The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-22

able equality OF opportunity the dls-
tstbution OF rewards Will take care
of itself.
"TGe unchecked existence OF monop-
oily Is Incompatible with equality of
opportunity. The reason for the ex-
ercise of government control over great
mohopolies Is TO equalize opportunity.
We are lighting against privilege. IL
was made unlawful for corporations
to contribute money for election ex-
penses i'm order to abridge the power
OF special privilege at the polls. Rail-
road rate control Is 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 a public necessity in
wolves a duty to the people. and that
public Intervention In the affairs of
public service corporation Is neither
to be resented as usurpation nor per-
mitted as a privilege by the corpora
tons but on the contrary TO be ac-
cepted as a duty and exercised as a
right by the government In the in
terest of all the people. The efh-
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
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, ft
in as parts OF a consistent whole.
THE enactment Of pure food law
was a recognition OF the fact that the
public welfare outweighs the right to
private gain. and that no man may
poison the people for his private profit.
Tht employers liability bill recog-
nlzed the controlling fact. That while
the employer usually has at stake no
more than his profit. the stake of the
employe is living for himself and
his family.
I'VE 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 to the habitability and beauty OF
our country. We are striving to hold
In the public lands the remaining
supply of unappropriated coal, for the
protection and beneht OF all the people.
We have taken the FIRST steps toward
the conservation OF our natural re-
sources. and the bett,rment 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 decency
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 a system of diplo-
macy which pnts 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 we
stand for truth and honesty In public
a a. al. a.. a
ly against wrongdoers OF every grade
All these efforts are integral parts
OF the same attempt. the, attempt to
enthrone justice and righteousness, to
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 its
resources exist, first 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 .
| tion for the rights and opportunities
which he owes to the nation.
The obligations, and not the rights,
! OF citizenship Increase In proportion To
/ the increase of mans wealth or
! power. The time Is coming when a
man will be judged, not by what lac
has succeeded in getting for himself
| from the common store, but by how
| wen he has done his duty as a citizen,
and by what the ordinary citizen has
! gained In freedom of opportunity be-
| cause Of his service for the common
| good. The highest value we know IL
! that OF the individual citizen. and the
! highest justice Is to give him fair
| play In the effort to realize the best
/ m
The tasks this nation has to do
| are great tasks. They can only be
done at all by our citizens acting to.
| gether. and they can be done best OF
all by the direct and simple applica-
tion of homely common sense. The
| application OF common sense to common
! pro>lems Tor the common good under
the guidance OF the principles upon
| which this republic was based. and by
virtue OF which II exists, spells per.
petuity for the nation. civil and indus.
trial liberty for its citizens and
freedom of opportunity In the pursuit
| of happiness for the plain American
Tor whom this nation was founded. By
whom II was preserved ana through
whom alone II can be perpetuated
| Upon this platform--lnrger than ans
party differences. higher than class
prejudice, broader than any question
OF profit and loss-there is room fol
common good stands first"
Accompanying the message are ex.
plantations and recommendations OF
work 20 be done for the future good o
the country The president says: 1T 4,
especially important that the develop
ment OF water power should be guard
ed with the utmost care both by tn,
national government aud by the states
In order TO protect the people agains
the upgrowth OF monopoly and to in
sure to them a fair share In the bene
lits 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 fot
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 ohecke,
or their protection against Are mus
be dangerously weakened II w,
compare the actual fire damage on sim
liar areas on private and national for
est lands during the past year. IN,
government fire patrol saved CONNER
cial timber worth as much as IN
total cost OF caring for all nationa
Forests at the present r.4,e for abou
ten years.
Il especially commend TO congress
the facts presented by the commits
sion as 20 the relation between for
ests ana stream flow IN its bearinj
upon the Importance OF the fores
lands in national ownership with
a.t.A -. -. 4 .aa