THE IEKIGATION AGE. 



551 



turned over to private enterprise or to the several states 

 "What the United States needs," said Mr. Hill, "is neither 

 reckless destruction nor an embargo upon our splendid 

 western commonwealths by locking up a considerable 

 portion of this one available area. The use of water with- 

 in the state is the property of the state and cannot be 

 taken from it." 



Clash Between California Men. 



The big sensation of the last day came in the meeting of 

 the Resolutions Committee in a verbal battle which almost 

 became a fist fight between Frank H. Short of California 

 and Ex-Governor Pardee of the same state. Mr. Short, 

 who had vigorously supported states' rights, advocated a 

 favorable plank in the resolution and declared that unless 

 it was inserted he would fight for it on the floor of 

 congress. 



"You can afford to," said Governor Pardee. "You're 

 paid for it. You and your $20,000 a year and fees should 

 want to fight it." 



"When I get home I'll make you prove that, Gover- 

 nor Pardee." shouted Short. 



"I will," was the answer. The two glared belligerently 

 at each other, but were kept apart. 



that there is rapidly developing a segregation in the ranks 

 of business men. He believes that there is a gradual evo- 

 lution of the moral sense, and a permanent advance in the 

 idea of social justice and it is a manifestation of a prin- 

 ciple which will soon become effective and ultimately pro- 

 vide for the greatest good to the greatest number. 



Francis J. Heney, the San Francisco graft prosecutor, 

 attacked James J. Hill and declared that there are evi- 

 dences that public opinion in this country does not have 

 a free chance to operate. He intimated broadly that men 

 like Hill controlled legislatures in some of the western 

 states and therefore were naturally in favor of states' 

 rights because they could have the disposition of natural 

 resources in their own hands. Heney charged that the 

 big interests were most powerful in dictating the appoint- 

 ment of district attorneys and that it is almost impossible 

 to punish rich and powerful men who violate the laws 

 and dispoil the natural resources of the country. 



Henry S. Graves, United States forester, said that 

 the conservation movement is at a critical period in its 

 history and presents many problems difficult of solution. 

 He said he was now trying to work out a plan for the de- 

 velopment of the water power of the west by private 

 capital while still protecting the people's interest. Other 



Part of Reservoir No. 2, on the Maxwell Irrigated Land Company's Holdings, near Maxwell, New Mexico. 



The other sensation was launched by Henry Hardtner 

 of Louisiana, chairman of the conservation association of 

 that state. He called a meeting of the conservation com- 

 missioners of the various states in the morning and there 

 declared that the congress had paid more attention to 

 politics than to conservation, and that even then there was 

 being considered in the resolutions committee a move to 

 indorse Colonel Roosevelt and ignore President Taft in 

 the resolutions. 



"If this is done it will be an insult to the president," he 

 declared, "and I'll fight it in the congress." 



The principal speech on the last day of the session 

 was by President Alfred L. Baker of Chicago on "The 

 Stake the Business Man Has in Conservation." Mr. 

 Baker gave Grover Cleveland credit for energizing the 

 conservation movement as early as 1888, and declared that 

 of the combination of capital described by him then has 

 been followed by a tremendous growth in the combina- 

 tion of capital and industry. 



President Baker is Hopeful. 



Mr. Baker pointed out the dangerous activity in our 

 political arena of the agents and members of these corpora- 

 tions. The conditions they are precipitating form a po- 

 litical and economic crisis, but he sees hope in the face 



speakers of the day were John Barrett, director general of 

 the Pan-American Union; Judge Short of California, and 

 Gifford Pinchot. 



A negligible effort was made by the Illinois delegation 

 to bring the next congress to Chicago but that question 

 will be settled in the legislative committee to be held 

 some time later. Washington, D. C.; Rochester, N. Y., 

 and Kansas City, Mo., are all trying to secure the next 

 congress. The platform as adopted by the congress Is 

 as follows: 



Platform of the Congress. 



Heartily accepting the spirit and intent of the Constitu- 

 tion and adhering to the principles laid down by Washington 

 and Lincoln, we declare our conviction that we live under a 

 government of the people, by the people, for the people, and 

 we repudiate any and all special or local interests or platforms 

 or policies in conflict with the inherent rights and sovereign 

 will of our people. 



Recognizing the natural resources of the country as the 

 prime basis of property and opportunity, we hold the rights 

 of the people in these resources to be natural and inherent, 

 and justly inalienable and indefeasible, and we insist that the 

 resources should and shall be developed, used and conserved 

 in ways consistent both with current welfare and with t*e 

 perpetuity of our people. 



Recognizing- the waters of the country as a great national 

 resource, we approve and indorse me opinion that all the 

 waters belong to all the people and hold that they should be 

 used in the interest of the people. 



