Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-23
NATIONAL EFFICIENCY
THEME OF PRESIDENT
Asks Congress to Create Con-
servation Commission.
REVIEWS HIS POLICIES
Our Aim to Provide Equality Of
Opportunity
DOUBTLESS MADE MISTAKES"
Points Way to Further Accomplish
ment-Promotion of Health-In-
ventory of Resources.

ventory of Resources.
The President sent to both branches OF
Congress yesterday a special message
transmitting the report of the national
conservation commission appointed by
him, and recommending the creation of a
similar commission by Congress and ar
appropriation of $1,000 to defray its ex.
penses.
This is a small sum-" says the Presi-
dent. Il know no other way in which
the appropriation Of so small sum
would result in SO large benefit to the
whole nation
The President explains that the report
is the outgrowth of the conference OF
governors last May and was unanimously
approved by the recent joint conference
held in this city between the national
| conservation commission and governors
of states, state conservation commissions
and conservation committees of great or
ganiZationS of citizens.
The President heartily concurs with the
statements and conclusions of the report.
He believes it should have the widest
possible circulation throughout the land.
National Efficiency"
After discussing what he calls the
great basic facts that underlie the neces-
sity to make the rivers. forests. minerals
and other resources of the country serve
the people, he says:
National efficiency is the result OF
| natural resources we'll handled. OF free
dom of opportunity for every man and
of the inherent capacity. trained ability.
knowledge and will. collectively and In
divdually, to use that opportunity.
This administration has achived
some things: it has sought. but has
not been able. to achieve others; 1T has
doubtless made mistakes; but all 1t has
done or attempted has been in the
single, consistent effort to secure and
| enlarge the rights and opportunities
of the men and women of the United
| States
I'VE are trying to conserve what IS
| good in our social system, and we arc
deavor to do away with what is bad.
| Success may be made too hard for
some if it is made too easy for others.
The rewards of common industry aud
| thrift may be too small II the rewards
| for other. and on the whole less vaiu-
| able, qualities. are made too large. and
| especially if the rewards for qualities
which are really. from the public stand
point. undesirable, are permitted to be-
come too large.
Our aim is so far as possible to pro
vide such conditions that there shall be
equality of opportunity where there is
equality of energy fidelity and intel
ligence: when there is a reasonable
equality of opportunity the distribution
of rewards will take care of itself.
| "Fighting Against Privilege"
The unchecked existence of monopoly
is incompatible with equality of opportu-
nifty. The reason for the exercise of gov
eminent control over great monopoles is
to equalize opportunity. We are fighting
against privilege.
1T was made unlawful for corporations
TO contribute money for election expenses
in order to abridge the power of special
privilege at the polls. Railroad-rate con-
troll is an attempt to secure an equality OF
opportunity for all men affected by rail-
transportation: and that means all OF us.
| "The- great anthracite coal strike was
settled, and the pressing danger of a coal
famine averted. because We recognized
that the control of a public necessity in
wolves duty to the people, and that pub
lie intervention in the affairs of q public
service corporation is neither to be re-
scented as usurpation nor permitted as a
privilege by the corporations, but on the
contrary to be accepted as duty and eX-
ercised as a right by the government In
the interest of all the people.
THE efficiency of the army and the
i navy has been increased so that our peo-
pie may follow in peace the great work
of making this country better place Tor
/ Americans to live in, and our navy was
sent round the world for the same ulti-
mate purpose All the acts taken by the
government during the last seven years.
and all the policies now being pursued by
the government. MT In as parts OF COLI
sistent whole.
; Our public land policy has for its
aim the use of the public land so that
it will promote local development by
the settlement of home makers; the
policy we champion is to serve all the
people legitimat ely and openly, 1nstea
of permitting the lands to be converted
Unfortunately and under cover to the
private benefit Of few.
/ Our forest policy was established so
that we might use the public forests
for the permanent public good. instead
of merely for temporary private sain.
The reclamation act, under which the
desert parts OF the public domain are
converted to higher uses for the gener-
al benefit, was passed so that more
Americans might have homes on the
land.
Policies That Have Failed.
"These policies were enacted into
law and have justified their enactment
Others have failed, SO far, to reach
the point of action. Among such is the
attempt to secure public control of the
open range and thus to convert it's ben
efits to the use Of the small man, who is
the home maker instead of allowing ii
to be controlled by a few great cattle
and sheep owners.
The enactment of a pure food law
was a recognition of the fact that the
J public welfare outWeighs the right to
private gain. and that no man may pol
son the people for his private profit. The
employers liability bill recognized the
controlling fact that while the employer
usually has at stake no more than his
profit the stake of the employee is Iiv-
ing for himself and his family.
We are building the Panama canal
and this means that We are engaged In
the giant engineering feat of all time
We are striving to add in all ways tC
? the Availability and beauty of our cOun-
try We are striving to hold in the
public hands the remaining supply OF
' unappropriated coal: for the protection
and benefit of all the people. We have
taken the first steps toward the conser.
, walton of our natural resources, and the
betterment of country life and the i'm.
provement of our waterways
I'VE stand for the right of every child
: to a childhood free from grinding toll
}, and to an education; for the civic re.
3 sponsibility and decency of every citi
zen; for prudent foresight in public mat
tiers. and for fair play in every rela
ton Of our national and economic life
In international matters we apply a sys
- IivN1o ick, = T.