The Washington herald., 1907-10-05

is directly at stake in the momentous
decision which IS forced upon US
Shall We continue the waste and de-
struction OF our natural resources, OF
shall we conserve them2 There is no
other question OF equal gravity now be
fore the nation.
Points Plain Duty
1T IS the plain duty OF those OF US who
for the moment are responsible 70 make
inventory Of the natural resources which
have been handed down 70 US. TO forecast
as Well as we may the needs Of the fu-
ture. and so TO handle the great sources
Of our prosperity as not 10 destroy in
advance all hope for the prosperity Of
our descendants.
"As I have said elsewhere, the con-
servation Of natural resources Is the fun
dalnental problem. Unless We solve that
problem il will avail US little 10 solve all
others. To solve il. the whole nation
must undertake the task through their
organizations and associations through
the men whom they have made specially
responsible for the welfare Of the several
States, and finally through Congress and
the Executive. As a preliminary step the
Inland Waterways Commission has de-
c.ded. with my full approval, 10 call
conference on the conservation of natural
resources. including, Of course, the
streams, 20 meet iu Washington during
the coming winter This conference
ought 20 be among the most important
gatherings I'm our history. for none have
had more vital question 10 consider.
Great National Project.
There is a great national project al
ready under way which renders the i'm
prJvement Of the Mississippi River and
its tributaries specially ueedfuL mean
the Panama Canal. The digging of that
canal viii be OF benefit to the whole
country. but most OF all TO the States Of
the Pacific Slope and the Gulf; and II the
Mississippi is properly improved, 70 the
States through which II flows
We have undertaken not only 20 build
but TO police and to guard the Panama
Canal This means, unless we are Will
ing 90 accept the humiliation OF being
treated some time by some strong nation
as a vain and weak braggart, that we
must build and maintain our navy AT
the highest point OF efficiency. When the
canal is finished our navy can move from
/ one ocean TO the other at VIII. for. zee
member that our doors open on both
oceans
Means NatiOu's Welfare.
7 am striving 70 accomplish what
can I'm such matters as these, because the
welfare OF the nation imperiously de-
mands the action that I am taking.
1t is action I'm the interest of an the
/ people. and the need for il VIII be as
great long after have passed out Of
public life as it is now.
Before closing. let me say word upon
the subject oC the regulation OF the rail-
ways by Congress under the interstate
commerce clause Of the Constitution
We have merely taken the first steps
in a policy which must be permanent #
our democratic institutions are TO endure.
while. as a matter Of course. We must
also keep ever in mind that 1t is exactly
as injurious to true democracy to infiict.
as tamely to suffer. wrong. We can no
more tolerate injustice To the railroads
/ than injustice by them; one course is as
immoral and as fundamentally mischiev-
Gus and injurious 10 the people as the
other
maps hOiiWhg Stocks.
In the matter OF supervision Of the
great railway corporations We are acting
as all civilized governments have already
acted, or are ou the point of acting.
The unrestricted issue Of railway securi-
ties, without any supervision. and under
circumstances which often result in the
Eravest scandal. should not be permitted.
and only by governmental action can il
be prevented. It is already thus pre-
vented in England and Germany for In
stance
Able and unscrupulous men are sure
to deceive certain innocent outsiders and
persuade them 10 invest in ventures un-
der conditions which render loss certain
when the force of the law Is asserted.
am exceedingly sorry for these innocent
people; but it is not possible. because of
them, 10 refuse 90 proceed against the
men who have victimized them
1t is just such q case as would occur
q