at St. Paul, I reviewed the practical consequences and 

 the statistical proof of that national wastefulness which 

 competent scientific authority had already set down as 

 distinguishing the American people. From data of the 

 highest certainty, no one of which has ever since been 

 called in question, I then forecast some of the condi- 

 tions certain to arise within the next half century, when 

 the population of this country will have grown to more 

 than 200,000,000. The facts were pointed out, not in 

 the spirit of the alarmist, but in order that attention 

 might be directed to the way by which the nation may 

 escape future disaster. So rapidly do events move in 

 our time, so swiftly do ideas spread and grasp the pub- 

 lic mind, that some policy directed to the ends then set 

 forth has already become a national care. It is this 

 policy the conservation of national resources, the best 

 means of putting an end to the waste of the sources of 

 wealth which largely forms the subject-matter of this 

 conference. For the first time there is a formal na- 

 tional protest, under seal of the highest authority, 

 against economic waste. 



The method by which this end is to be reached is 

 scarcely less interesting or significant. This body has 

 no legal status and its conclusions will not be of binding 

 effect upon the nation, the state or the individual. Yet 

 they will carry a weight greater than legislatures can 

 impart, a force that even courts could not strengthen, 

 because they will not be subject to repeal. They will 

 represent a truly national opinion expressed with 

 fidelity to our national constitutional form. The 



