Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-09

porations are necessary instruments of
modern business. They have been per-
mitted to become menace largely be-
cause the governmental representatives
Of the people have worked slowly in
providing for adequate control over
them.
Real damage has been done by the
manifold and conflicting interpreta-
lions Of the interstate commerce law.
Control over the great corporations do
ing interstate business can be effective
only if it is vested with full power in
an administrative department. a branch
Of the federal executive, carrying out
q federal law. 1t can never be eff
fective If a divided responsibility is
left In both the states and the nation
1t can never be effective If left in the
hands of the courts to be decided by
lawsuits.
The courts hold place of peculiar
and deserved sanctity under our form
of government. Respect for the law is
essential to the permanence of our in
situations, and respect for the law is
largely conditioned upon respect for
the courts. But we must face the fact
that there are wise and unwise judges,
just as there are wise and unwise ex-
ecutives and legislators. When a
president or governor behaves improp-
erly or unwisely the remedy is easy,
Tor his term is short. The same is
true with the legislator, although not
to the same degree. With a Judge
who, being human, is also likely to
efr, but whose tenure is for life, there
is no similar way Of holding him to
responsibility. Under ordinary condi-
lions the only forms Of pressure to
which he is in any way amenable are
public opinion and the action of his
fellow judges. 1t is the last which is
most Immediately effective and to
which we should look for the reform
Of abuses.
Forests.
If there is any one duty which more
than another we owe 1t to our children
and our children's children to perform
at once 1t is to save the forests Of
this country, for they constitute the
first and most important element in
the conservation Of the natural re
sources Of the country.
Shortsighted persons, or persons
blinded to the future by desire to
make money in every way out Of the
present, sometimes speak as If no
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction Of our forests. 1t
Is difficult to have patience with the
arguments Of these persons. Thanks
70 our own recklessness In the use of
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge Of timber famine
n this country, and no measures that
we now take can, at least for many
years, undo the mischief that has al
'eady been done. But we can prevent
'urther mischief being done, and it
would be In the highest degree repre-
lensible to let any consideration of
temporary convenience or temporary
'ost Interfere with such action, espe-
tally as regards the national forests,
which the nation can now at this very
moment control
1.-The president here cites In support |
II his contentious the great destruc- I!
lon wrought in China by the denuda- |
ion of the forest areas.l
What has thus happened in northern |
,hina, what has happened in central
ASIA, In Palestine, In north Africa, in |
'arts of the Mediterranean countries
f Europe, will surely happen in our
ountry If we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
4 the chief marks of any people call
ne itself civilized. Nothing should be |
ermitted to stand in the way of the
reservation of the forests, and it is
to permit individuals to pur-
base little gain for themselves
Trough the destruction Of forests
Then this destruction is fatal to the
yell being of the whole country In the
uture.
Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
urlng the present session Of congress,
or the Improvement Of our inland wa
erways-action which will result In
living US not only navigable but
avigated rivers. We have spent
of millions Of dollars upon
hese waterways, yet the traffic on
early all Of them Is steadily declin-
lg. This condition is the direct re-
ult OF the absence Of any compre-
ensive and farseeing plan of water
'ay improvement. Obviously we can
OF continue thus to expend the rev.
nues Of the government without re-
Urn. 1t Is poor business to spend
ioney for inland navigation unless
re get 1t.
Such shortsighted, vacillating and
ltile methods are accompanied by de-
reasing water borne commerce and
lcreasing traffic congestion on land,
y increasing floods and by the waste
public money. The remedy lies in
the methods which have
, signally failed and adopting new
hes In keeping with the needs and
Of our people.
In report on a measure introduced
the first session Of the present con-
ress the secretary Of war said, "The
nfaf 1nfant On tho yanthNIc ks4lo-.~ |