Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-01-29

neglectlnG for n time, II need be. smaller
and lees vital questions, shall concentrate
an effective part of our attention upon
the great material foundations of ma
tional existence. progress. and prosperity.
"The first of all considerations is the
permanent welfare of our people; and
true moral welfare, the highest form of
welfare. can not permanently exist save
on firm and lasting foundation of mate
rial well-being. In this respect our stu-
alton is far from satisfactory. After
every possible allowance has been made,
and when every hopeful indication has
been given its full weight, the facts still
give reason for grave concern. 1t would
be unworthy of our history and our in
tellieenCe, and disastrous to our future,
TO shut our eyes to these facts or at
tempt TO laugh them out of court. The
people should and will rightly demand
that the great fundamental questions
shall be given attention by their rep
resentatives. I do not advise hasty or ILL
considered action on disputed points, but
I do urge, where the facts are known
where the public interest is clear, that
neither indifference and inertia, nor ad-
verse private interests, shall be allowed
10 stand in the way of the public good
1.-THE great basic facts are already well
known We know that our population is
now adding about one-fifth to its numbers
in ten years, and that by the middle of
the present century perhaps l5O,O00.0O0
Americans. and by its end very many
millions more. must be fed and clothed
from the products OF our soil.
1--WE know now that our rivers can and
should be made to serve our people ef-
ectively In transportation, but that the
asst expenditures for our waterways
have not resulted in maintaining much
less in promoting, inland navigation.
Therefore, let us take immediate steps to
oil, tfnA nd To md
adopt a comprehensive plan for inland
waterway navigation that will result in
giving the people the benefits for which
they have paid but which they have not
yet received, We know now that our for
ests are fast disappearing, that less than
one-fifth OF them are being conserved.
and that no good purpose can be met by
falling to provide the relatively small
sums needed for the protection, use, and
Improvement OF all forests still owned by
the government, and to enact laws to
check the wasteful destruction OF the for
ests In private hands.
1--WE know now that our mineral re-
sources once exhausted are gone for
ever. and that the needless waste OF
them costs us hundreds of human lives
and nearly $780, 100000 year. Therefore
let us undertake without delay the In
Yestigations necessary before our people
will be in position, through state action
loss and waste. and conserve both oui
mineral resources and the lives of the
men who take them from the earth.
This administration has achieved
some things; 1t has sought, but ha,
not been able to achieve. others; Il
has doubtless made mistakes; but al
II has done or attempted has been In
the single. consistent effort to Sc.
cure and enlarge the rights and oppor
tunlties OF the men and women of tn,
United States. We are trying to con
serve what Is good in our social sys
tenn, and we are striving toward this
end when we endeavor to do away with
what Is bad. Success may be made tot
hard for some II II is made too cas-,
for others. The rewards OF common
Industry and thrift may be too small
n the rewards for others, and on th'
whole less valuable. qualities. ar,
made too large, and especially II tn,
rewards for qualities which nre really
from the public standpoint. undesir
able. are permitted TO become to'
large Our aim Is 80 far as possibl,
10 provide such conditions that ther'
shall be equality OF opportunity wher
there Is equality OF energy. fidelity an'
Intelligence; when there is a reason