Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
CONTINUED from Page Two.)

blilutlOnhs ana FehpecI AOf the Jaw u
largely conditioned upon respect fos
the courts, But we must face the fact
that there are wise and unwfae judges,
Just as there are wise and unwise en-.
ecutives and legislators. When q
president or governor behaves improp-
erly or unwiseIy the remedy In easy,
for his term IL short. The same IL
true with the legislator, although not
to the same degree. With a Judge
who. being human. IL also likely TO
err. but whose tenure is for life, there
II no similar way Of holding him %
responsibility. Under ordinary condi-
tons the only forms Of pressure TO
which he IN in any way amenabIe are
public opinion and the action Of his
fellow judges. It IL the last which IL
most Immediately effective and TO
which we should look for the reform
Of abuses.
Forests.
II there IL any one duty which more
than another we owe II to our children
and our chiIdren's children to perform
at once II IN 10 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 II no
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction Of our forests. II
II dificult to have patience with the
arguments Of these persons. Thanks
to our own recklessness in the use Of
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge Of a timber famine
In this country, and no measures that
we now take can, at least for many
years. undo the mischief that has al
ready been Gone. But we can prevent
further mischief being done, and II
would be In the highest degree repre-
hensible to let any consideration Of
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action, eape-
cially as regards the national forests,
which the nation can now ct this very
moment control.
1.-THE president here cites In support
OF his contentious the great destruc-
ton wrought In China By the denuda-
tion Of the forest areas.1
What has thus happened in northern
China. what has happened in central
Asia, in Palestine, In north Africa, In
parts Of the Mediterranean countries
OF Europe. will surely happen In our
country II we do not exercise that
wise forethought which should be one
Of the chief marks Of any people call.
lng Itself civilized. Nothing should 10
permitted 70 stand in the way OF the
preservation Of the forests. and II Is
criminal 10 permit individuals to pur.
chase little gain for themselves
through the destruction Of forests
when this destruction Il fatal to the
well being Of the whole country IN the
future.
Inland Waterway.
Action should be begun forthwith.
during the present session OF congress,
for the Improvement Of our inland wa.
terways- action which win result IN
irving Us not only naylgable but
navlgated rivers, We have spent
hundreds Of millions 81 dollars upon
these waterways. yet the traffic on
nearly all OF them II steadily declin.
Ing This condition Is the direct 10.
suit Of the absence OF any compre.
henslve and farSeeing plan Of water.
way Improvement. Obviously we can.
not continue thus to expend the rev.
enuea OF the government without 70
turn Il II poor business to spend
money for inland navigation unless
wo get It.
Such shortalghted, vaclllatlng and
futile methods are accompanied by de.
creaslng water borne commerce and
Increasing traffic congestion on land,
BY Increasing foods aud by the waste
Of public money. The remedy lies IA
abandoning the methods which have
% slgnally failed and adopting new
ones IN keeping with the needs ana
demands of our people.
Ia report ON q measure introduced
at the frst session Of the present con.
Ercss the secretary OF war said. ''The
chief defect In the methods hitherto
pursued lies In the absence OF execu.
tive authority for originating compre-
hensive plans covering tho country or
natural divisions thereof In this
opinion ! heartily concur.
Until the WORK % river Improvement
y undertaken IN q modern way Il can.
not have results that win meet the
needs Of this modern nation. These
needs should bo met without further
dilly-dallylng OF delay. The plan which
promises tho best aud quickest results
y that Of a permanent commission Ru.
thoFixed TO coordinate the work Of all
The government departments relating
70 waterways and 70 frame and super
Ese the execution % q comprehensive
plan. The time for playing with our
waterways II past The country de.
mands results.
National Parks.
| urge that all cur national parks "a.
iaeent 10 national forests b. placed