The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-22

the control of a public necessity in
wolves duty to the people, and that
public intervention in the affairs or
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 a
right by the government in the interest
of all the people. The efficiency of the
army and the navy has been increased
so that our people may follow in peace
the great work of making 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 pursued by the gov
eminent, fit in as parts of a consistent
whole.
Public Land Policy.
Our public-land policy has for it's
aim the use of the public land so that
it will promote development by the
settlement of home makers; the policy
we champion is to serve all the people
legitimately and openly, instead of per-
hitting the lands to be converted, IL
legitimately and under cover, 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, instead of
merely for temporary private gain.
The reclamation act, under which the
desert parts of the public domain are
converted to higher uses for the gen
eral benefit, was passed so that more
Americans might have homes on the
land.
These policies were enacted into law
and have justified their enactment.
Others have failed, so far. to reach the
point of action Among such IS the at
tempt 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, instead of al
lowing it to be controlled by a few
great cattle and sheep owners.
The enactment of a pure food law
was a recognition of the fact that the
public welfare outweighs the right to
private gain, and that no man may
poison the people for his private pro-
fit. 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 is a living for himself and his
family.
The Panama Canal.
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 Availability and beauty of our.
country. We are striving to hold in
the public hands the remaining sup
ply of unappropriated coal, for the
protection and benefit of all the peo-
pie. We have taken the first steps to-
ward the conservation of our natural
resources, and the betterment of coun-
try life, and the Improvement of our
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 foresight in
public matters, and for fair play in
every relation of our national and &C.
onomic life In international matters
we apply a system of diplomacy which
puts the obligations of international
m orality on a level with those that
govern the actions of an honest gen.
tleman in dealing with his fellow-men.
Within our own border we stand for
truth and honesty in public and in pri-
vate life; and we war sternly against
Of every grade. All these
efforts are integral parts of the same
the attempt to enthrone JUS
tice and righteousness, to secure free
dom of opportunity to all of our citi-
zens, now and hereafter, and to set the
ultimate interest of all of us above the
interest of any individual,
class or group.
The nation, its government, and it's
resources exist, first of all, for the
Am erican citizen, whatever his creed,
race, or birthplace, whether he be
rich or poor, educated or ignorant,
provided only that he is a good citizen,
his obligations to the ma
ton for the rights and opportunities
The obligations. and not the rights,
Of citizenship increase in proportion to
the increase of a 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
we'll he has done his duty as a citizen,
and by what the ordinary citizen has
gained in freedom Of opnort11n'tr no
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 Nations Tasks.
The tasks this nation has to do are
great tasks. They can only be done
1T all by our citizens acting together,
and they can be done best of all by
he direct and simple application of
1omely common sense. The application
Of common sense to common problems
,or the common good, under the guild
ance of the principles upon which this
'epublic was based, and by virtue of
which it exists. spells perpetuity for
he nation, civil and industrial liberty
'or its citizens, and freedom of oppor-
unity in the pursuit of happiness for
he. plain American. for whom this ma
ion was founded, by whom it was pre-
served, and through whom alone it can
De perpetLated. Upon this platform
arSer Inan party QlHerenceS, h1Sner
han class prejudice, broader than any
question and loss-there Is room for ev-
cry American who realizes that the
common good stands first
The national conservation commits
sion wisely confined it's report to the
statement of facts and principles, leav-
ng the executive to recommend the
specific steps to which these facts and
principles inevitably lead. According
y, call your attention to some of the
n 10 Cit or n =
closed by the report, and to the action
thereby clearly demanded for the gen.
sral good.
Control of the Waters.
The report says:
within recent months it has been