634 CONSERVATION 



United States. In these schools the laration of principles declare strongly 

 nation is raising up the youth that will, for a conservation program ; Judge 

 in a few years, be the men and women Taft and Mr. Bryan are both ardent 

 of the country. If these future men friends of the conservation movement, 

 and women come to maturity with well- and in more than one section of the 

 grounded ideas, such as are expressed country Congressional campaigns have 

 in the two essays printed in this issue, been waged principally on the issue of 

 there is every reason to hope that the conservation of natural resources, 

 cause of conservation will be materially No matter who the successful candi- 

 advanced at their hands. It is an omen date shall be, and no matter what may 

 of promise to note the clear and ready be the political complexion of the next 

 statement of fact contained in these Congress, there will be no backward 

 essays ; not the parrot-like repetition of steps in the movement to take care of 

 statements memorized, but the reduc- the Nation's resources. In the several 

 tion to a form that is understandable states, particularly those most affected 

 by the juvenile intellect of the matured by any of the different phases of con- 

 opinion of high authorities on these servation, the movement, it seems cer- 

 weighty subjects. One of these papers tain, will receive a decided impetus 

 comes from the East, the other from the during the coming legislative sessions. 

 Northwest. We have likewise received The leaders, both national and state, of 

 essays of the same sort from the Middle both big parties have recognized the 

 West, the South and the West. In every necessity for husbanding the forests, 

 case the essays are the work of boys the ores and minerals ; for developing a 

 or girls in the grammar or high schools ; system of waterways ; for extending 

 and the essays are in each case worthy irrigation works, and in general for 

 of publication and would be published doing the best we possibly can with the 

 were it not for the limitations of space resources that nature has given us. 

 in this magazine. We commend these In this connection, the following quo- 

 articles to the careful consideration of tation from the Democratic state plat- 

 our older readers, and, in fact, of every form of Montana is peculiarly apropos, 

 members of The American Forestry \Ve quote the fourth, fifth, sixth, and 

 Association. Immaturity of expression eighth paragraphs of the platform, 

 and lack of style there may be indeed ; which paragraphs express in unmistak- 

 but these are minor points. The fact able language the sentiment of a ma- 

 remains, amply illustrated by the two jority of the people of a great north- 

 essays that appear in this issue, that the western state : 



boys and girls of our public schools are It is of paramount importance to protect, 



taking a lively interest in matters per- develop, and conserve the unparalleled natu- 



taining to forestry, and it will be well, ra ' resources of Montana under laws most 



indeed, to further this interest by all the <? refull y considered and wisely enacted for 



,1 ., , , that purpose, and which will permit a present 



encouragement that can possibly be use s P u ffi en { to satisfy reasonable industrial 



given, needs and preserve the same as far as may 



i J til be for future use and development. 



Land being the most enduring resource, 



The Conservation Program in Politics the permanent prosperity of a people can 



be best assured by its .proper development 



ONE of the most encouraging fea- and conservation ; therefore, we recognize 



tures of the political campaign of in the 1'beral grant to the state by the Fed- 



1908 has been the unanimity with which eral Government for educational purpose. 



ijT a solemn trust, to be most carefully and 



the political parties have taken a de- wisely administered and conserved for the 



stand in favor of the conserva- purposes for which granted and a great 



tion of natural resources. No mat- source of wealth, which growth in popula- 



ter which Presidential candidate is sue- tion wil1 tend largely to increase. This 



cessful at the polls, the cause of con- ' rust S . hou 1 ! d - be so administered as to pro- 



n 1 .-,. duce at all times the highest possible reve- 



seryation will not suffer. Both the nue consiste nt with a far-si R hted conserving 



Chicago platform and the Denver dec- policy, and title to such lands as are agri- 



