CONSERVATION 



c<>n-ervatioii. The audience filled every 

 -cat in. the beautiful theater, even the 

 upper gallc-rie- bein.tr crowded: and the 

 interest of th<c wh^ were in attend- 

 ance was made unmistakably manifest 

 bv tlie appreciative applause that was 

 of Mich fre<|iient occurrence and vol- 

 ume as lo interrupt the speakers. 



In calling the meeting to order, Mr. 



Pinchot, as temporary chairman, intro- 

 duced Rev. Edward 'Everett Hale, the 

 venerable chaplain of the United States 

 Senate, whose invocation was especially 

 appropriate, closing with the Lord's 

 Prayer, audibly joined in by the entire 

 assembly. Mr. Pinchot introduced the 

 permanent chairman, in a brief speech 

 of explanation. 



MR. PINCHOT'S OPENING SPEECH 



MR. PRESIDENT, ladies and gentle- 

 men : The meeting of the Governors 

 at the White House last May, out of 

 which this joint conference sprang, con- 

 sidered the natural resources of the country 

 i he foundations of our prosperity. The 

 conservation "* these resources is clearly 

 necessary fur our welfare, as a nation, now 

 and hereafter. 



u implies both the development 

 and the protection of resources, the one as 

 much a> the other. The idea which under- 

 lies j; ;, in harmony with the true spirit of 

 this Nation. It expresses a deep-seated Na 

 tional conviction, latent until it came, that 

 we h'avc inherited from our forefathers both 

 an opportunity for ourselves and a duty to 

 lt<> come after us. Conservation de- 

 mands the use of common prudence and com- 

 mon foresight in dealing with the great ma- 

 - upon which our present and 

 future welfare depends. 



I he essence of conservation is the applica- 

 tion ,if common sense to the common prob- 

 lems for the common good. 



Conservation is simply obvious and right. 

 Therefore, of all the great movements of 

 our recent history, not one has gained so 

 rapidly in public appreciation and support, and 

 not one has promised such results in securing 

 the greatest good to the greatest number 

 for the longest time. 



This Nation has been given three million 

 square miles of the richest, the most varied, 

 and the pleasantest of all continents. That 

 land belongs to us now, just as it has be- 

 longed to our forefathers, and as it will 

 belong to our descendants. We have the 

 right to use it and we have the power to 

 impair it. The choice is ours. We cannot 

 avoid it and we cannot delay it. That we 

 shall choose well, this meeting is the best 

 earnest and guarantee. 



The history of a nation is written best 

 of all in the progress and happiness of its 

 people. But it is written also in great move- 

 ments, great occasions and great men. We 

 are gathered here to-day in the furtherance 

 of a great movement on a great occasion and 

 in the presence of great men. 



Judge Taft l<>st no time in present- applause to subside, his declaration in 

 ing i" the audience the first speaker favor of a bond issue for internal im- 

 of the meeting. I 'resident Theodore provemcuts, if no other course seemed 



It. The President was com- 

 pelled at frequent intervals to inter- 

 rupt his remarks while waiting for the 



open, apparently meeting with the full- 

 est and heartiest approval of his 

 hearers. 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT 



G- itives of the 

 national organi- 

 Xational Cun- 

 n, and you men and 

 low citizens, I welcome you 1 

 5, to Washington and to the v 



;ered to do. No service to 

 i in time of peace could be of 

 than the work which has 

 : together. 



r task is to make the 

 ' iture as great as its pr. That 



is what the conservation of our resources 

 means. This movement means that we shall 

 not become great in the present at the ex- 

 pense of the future, but we shall provide 

 that we may show ourselves truly great 

 in the present by providing for the great- 

 ness of our children's children who are 

 to inherit the land after us. 



It is the greatest National task of to-day, 

 and I thank you for making ready to under- 

 take it. 



If you do no more than fix the National 



