The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-01-27

the control Of a puslic necessity in
wolves a duty to the people. and that
public intervention in the affairs of q
public service corporation Is neither
to be resented as usurpatfOn nor per-
mitted as q privilege by the corpora
tions. but on the contrary to be ac-
cepted as a duty and exercised as .
right by the government in the in
terest of all the people. The eff
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 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. ut
in as parts Of consistent whole.
The enactment Of a pure food law
was a recognition of the fact that the
public welfare outweighs the right 70
poison the people for his private profit.
The employers liability bill recog-
nized the controlling fact that while
the employer usually has at stake no
more than his profit. the stake Of the
employe 10 q 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 Availability and beauty Of
our country. We are striving to hold
in the public lands the remaining
supply Of unappropriated coal. for the
protection and benefit Of all the people.
We have taken the first steps toward
the conservation of our natural re-
sources and the betterment Of coun-
~ hn Svnn NJ
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 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 we
stand for truth and honesty in public
and in private life: and we war stern
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
ton 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 he
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 has
gained in freedom of opportunity be-
cause of his service for the common
good. The highest value We know is
that of the individual citizen. and the
highest justice is to give him fair
play in the effort to realize the best
there is in him.
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-
application of common sense to common
problems for the common good. under
the guidance of the principles upon
which this republic was based. and by
virtue of which it exists. spells per-
petuity for the nation civil and indus
trial liberty for it's citizens. and
freedom of opportunity in the pursuit
of happiness for the plain American.
for whom this nation was founded. by
whom alone it can be perpetuated
Upon this piatfOrm-larger than any
party differences. higher than class
prejudice. broader than any question
of profit and loss-there is room for
every American who realizes that the
common good stands first
Accompanying the message are ex-
plantations and recommendations of
work to be done for the future good of
the country. The president says: 1T is
especially important that the develop
ment of water power should be guard
ed with the utmost care both by the
national government and by the states
in order to protect the people against
the upgrOwth of monopoly and to in
sure to them a fair share in the bene-
fits which will follow the development
of this great asset which belongs to
the people and Should be controlled by
them.
Il urge that provision be made for
both protection and more rapid devel-
Opment of the national forests. Other
wise. either the increasing use of these
forests by the people must be checked
or their protection against fire must
be dangerously weakened. If we
compare the actual fire damage on SIM
liar areas on private and national for
est lands during the past year. the
government fire patrol saved CONNER
cial timber worth much as the
total cost of caring for all national
forests ut the present rate for about
ten years.
Il especially commend to congress
the facts presented by the commits
sion as to the relation between for
ests and stream flow in it's bearing
upon the Importance of the forest
lands in national ownership. With
out an understanding OF this ultimate
relation the conservation of both these
natural resources must largely fail.
The time has fully arrived for rec
ognizing in the law the responsibility
to the community. the state. and the
nation which rests upon the private
ownership of private lands. The own
erShip of forest land is a public trust
The man who would handle his forest
to cause erosion and to injure
stream flow must be not only educated
but he must be controlled"
In conclusion the president urges
upon congress the desirability Of
maintaining a national commission on
the country. He adds: Il would also
advise that an appropriation of at
least $4,000 be made to cover the ex-
penses of the national conservation
commission for necessary rent. assist
ance and travelling expenses. This is