Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE PROCAS NEED OF CONSERVING RESOURCES

ward a condition in which the nation
as whole and its citizens as individu-
ais will set national efficiency and the
public welfare before personal profit.
Industrial Democracy In Danger.
The policy of conservation is per-
haps the most typical example of the
general policies which this government
has made peculiarly its own during the
opening 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-
lation and so 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 I'M
regulated control of the means of pro-
duction and the neceSsaries of life we
deprive the Americans of today and of
the future of industrial liberty, q 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 it's chief supports,
and 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 drawing to close has at least
seen clearly the fundamental need of
freedom of opportunity for every oiti-
zen. We have realized that the right
| of every man to live his own life. pro-
vide for his family and endeavor, ac
cording to his abilities. to secure for
himself and for them a fair share of
the good things of existence should be
subject to one limitation and to no
other. The freedom of the individual
should be limited only by the present
and future rights interests and needs
of the other individuals who make up
the community. We should do all in
our power to develop and protect indi-
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 commonwealth. The MIN
| who serves the community greatly
| should be greatly rewarded by the
community. AS there is great Unequal
: ity of service, so there must be great
inequality of reward. but no man and
no set of men should be allowed to
play the game of competition with
loaded dice. s,. -
All this is simply good common sense.
The underlying principle Of conserva-
ton has been described as the appli-
cation of common sense to common
problems for the common good. II the
description is correct then conServa-
ton is the great fundamental basis for
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.
Administrator Aims Defended.
This administration has achieved
some things. 1t has sought. but has
Dot been able, to achisve others. II
has doubtless made mistakes, but all
it has done or attempted has been In
the single, consistent effort to secure
and enlarge the rights and opportuni
ties Of the men and women of the
United States. We are trying to con
serve what is good in our social syS
TEN, and we are striving toward this
end when we endeavor 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 and thrift may bt
too small If the rewards for other and
ON the whole less valuable qualitie:
are made too large, and especially i
the rewards for qualities which ART
really, from the public standpoint, un
desirable are permitted to become too
large.
The unchecked existence of monop
oily is incompatible with equality O.
opportunity. The reason for the exer
else Of government controHover grea
monopolies is to equaliZe opportunity
, We are fighting against privilege. 1
: was made unlawful for corporations Il
contribute money for election expenses
! in order to abridge the power of spe
cial privilege at the polls. Railroad
rate control is an attempt to secure al
equality of opportunity for all men af
fected by rail transportation, and tina
means all Of US. The great anthracite
coal strike was settled and the press
ing danger of a coal famine averte,
: because we recognized that the con
troll of public necessity involves
duty to the people and that publ
Intervention In the affairs Of publ
: service corporation is neither to b
resented as usurpation nor permitte,
| On q prfyilpoo nv the cornorationS but