the development of children, more than 5,000 of whom have come to light under my supervision, and where I find an intelligent mother and an intelligent father I find that their offspring are conserved, and by the conserving of this natural resource we build up a manhood and a womanhood, a citizenship, that conserves all the other resources of our country. If they are neglected, the moral and physical condition is dwarfed. It is important above all other things that we conserve the better part of our children, train them in the way that will lead them to usefulness, and teach them how to conserve the resources of nature that God has given them in His wisdom. To our mothers and to our daughters who will become mothers, or ought to, we look for the conservation of our natural resources in children and for the perpetuation of our nation. (Loud applause.) MR. JOEL SHOMAKER, WASHINGTON. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: "What is conservation doing in my State?" This is a short question, but it takes a long time to answer it. In the first place, the Legislature of the State of Washington has done this much: it has passed a law to conserve the morals and health of the boys of the State by making it a misdemeanor to have the makings of a cigarette in their possession. The Legislature has also passed a law, known as the Local Option Law, which gives each community the right to protect its homes against the invasion of that foe to humanity, the modern saloon. The Legislature has also passed a bill giving us the right of American citizenship in voting direct upon all propositions, that of the Direct Primary. About a year ago, after the Congress of Governors at Washington, D. C., the Governor appointed a Conservation Commission consisting of twenty-four members. By the way, I wish to say that in recognition of the fact that the mothers of this land are as much interested in conservation as the fathers, the Governor appointed, I think, eight of our ladies of the State of Washington as members of that commission. The Washington Conservation Association, which entertains you here today, is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington and has now a paid membership of about one thousand. We expect to have within the next few years ten thousand members. The Washington Conservation Commission had one official meeting previous to the meeting of the Legislature last January, and at that meeting several advisory measures were passed without a dissenting voice. One provides $5,000 to be expended in two years for investigating the methods of utilizing the logged-off lands of western Washington. Three million acres of logged-off lands and five million acres of remaining timber lands that will be available for agricultural purposes in a few years and will be cleared are now being investigated. The Legislature has also appropriated $30,000 to be used in mapping and surveying the vacant lands of the State, the logged-off and arid lands. The Department of Agriculture has supplemented that by another $30,000, so that we have $60,000 for use in the next two years for making a survey and the mapping of all the areas. In addition to this, the Legislature, after the recommendation of the State Commission, considered and passed a bill appropriating for the next two years $46,000 for the purpose of fighting forest fires in the State of Washington. This legislation gives us one State Warden and one DeputyWarden in each county of the State, to fight forest fires, and, in addition to that, the people of the State, through their own loyalty and patriotism and love of country, have organ ized a State Forest Fire Association, composed of private citizens of the State. This association is well equipped, and it spent $25,000 last year and this year $50,000 in fighting forest fires of the State of Washington. Furthermore, the State Agricultural College has an appropriation for reforesting the denuded sections of the country. (Long continued applause.) The Secretary then read a letter from Mr. Hu Maxwell, of West Virginia, who was unable to be present. J. B. WHITE: In connection with the Committee on Resolutions, I beg to announce that sixteen of the States have handed in to me the names of those who have attended at this Congress and who are appointed by the delegates on this committee, and I wish to state that this committee will meet immediately after this meeting adjourns. The following names were handed in: Oregon-H. D. LANGILL. New Mexico-HON. W. A. FLEMING JONES Rhode Island-H. A. BARKER. Missouri-J. B. WHITE District of Columbia-W J MCGEE Hawaii-RALPH S. HOS MER. Nebraska-P. H. MORLEY. Wyoming-J. D. TOWAR. California-GEORGE C. PARDEE. Louisiana-H. E. HARDTNER. Utah-O. J. SALISBURY. Indiana-W. S. DAVIS. Pennsylvania-A. B. FARQUHAR. Washington-HON. C. H. HANFORD. This concluded the business of the afternoon and the Congress then adjourned, to meet again on Friday, August 27, in the Fine Arts Building at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. SECOND DAY. Friday, August 27. MORNING SESSION, 9.30 A. M. PRESIDING OFFICER, JOSEPH N. TEAL, MEMBER JOINT COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION. The meeting was called to order and the Rev. Dr. G. R. Cairns pronounced the invocation as follows: Our Father in Heaven, we come to Thee this morning, thanking Thee for the fact that we live on this splendid age, this age of splendid opportunities, and we rejoice in the fact, our Father, that Thou hast given into our hands these magnificent resources and that we are privileged now to take part in anticipating the needs of those coming after us. Forgive us for the wicked sin of the self-centered life, thinking only of what we have today and forgetting that we are to enter into greater blessings in the days before us. And now, we pray Thee that wisdom may be given to those who lead our thoughts and to those who are planning for the future of our nation. We praise Thee that we can see in these common gifts to us today all these opportunities and privileges, and we thank Thee that we are enabled, by the wisdom which comes from Thee, to conserve these forces, physical, mental and moral. We pray Thee that Thou wilt help each one of us to give the best of his ability and help in the advancement of this cause. We thank Thee that this Congress was called together and pray that Thou wilt guide the men at its head with wisdom to form a permanent organization which shall go forward in power and usefulness, that those who follow will rise up and call us blessed, as those who had wisdom to foresee the needs of the hereafter. Hear us; give us wisdom and direction this day. We ask it in the name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. J. B. WHITE: The Committee on Resolutions was asked to report today. They find that they will be unable to do so, and ask for further time. They would ask that all resolutions be handed in by noon today to the Secretary, Dr. McGee. THE CHAIRMAN: If there is no objection to this extension of time, the motion will be considered by the chair as unanimously carried. J. B. WHITE: This Committee will meet immediately after the morning session in some room in this building. B. N. BAKER: With reference to the Committee on Permanent Organization, we had a very interesting meeting last night of the sub-committee and would ask for a little more time. We think we shall be prepared at the opening of the afternoon session to make our report and should like to ask each member of the Committee to meet immediately after adjournment here, this morning, in the room at the back of this hall. THE CHAIRMAN: I have much pleasure in stating that I have just received a telegram which I wish to read: Executive Office, Beverly, Mass., First National Conservation Congress, August 26, 1909. Seattle, Wash. I congratulate you on the object of your meeting and sincerely hope that your deliberations will result in useful conclusions. You can count upon the earnest support of this Administration of the policy of conservation of natural resources by every reasonable means properly within the Federal Executive jurisdiction, and such recommendations to Congress as may be best adapted to secure useful legislation toward the same end. WILLIAM H. TAFT. The message from the President was received with loud and prolonged applause. |