of any nation, and patriotism first
strikes its roots in the mind of the child. Patriotism which does not
begin in early years may, though it does not always, fail under the
severest trials. I say "not always," for many men and women have proved
their patriotic devotion to this country although they were born
elsewhere. Yet, as a rule, it must begin with the children. And almost
without exception it is the mother who plants patriotism in the mind of
the child. It is her duty. The growth of patriotism is first of all in
the hands of the women of any nation. In the last analysis it is the
mothers of a nation who direct that nation's destiny.

The fundamental task of patriotism is to see to it that the Nation
exists and endures in honor, security, and well-being. Fortunately there
is no question as to our existing in honor, and little if any as to our
continuing to exist in security.

The great fundamental problem which confronts us all now is this: Shall
we continue, as a Nation, to exist in well-being? That is the
conservation problem.

If we are to have prosperity in this country, it will be because we have
an abundance of natural resources available for the citizen. In other
words, as the minds of the children are guided toward the idea of
foresight, just to that extent, and probably but little more, will the
generations that are coming hereafter be able to carry through the great
task of making this Nation what its manifest destiny demands that it
shall be.

Women should recognize, if this task is to be carried out, one great
truth above all others. That this Nation exists for its people, we all
admit; but that the natural resources of the Nation exist not for any
small group, not for any individual, but for all the people--in other
words, that the natural resources of the Nation belong to all the
people--that is a truth the whole meaning of which is just beginning to
dawn on us. There is no form of monopoly which exists or ever has
existed on any large scale which was not based more or less directly
upon the control of natural resources. There is no form of monopoly that
has ever existed or can exist which can do harm if the people
understand that the natural resources belong to the people of the
Nation, and exercise that understanding, as they have the power to do.

It seems to me that of all the movements which have been inaugurated to
give power to the conservation idea, the foresight idea, there is none
mor