Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-01-28

ing, much less in promoting. inland
navigation. Therefore let us take i'm
mediate steps 60 ascertain the reasons
and to prepare and adopt II compre-
hcnsive plan for inland waterway nav
igation that will result I'm giving the
people he benefits for which they have
paid. but which they have not yet re-
ccivcd. We know now that our forests
are fast disappearing, that less than
one-hfth of them are being conserved
ana that no good purpose can be met
b. failing To- provide the relatively
small sums needed for tho protection.
use and improvement Of all forests still
owned by The government and ia enact
laws to check the wastofu destruction
Of the forests in private hands There
are differences of opinion as to mnny
public questions, but the American peo-
pie stand nearly as unit for water
way development ard for forest pro.
lection.
We know now that our mineral re-
sources, once - austed. are gone for
ever and that the needless waste of
them costs Us hundreds of human lives
and nearly $3o000o,OOO year There
fore let us undertake without delay
tho Investigations necessary before our
people will be in position through state
action or otherwise to put an end to
this huge loss and waste and conserve
both or mineral resources and the
lives Of the men who take them from
the earth.
! desiro - make grateful acknowl-
edgment to the men both in and out Of
the government service who have pre-
pared tho first inventory Of our natu-
raj resources. They have made il pos.
Sihle for this nation to take q great
step forward Their work is helping
US to sec that the greatest questions
before us are not partisan questions.
but questions upon which men Of all
parties ard al shades of opinion may
be united for che common good. Among
such questions, on the material side.
the conservation OF natural resources
stands first. 1t IS the bottom round Of
the ladder on our upward progress to-
ward condition IN which the nation
as 4 whole and It's citizens rs individu.
els will set national efficiency and tho
public welfare before personal profit
industrial Democracy In Danger
The policy Of conservation Is per.
haps tho most typical example Of the
general policies which this government
has made peculiarly its own during the
orcning years Of the present century.
The function OF our government is to
insure TO all its citizens now and here
after their rights to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. If we Of this
generation destroy the resources from
which our children would otherwise
derive their livelihood We reduce the
capacity of our land to support popu-
iation and 50 either degrade the stand
ard Of living or deprive the coming
generations of their right to life on
this continent. If we allow great in
dustrial organizations to exercise IN
regulated control of the means Of pro
duction and the nccessnries Of life we
deprive the Americans Of today and of
the future Of indus trial liberty, Il right
no less precious and vital than polit-
ical freedom. Industrial liberty was a
fruit Of political liberty and in turn
has become one Of its chief supports,
aud exactly as we stand for political
democracy so we must stand for indus
trial democracy.
The rights to life and liberty are
fundamental, and. like other funda-
mental necessities. when once acquired
they are little dwelt upon. The right
to the pursuit Of happiness IS the right
whose presence or absence is most
likely TO be felt in daily life In what
ever 1t has accomplished or failed to
accomplish the administration which
is just dra wing to a close has at least
seen clearly the funda mental need OF
freedom of opportunity for every citi-
zen. We have realized that the right
of every man to live his own life, pro-
vide for his family and endcavor. ac-
cording to his abilities. to secure TO.
himself and for thcm fair share of
the good things Of existence should be
subject to one limitation and TO no
other. The freedom OF the individual!
shoulC be limited only by the present
and future rights, interests and needs
of the ether individuals who make up
the community. We should DO all in
our power to develop ana protect lrdi-
vidual liberty, individual. initiative, but
subject always to the need Of preserv-
ing and promoting the general good.
When necessary the private right must
yield, under due process OF law and
with proper compensation, to the well
fare OF the wealth The man
WHO serves the community greatly
should be greatly rewarded by the
community. As there is great ineQual-
ity Of service, so there must be great
inequality Of reward. but 10 man md
no set Of men should be allowed ia
play the game Of competition with
loaded dice.
All this Is simply good common sense
The underlying principle Of conserva
ton has been described as the appli-
problems for the common good. If the
description Is correct, then conserva
ton Is the great funde mental basis fol
national efficiency. In this stage OF
the worlds history to be fearless, to be
Just and to be efficient are the three
great requirements Of national life.
Administrations Aims Defended.
This administration has achieved
some things. 1t has sought. but has