
struction OF the national forests. Ii
happened fortunately that this i'm
pOrtant asset OF the natural wealth
came during my administration under
the charge Of Clifford Pinchot, to
whom, more than to any other man,
Is due the credit for having this
national peril brought prominently
to public notice.
1.-The conservation idea caught the
popular imagination and the conser-
vation policy rapidly took shape. In
the spring OF 1908 l called the gov
ernors of all the states and territories
to meet at conference 10 the nation
al capital. There 1t was unanimous
ly resolved 'that the great prosperity
OF our country rests upon the abun-
| dant resources OF the land chosen by
our forefathers for their homes; that
these resources are heritage to be
made use Of 10 establishing and pro.
noting the comfort, prosperity and
happiness OF the American people,
but not to be wasted, deteriorated or
needlessly destroyed l followed
this up by the appointment of the
national conservation committee,
which made the hrst inventory Of
natural resources ever prepared for
any country.
1.-The long flght TO protect the for
esfs of the United States has not been
to keep them out OF use. but 10 co
courage the utilization OF them to
the fullest extent consistent with
preserving their power OF service to
to the people for all time.
ITO accomplish conservation 10 its
largest sense effectively two things
are OF prime Importance. First,
there must be a sound moral standard
on public matters; our public men
must represent and respond to the
aroused conscience OF the people.
Second, all the great natural resources
which are vital to the welfare OF the
whole people should either be kept Ia
the hands of or under the full control
Of the whole people. This applies t.
coal, oil, timber, water power and
natural gas.
II pass now to the equally impor-
tant but far less understood policy
of country life. or all policies for th'
; outstanding OF physical natural re
| sources none is comparable in IL
value to the nation with the conser
vation of the natural fertility Of tb'
soil; and even that important Ques
tion IS to keep the right type OF mel
and women on the soil.
"Near the end of my ddministra
tion appointed an unpaid commits
sion of experts who held publ
inquiries all over the United State
: and also circulated through the maj
. large number OF printed questions
, The commissioners say In their re
port:
We have found by the testlmon
, | not only of the farmers themselves
but OF all persons in touch with farr
life, more or less serious unrest !
every part of the United States. eve
in the most prosperous regions.
"Beyond question the growing COS
;. Of the necessities Of life Is In no snia
measure due to two economic facts
T" Firstly, the farm lands Of the Unite
States do not produce nearly as muc
food As they might produce und'