The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-22
ROOSEVELT GIVES REPORT OF
NATIONAL CONSERVATION
COMMISSION
He Says Its First Consideration Is the Peoples Weare-Approves of It's
Actions Regard to Unappopriated Coal Lands Conservation
Of Natural Resources Improvement of Waterways

what is good in our social system, 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 II It is made too easy for 9th
ers. The rewards or common industry
and thrift may be too small
! If the rewards for other, and on the
whole less valuable, qualities. arc
made too large. and especially II the
] rewards for qualities which are really.
from the public standpoint. undesir-
\ able. are permitted to become too
| large. Our aim Is so far as possible
to provide such conditions that there
shall be equality of opportunity where
there is equality of energy. tidelity,
and intelligence; when there is
/ reasonable equality of opportunity the
I distribution OF rewards Will take care
I of itself
The unchecked existence OF mo-
! nopoly is incompatible with equality
of opportunity. The reason for the
exercise of government control over
! great monopolies is to equalize oppor-
! tunity We are fighting against priv
! ilege. Ii was made unlawful for cor
poTations TO contribute money for
| election expenses In order to abridge
the power of special privilege at the
polls. Railroad-rate control is an at
| tempt to secure an equality OF oppor-
tunity for all men affected by rail
transportation; and that means all OF
| us. The great anthracite coal strike
was settled. and the pressing danger
OF a coal famine averted because we
! recognized that the control OF a public
necessity involves a duty TO the peo'
PIE, and that public Intervention In
the affairs Of public-seryice corpor-
alton is neither 10 be resented as usur-
patton nor permitted as privilege
by the corporations, but on the con-
trary TO be accepted as a duty and eX-
erclsed as a right by the government
in the interest of all the people. The
efficiency OF the army a1d the navy
has been increased so that our peo-
pie 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
now being pursued by the government,
fit in as parts of a consistent whole.
Our public-land policy has 1or its
aim the use of the public land so that
1t Will promote local development by
the settlement of home makers; the
policy we champion Is to serve all the
people legitimately and openly instead
OF permitting the lands to be con
verted, illegltimately and under COW
er, to the private benefit of a few.
Our forest policy was established so
that we might use the public forests
for the permanent public good, IN
stead of merely for temporary private
gain. The reclamation act, under
which the desert parts of the public do
main are converted to higher uses FOR
the general benefit. was passed so
that more Americans might have
homes on the land.
These policies were enacted into
law and have justified their enact
rnent Others have failed, so far, to
reach the point oil action. Among
such is the attempt to secure public
control of the open range and thus TO
convert its benefits to the use OF the
small man, who is the home maker, in
stead of allowing II to be controlled
by n few great cattle and sheep own
erS
The enactment of pure food law
was recognition of the fact that the
public welfare outweighs the right 20
private gain. and that no man may
poison the people for his private profit
The employers liability bill recogniZ-
ed 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 ca
nal; and this means that We are en-
gagged In the giant engineering ;eat
of all time We are striving to add
in all ways to the habltabillty and
beauty of our country. We are striv-
ing TO hold in the public hands the
remaining supply OF unapproprlated
coal. for the protection and benefit or
all the people. We have taken the nrst
steps toward the conservation OF our
natural resources, and the bettermenJ
of country life. and the Improvement
of our waterways. We stand for the
right of every child to childhood
free from grinding toll, and 10 an ed
Ucation; for the civic responsibility
and decency of every citizen: FOR pru-
dent foresight in public matters, and
for fair play in every relation oil our
national and economic life In inter
national matters we apply a system OF
diplomacy which puts the obligations
OF international morality on level
with those that govern the actions nj
an honest gentleman In dealing with
his fellowmen, Within our own bor-
der we stand for truth and honesty III
public and in private life; and we war
sternly against wrongdoers OF every
grade. All these efforts are integral
parts OF the same attempt. the attempt
TO enthrone Justice and righteous
ness. to secure freedom OF opportunity
TO all of our citizens. now and here
after, and TO set the ultimate interest
OF all OF us above the temporary in
terest of any individual, class. or
group.
! The nation, it's government. and It's
; resources sxist first OF all. .or she
American citizen, whatever his creed,