EDITORIAL 



What Is Conservation? arguments sincerely believe in the jus- 

 tice and patriotism of their position. 



IN VIEW of the prominent place that Neither have we any doubt that many 



the issue which has been named con- Qf those who use this argument use it 



servation has occupied in the press of deliberately to disguise plans for the 



the country for some time, it seems un- personal exploitation of the property 



necessary to ask the question at the of the people. 



heading of this article. It is, never- The principle of conservation has 

 theless, a fact that conservation is hon- been so often clearly stated that this 

 estly misunderstood by many people, misinterpretation by intelligent men is 

 and that on the part of some others incomprehensible. Must it be repeated 

 there is a persistent and reprehensible over and over again that conservation, 

 attempt to misrepresent its whole i^ its special sense as now used among 

 spirit and purpose. At frequent inter- ^g to designate a definite national policy, 

 vals there come, generally from the means use, wise use, determined by the 

 west, although the western complain- actual needs of the people ; use without 

 ants have eastern allies among the ad- waste, and with perpetuation where that 

 vocates of special privilege, sharp at- jg possible, as in the case of forests; 

 tacks on the advocates of conservation, and use of the natural resources of the 

 These attacks take the form of news- earth, the gifts of nature for the great- 

 paper editorials, of speeches addressed est good of the greatest number. Con- 

 to public gatherings, of complaints by servation has no idea of restricting use. 

 individuals who have found some of Jt does exist for cutting out waste. It 

 their privileges curtailed by the exer- denies the primary right of a few indi- 

 cise of the functions of government in viduals to use for their private and per- 

 the public domain, or perhaps of hand- sonal gain the resources of the people, 

 somely printed circulars from^ banking xhat is simple and that is the reason 

 houses setting forth the evils of the con- for all this misrepresenation. The 

 servation policy and appealing to the pa- galled jade winces, 

 triotism of the people to permit the de- Jt is characteristic of the exploiters 

 velopment of the country. Often they to represent themselves true benefac- 

 take the subtler and more dangerous tors, the real friends of the people, 

 form of undermining through political Personal exploitation of the public 

 and official channels the great enter- property always shelters itself behind 

 prises for real national development. The the guise of "promoting the public 

 attempt is made to make it appear that good," "the development of the coun- 

 the conservation of natural resources is ^ry." "adding to the country's wealth," 

 a sentimental idea designed for the ben- ^^^ j^^j^y people believe the claim. We 

 efit of future generations by the sacri- ^jj believed it a few years ago until we 

 fice of the interests of the present. Our ^ ^^ ^^. ^j^^ forestry question, 

 forests, our water powers, our mmerals, ^^.^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^- ^bout 

 are given to us, say these critics not to ^ ^^^^^ 

 bottle up and preserve for an indefinite ""-'^ "- , . ^i^.,^i,, 

 future. They argue that the present ,Mr. Garfield stated the issue clearly, 

 generation is just as important as the when he said in reply to a question 

 Sext and those that will follow. while he was on _ the stand in the 

 This is plausible. We have no doubt Pinchot-Ballmger inquiry. We believe 

 that many of those who advance these in present day use of the resources so- 



423 



