The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12

change In tnS attitude and Judgment
cf the American people
Net petiticat Change.
-For what we have Witnessed with
On the last two months is not mercy
\ political change. II In change ~
tho attitude and Judgment OF the
American people. One OF the reasons
why there were not merely two par
eses contending for the supremacy at
khe recent election, one reason why
the field Of choice was varied and
multiplied, wss that the old lines are
breaking where they are oldest, and
that men are no longer 10 be cata-
ioxued, no longer to be found by dead
reckoning, no longer to be put in
classes an IL their thinking had been
concluded. and they were no longer
casting abroad for the things which
they should think. and the things they
should DO. America has come upon
ana she ts going TO think her way out
20 a triumphant solution OF her difh-
cuittes.
There are sonss 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
10 HUSBAND and administer the com
mon resources Of this country for the
common benefit Now. not all business
men in this country have devoted their
thought TO that object. They have de-
voted their thought very successfully
20 exploiting rhe resources of Amer
lea, but very few business men have
devoted their thought TO outstanding
the resources Of America; and very
few, indeed. have had the attitude of
those who administer a great trust in
administering those natural resources
Until the business men OF America
make up their mind both to husband
and 20 administer as II for others. as
well as IL for their own profit, the
natural resources Of this country, some
Of the questions ahead Of us will be
immensely d'Acuit Of solution,
Policy Of Conservation.
why Is II that the government OF
has not hit upon a consistent policy
Of conservation It has not You
must be aware that mere policy OF
reservation II not a policy Of conserva-
ton. It In IN enc sense a policy Of
conservation. for II conserves, but no
nation can merely keep out Of use It's
resources In order tina, they may not
be squandered ana disslpated We
must devise some process OF general
use- And why have We not done so ?
why. ~ am not very much mistaken,
because the government at washing
ton was TREMENDOUSLY suspicious Of
everybody who approached II FOR
rights in the water powers and fores;
reserves. and mineral reserves, Of the
western country which the federal gov
eminent still controls
They looked with Suspicion upon
very applicant To use them They
cannot have looked with suspicion en-
cepf because they believed that the
men engaged in these great enterpriset
rad not yet caught the national point
OF view. II they believed that the
business men OF that sort were pur.
posing 20 husband these resources. and
regarded themselves As In some sense
trustees for future generations who
would need II as much as this genera
tion needs IL, there would have beer
no ground for suspicion. and they
would have felt a free hand in tht
matter OF framing "a policy which the,
could have pursued
SO that when the government "a,
washington undertakes in the futur,
20 develop policy of this sort. tn,
nrrt thing II must know liz the stat.
or mind. the psychology. the purpose
tire attitude OF the men that It /!
dealing with. That attitude must b,
declared aEad open aftd transparent. ~,
YOU not see that 1t Ia your respon
sibiiify, not mine ] shall sit Their,
and try to preside over the matter
but I shall know what To do oniy a.
can Judge the men | am dealinI
With. The moment their purpose 1
declared 10 be for the general In
terekt. and shown by the procedure I,
be for the general interest, then tn,
whole atmosphere Of suspicion will b,
diss'pated and the government viii
come to normal relation with tn,
citizens OF the United Slater
The Raw Material
Then there ts anothoD thing this
has 20 be done The raw materin Il
obtainable in this country for eyer.
kind of men and authority must be a
the disposaI Of everybody in tn,
United States upon the same terms
i do not moan that the gdIernn4<a
mus. determine upon what terms the,
must be evaiiahIs. hut merely tina
they shall be available upon the sam,
terr1s 70 whoever applies TO use them
or 10 purchase them. that there shal
not be discrimination amongst thos
who are 70 have access TO these re
sources. That that is true liz merel,
part and n specification Of what
have already been talking about. /
those raw materials are to be used II
the spirit Of those who would aerIl
the whole country like. without regard
TO section or individual, then our fu
sure is assured Of absence Of the kline
of discrimination which the whole
temper OF this country has strsnl,
risen against.
II want to take sternneks out o
che temper OF this country. ! wan
TO see suspicion dssipated / Wan
90 see time brought about wheT
the perfectly artificial condition nov
existing. when the rank and ffu o
the citizens OF the United States have
a somewhat hostile attitude towar,
the business men Of the country, shat
be absolutely done away with and
forgotten. Perfectly honest. uprigh
patriotic men whom any of US conic
pick out. are at a disadvantage nov
in America because business metho III
IN general are not trusted by the PEG
pie, taken as n whole That is IN
furious 70 you, Il Is injurious to every
body with whom business deals. and
everybody whom business touches
They 90 not believe in the United
States-.f ,,nftau me RANK ana me- Q.
our penpfe--thas rr1~u cf every kin|
are upon an equality in their access
90 tNc resources ~ the country, ANY