158 
Charles William Eliot, late president of Harvard University. 
The object of this association is to cryst?/ize the interest of indi- 
viduals into effective work for the furtherance of the Conserva- 
tion movement. Recently President Eliot has retired, to be suc- 
succeeded as President by iMr. Gifford Pinchot. By joining this 
society individuals who might not otherwise be able to help on 
the Conservation movement can render definite aid in a way that 
will count. 
At the present time when the fundamental points at issue are 
in danger of being obscured temporarily by the dust raised by the 
battle over minor, tho' in themselves important issues, it is es- 
pecially desirable that such an organization as the National 
Conservation Association should be given effective and hearty 
support. A very great deal depends on the passage by this Con- 
gress of the Conservation bills that are now awaiting action, es- 
pecially that ( Senate Bill 5485 ) authorizing the President to 
withdraw public lands of the United States from entry, and re- 
serve them for public purposes. If this bill passes as reported, it 
makes certain the protection of the water powers, coal, oil and 
phosphate deposits still in public ownership, until good laws can 
be passed. Decisions of the Supreme Court and various opinions 
of Attorneys-General all go to show that the President has the in- 
herent right to reserve public lands for public purposes. But of 
late this power has been doubted and questioned. The object of 
this proposed law is to make it definite and clear beyond all dis- 
pute that the . President does possess the power of withdrawal. 
Only by the vigorous exercise of executive power can the peo- 
ple’s property be effectively safeguarded, pending the enactment 
of laws adequate to the present needs. This bill is therefore the 
most important of the Conservation measures now before Con- 
gress. The National Conservation Association is engaged in an 
active campaign in favor of the passage of these Conservation 
bills and also of the defeat of certain other bills that have re- 
cently been introduced into Congress. The stronger the Associa- 
tion is in membership and funds, the more effectively can it carry 
out its program. Individuals can do little alone ; organized, a 
few earnest men are a power. All of which, put in other words 
means that the friends of Conservation in Hawaii can, if they 
will, help as much as can those on the mainland.'*' 
And here it may not be inappropriate parenthetically to remark 
that there are few parts of the Union where the factors of Con- 
servation come so close to the average man as they do here in 
Hawaii. The whole economic fabric of this Territory is bound 
up with the right use of forests, waters and lands. Under our 
characteristic conditions of climate and topography an assured 
* Membership in the National Conservation Association is two dol- 
lars a year; active members, five dollars. Mr. Hosmer will be glad to 
receive and forward the application of any one who would like to be 
enrolled. 
