The Newark journal., 1909-01-29

 public service corporation is neither to be resented as usurpation nor per mitted as a 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 ln- terest of all the people The efn- ciency of the army and the navy hds been increased so that our people may follow in peace the great work of ma king this country a 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 pursaed by the Got ernment fit in as parts of consistent whole.
 The enactment of a prre food law was a recognition of the act that the public welfare outweiEhs the right t9 private gain and that no man may poison the people for his private profit. The employers liability bilI recog- nized 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.
 We 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 habfta bilitv 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- try life. and the improvement of our waterways. We stand for the right of every child to childhood free from grinding toil and to an education; for vii sf a nd of every citizen; for prudent fore sight in public matters. and for fair play in every relation of our national and economic life. Tn international matters we apply system of diplo- macy which puts the obligations Of international morality on 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 wrongaocrs 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, it's government. and its
 
 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 na- tion for the rights and opportunities which he owes to the nation.
 .Fhe ohi ga tions and not the rights of citizenship increase in proportion to the increase of mans wealth or power. The time is coming when man will be judged. not hy what he has succeeded in getting for himself from the common store. but by how well he has done his duty as q 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 al 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 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 its citizens. and freedom of opportunity in the pursuit of happiness for the plain American for whom this nation was founded. by whom it was preserved and through whom alone 1t can be perpetuated Upon this platform-larger than any party differences, higher than class l prejudice. broader than any question | of profit and loss-there is room for | axrg 4 apia ~1 Ia 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 Tt 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 fair share in the bene- fits which will follow the devefopment of this great asset which belongs to the people and should be controlled by them.
 "I urge that provision be made for both protection and more rapid deveI- 1pment of the national forests. Other wise either the increasing use of these forests by the people must be checked pr their protection against fire must De ddhRerouSly weakened. If we compare the actual fire damage on sim lar areas on private and national for est lands during the past year, the | government fire patrol saved commer- cial timber worth as much as the total cost of caring for all national | forests al the present rate for about | ten years.
 T especially commend to congress | the facts presented by the commits | sion as to the relation between fo~ ests and stream flow in its bearing upon the importance of the forest | lands in national ownership. With | out an understanding of this ultimate |