The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1908-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Z use of the modern corporation. Cor
borations are necessary instruments OF
6odern business. They have been per-
tiled to become a menace largely be-
suse the governmental Representatives
the people have worked slowly In
oviding for adequate control over
lem.
Real damage has been done by the
nanifold and conflicting interpreta-
iops of the interstate commerce law.
Eontrol over the great corporations do
no interstate business car be effective
InI7 If it is vested with full power In
In administrative department, a branch
h the federal executive, carrying out
federal law. 1t al be eff
pctive If a divided responsibility Is
lift in both the states aud the nation.
N can never be effective If left in the
bands Of the courts to be decided by
INSULTS.
The courts hold a place Of peculiar
nd deserved sanctity under our form
I government. Respect for the law Is
ssential to the permanence Of our in
ttutions, and respect for the law Is
Brgely conditioned upon respect for
he courts. But we must face the fact
hat there are wise and unwise judges,
ust as there Ire wise and unwise ex-
cutives and legislators. When q
resident or governor behaves improp-
lily or unwisely the remedy is easy,
n his term is short. The same is
ne with the legislator, although not
the same degree. With a judge
no, being human, is also likely to
r., but whose tenure is for life, there
no similar way of holding him to
psponsibility. Under ordinary condi-
ons the only forms Of pressure to
Fhtch he is in any way amenable are
ublic opinion and the action Of his
hllow Judges. 1t is the last which is
host Immediately effective and to
Fhich we should look for the reform
abuses.
Forests.
If there is any one duty which mor
Ian another we owe it to our children
nd our children's children to perform
once it is to save the forests Of
lis country, for they constitute the
rst and most important element In
be conservation of the natural re-
burces Of the country.
Shorts1ghted persons, or persons
inded to the future by desire to
Jake money in every way out Of the
resent, sometimes speak as If no
teat damage would be done by the
ckless destruction of our forests. 1t
difficult to have patience with the
kguments of these persons. Thanks
our own ~recklessness in the use of
hr splendid forests, we have already
fossed the verge Of a timber famine
this country, and no measures that
e now take can, at least for many
bars, undo the mischief that has al
lady been done. But we can prevent
lrther mischief being done, and it
ould be in the highest degree. repre-
knsIble to let any consideration Of
mporary convenience or temporary
st interfere with such action, espe-
lilly as regards the national forests,
hich the nation can now at this very
bment control.
The president here cites in support
his contentious the great destruc-
n wrought In China by the denuda-
n of the forest areas.1
What has thus happened in northern
ina, what has happened in central
kia, in Palestine, in north Africa, in
rtS Of the Mediterranean countries
Europe, will surely happen in our
1ntry If we do not exercise that
Sc forethought which should be one
the chief marks of any people call
itself civilized. Nothing should be
Knitted to stand in the way of the
~eServation of the forests. and it is
Nminal to permit individuals to .pur-
lase a little gain for themselves
Rough the destruction Of forests
ben this destruction is fatal to the
III being of the whole country in the
lure.
Inland Waterways.
Action should be begun forthwith,
ring the present session of congress,
the improvement Of our inland wa
Ways-action which will result in
ing us not only navigable but
Eigated rivers. We have spent
ndreds of millions Of dollars upon
se waterways, yet the traffic on
Rrly all of them is steadily declin-
This condition is the direct re-
of the absence of any compre-
hSive and farseeing plan of water
= Improvement. Obviously we can.
continue thus to expend the rev
les Of the government without re-
n. 1t is poor business to spend
ney fo-. inland navigation unless
get It.
uch short sighted, vacillating and
le methods are accompanied by de.
aSing Sater borne commerce and
Teasing traffic congestion on land.
increasing floods and by the waste
public money. The remedy lies In
Rndoning the methods which have
Hs1gnally failed and adopting new
In keeping with the needs and
aands Of our people.
a report on a measure introduced
Fhe first session of the present con.
IS the secretary Of war said, ''The
et defect in the methods hitherto
Sued lies in the absence Of execu,