The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-01-23

way Development and fcr forest pr
tectien
We know now that our mineral ~.
sources. once exhausted. are gone for
ever and that the needless waste ~
them Gusts Us hundreds of human lives
snd nearly S3oo.0ooeo year. There.
fore let rs undertake without DELAY
the Investigations necessary before our
people will be- In position through state
action OF otherwise to put an eud 10
this huge loss and waste and conserve
both our mineral resources and the
lives of the men who take them from
/ the earth.
desire 70 make grateful acknowi
| cdgment 10 the men both in and out ~
the government service who have pre-
pared the FIRST inventory OF our natu.
raj resources They have made Il pas
Sible Tor this nation 10 take n great
step forward Their work = heipin..
rs 90 see that the greatest questions
before MS are not partisan questions
but questions upon which men 81 an
/ parties and all shades OF opinion may
Ice united FOR the common good Among
such questions. on the material side
the conservation Of natural resources
stands hrSt II ~ the bc<tCnl round ~
the ladder on our upward progress TO
ward a condition IN which the nation
~ a whole and its citizens as individu
ais will set national efficiency aud the
| public welfare before personal profit
Industrial Democracy In Danger.
The policy ~ conservation is per
I haps the most typical example OF the
general policies which this government
has made peculiarly It's own during the
opening Years 81 the present century.
/ The function 81 cur government s To
/ Insure to all It's citizens now and here
after their rights 10 life liberty and
the pursuit of happiness II we OF this
generation destroy the resources from
which our children would othcrwi Sc
I derive their livelihood We reduce The
| capacity OF cur land TO support a popu-
/ iation and So either degrade the stand.
ard - living or deprive the coming
generations 81 their right to ~. on
[ this continent II We ailow great in
| duStriai organizations TO exercise uu
regulated control ~ the means ~ PRO
I duction and the neceS>aries - life we
| deprive the Americans 81 today aud II
the future 81 industrial liberty. 4 right
| NO less precious and vital than p.lit
| icai freedom. Indus, rial liberty was 4
/ fruit Of political liberty and IN turn
has become one OF its chief supports.
and exactly as We stand for political
I demo- racy 81 we must stand FOR indus
| trial democracy
The rights To life and liberty are
/ fundamental. and. Ike other funda-
mental necessities when once acquired
/ they are little dveit upon. The right
| to the pursuit u happiness i the right
whose presence cor absence is most
/ likely to III felt in daily life Ia what
ever 60 has accomplished or failed 10
/ accomplish the administration whis a
l. just drawing 90 close has az least
seen clearly the fundamental need ~
freedom ~ Opportunity for every citi-
zen We have realized that the rirht
| - every man to live his own life. pro
vide Tor his family and cndeavor. &C
cordinS q" his abilities. To- secure for
/ himself and for them fair share ~
/ the good things ~ existence should he
subject To- one limitation and to no
| other. The freedom Of the individual
should De- limited only hy the present
and future rights. interests aud needs
~ the other individuals who make up
/ Inc community. We should do all In
our power to develop and protect lndi
ldual liberty. individual initiative. iuf
subject always 90 the need OF preserv.
iuS and promoiins the general goo,
| When necessary the private right must
Weld. under due process Of law and
/ with proper compensation. TO the vel
/ fare ~ the commonwealth. The man
who serves the community greatly
should be greatly rewarded hv the
munity. A. there i great Unequal.
iiy ~ service. So there must be great
Inequality 81 reward. but no man and
mo- SET ~ men should be allowed to |
/ play the game Of competition with
ioadcd dice
All This Is simply good common sense
The underlying principle 81 conServa.
ton Las been described as the appli. |
cation 81 common sense 10 common |
problems for the common good. II the
description j. correct then conScrva |
non i the great funda mental basis for
national efficiency. In this stage II
ihc worlds history To- be fearless. 70 he |
Just and 10 be efficient are the three
great requirements Of national life.
Asnninistratien's Aims Defended.
| This administration has achieved
some things. II has sought hut has
not been able, 10 achieve others. II
has doubtless made mistakes. but ali |
j has done or attempted has been In |
Tie single. consisten; effort 10 secure |
aud enlarge the rights and oppormni |
iir> ~ the men aud women Of the
lttet States. We are trying 10 con.
ee''r what is good In our social sys
zen. and We are striving toward this |
enc when We endeavor TO do away
win what is bad. Success may be
m'de 100 hard for some IL IL Is made |
10" easy for others. The rewards of
common industry and thrift NAV Ice
too small II the rewards for other and
on the whole less valuable Qualities
are made too large. aud especial, II
the rewards for qualities which are
rea y. from the public standpoint. un-
cesii inle are permitted to become too
large
IL unchecked existence Of monop-
oily IS Incompatible with equality Of
opportunity. The reason FOR the exer-
else ~ government control over great
mon"poiles Is 10 equalIze opportunity.
we are lighting against privilege. IL
was made unlawful for corpora tons 10 |
contr lnnte money for election expenses
In order 10 ahridge the power Of spe- |
~ n Ef