The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
Lines Clearly Defined.

Lines 7 IeuFiy behncu.
There are some perfectly clear lines
that may be laid down. There are four
sets of things which have TO be done.
In the first place. we have TO husband
and administer the common resources OF
this country for the common benefit
Now. not all business men in this coun-
try have devoted their thought to that
object. They have devoted their thought
very successfully to exploiting the re-
sources OF America, but very few busi-
ness men have devoted their thought 10
outstanding the resources OF America,
and very few indeed have had the atti-
tude of those who administer a great
trust in administering those natural re-
sources. Until the business men OF
America make up their minds both to
husband and to administer as II for 9TH
ers as well as for their own profit, the
natural resources of this country. some
OF the questions ahead Of us will be i'm
mensely difficult OF solution.
Why is 1t that the government OF the
United States UP to this moment has
not hit upon A consistent policy of con-
servation? 1t has not. You must be
aware that a mere policy Of reservation
is not policy of conservation. 1t is
in one sense a policy Of conservation
merely keep out of use its resources in
order that they may not be squandered
and dissipated. We must devise some
process OF general use. And why have
We not done so? Why. II l am not very
much mistaken. because the government
at Washington was TREMENDOUSLY suspici-
Gus of everybody who approached It for
rights in the water powers and forest re-
serves. and mineral reserves, of the
Western country which the Federal
government still owns.
Suspicious of Applicants.
They looked with suspicion upon
every applicant to use them. They
have looked with suspicion ex-
cept because they believed that the
men engaged in these great enter
prises had not yet caught the national
point OF view. If they believed that
the business men of that sort were pur-
posing 10 husband these resources and
regarded themselves as in some sense
trustees for future generations who
would need II as much as this gener-
alton needs II. there would have been
no ground for suspicion. and they
would have felt free hand In the
matter of framing a policy which they
Gould have pursued. SO that when the
government at Washington undertakes
n the future TO develop a policy of
his sort. the first thing it must know
IS the state of mind. the psychology.
he purpose. the attitude of the men
hat 1t is dealing with.
That attitude must be declared and
openly transparent. Do you not See that
s your responsibility; not mine? I shall
lit there and try to preside over the mat
er. but I shall know what to do only |
Is can judge the men I am dealing with. |
rhe moment their purpose is declared to |
De for the general interest and shown by |
heir procedure to be for the general in |
crest, then the whole atmosphere OF sus- |
'icion will be dissipated and the govern |
nent will come to a normal relation with |
he citizens of the United States.
Would Remove Stcrnness.
Then there is another thing that has |
o be done. The raw materials obtain
Ible in this country for any kind Of man.
fracture and industry must be at the dis
,osal of everybody in the United States
Ipon the same terms l do not mean that |
he government must determine upon
ghat terms they must be available but |
merely that they shall be available upon
he same terms to whoever applies to
Use them or to purchase them, and that |
here shall not be discrimination among
hose who are to have access to these
Il want to take sternness out of the
emper of this country. i want to see
uspicion dissipated. ! want to see Il
ime brought about when the perfectly
rtificial condition now existing, when
lie rank and file of the citizens of the
'nited States hav ca some time hostile
ttitude toward the business men OF the
Ountry, shall be absolutely done away
Nth and forgotten. Perfectly honest, |
pright patriotic men whom any one OF
IS could pick out are at a disadvantage
ow In America, because business meth
DIS in general are not trusted by the
eople taken as a whole. That is in
Irious to you, 1t is injurious to every