Mexico Missouri message., 1909-01-28

rlnuton OF rsWards VIII TAKE care
Of itself
The unchecked existence OF monop-
oily II incompatible with equality OF
opportunity The reason for the oN-
erciso OF government control over great
monopolles IL to eduallze opportunity.
We are hghtinG against privilege. IL
was made unlawful for corporations
to contribute money for election ox-
penses In order to abrldEe the power
OF special privilege at the polls. Rail-
road rate control In an attempt TO Sc
cure 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 coal famine
averted. because we recognized that
the control OF n public necessity In
wolves n duty TO the people, and that
public Intervention in the Affairs Of
public service corporation IL neither
To be resented as usuTpatiOn nor per-
mitted a. a privilege by the corpora
lions. but on tho contrary to be ao-
oepted as duty and exercised as a
right by the government in the In
terest OF all the people. The EN-
cheney OF the army and the navy has
been increased so that our people may
follow In peace the great work OF
making this country a better place for
Americans to live in. and our navy
was sent round the world for the same
ultimate purpose. All the acts taken
by the government during the last
seven years. and all the policies now
being pursued by the Government ne
In as parts OF a consistent whole.
The enactment Of a pure food law
was n recognition 81 the fact that the
public welfare outwciEhs the right TO
private gain. and that no man may
poison the. people for his private profit.
The employers liability bill recog-
~ la
the employer usually has at stake no
more than his pront. the stake OF the
employe Is living for himself and
his family.
We are building the Panama canal;
and this means that we are engaged
In the giant engineering feat OF ali
time. We are striving TO add in all
ways to the Availability and beauty Of
our country. We are striving 10 hold
In the public lands the remaining
supply OF unapproprintcd coal for the
protection and bencht Of all the people.
We have taken the first steps toward
the conservation OF our natural re-
sources. and the betterment OF coun-
try life and the Improvement of our
waterways. We stand for the right
OF every child to a childhood free from
grinding toll. and to an education; for
the civic responsibility and dcccncy
OF every citizen; for prudent fore
sight In public matters. and for fair
play In every relation OF our national
and economic life. In international
matters we apply system OF diplo-
macy which puts the obligations of
international morality on a level with
those that govern the actions OF an
honest gentleman In dealing with his
| fellow men. Within our own border wa
stand for truth and honesty in public
| ana In private life. and we war stern
~ against wrongdoers OF every grade.
| All these efforts are integral parts
OF the same attempt. the attempt 20
enthrone justice and righteousness, 20
secure freedom OF opportunity TO all
| OF our citizens, now and hereafter, and
| To set the ultimate interest OF all OF
US above the temporary interest OF
any individual. class or group.
The nation. its government. and It's
resources exist. hrst of all for the
| American citizen. whatever his creed
| race. or birthplace. whether he be rich
| or poor. educated or ignorant pro.
| vided only that he Is a good citizen
| recognizing his obligations TO the ma,
ton for the rights and opportunities
which he owes TO the nation.
The obligations. and not the rights
of citizenship increase In proportion &
the increase Of n mans wealth OF
power, The time Is coming when
man will be judged. not by what h,
has succeeded In getting for himself
from the common store. but by how
well he has done his duty as a citizen
and by what the ordinary citizen hal
gained In freedom OF opportunity be
cause OF his service for the common
good. The highest value we know II
that OF the individual citizen and tn,
highest justice is TO give him fail
play In the EFFORT TO realize the bes
there Is in him.
The tasks this nation has TO Dc
/ a nj d
done at all by our citizens acting to
grthcr and they can be done best o
all by the direct and simple applICa
ton Of homely common sense. Tn,
application OF common sense 70 common
problems for the common good. under
the guidance OF the principles upol
which this republic was based. and bl
virtue OF which 70 exists. spells per
petuity for the nation. civil and indus
trial liberty for its citizens ant
freedom OF opportunity In the pursui
Of happiness for the plain American
for whom this nation was founded bl
whom II was preserved. and through
whom alone II can be perpctuated
| Upon this platform-inrgcr than an,
party differences, higher than elias
prejudice, broader than any question
OF pront and loss-there is room 10
every American who realizes that tn
common good stands frst"
Accompanying the message are ex
plantations and recommendation o
work 10 be done for the future good o
the country, The president says: 1t &
| especially important that the develop
ment Of water power should be guard
ed with the utmost care both by tn
national government and by the state
In order TO protect the people agalns
the upgrOwth OF monopoly and TO In
sure TO them a fair share In the bene
hts which will follow the development
OF this great asset which belongs &
the people and should be controlled b,
them.
Il urge that provision be made 70
both protection and more rapid devel
opment Of the national forests. other
wise, either the increasing use OF thes
forests by the people must be checke
or their protection against IRE mus
be dangerously weakened. II w
compare the actual IRE damage on sim
liar areas on private and national for
est lands during the past year. tn
government ire patrol saved CONNER
cial timber worth as much as IN
I