The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-01-23
TRANSMITS REPORT
OF FCONSERVATIONC COMMISSION
Document Embodng Results of Extensive Investigation Nations
Resources and Containing Valuable Suggestions Best
Methods of Conserving Them, Given Congress.

made too hard for some If it is mad,
too easy for others. The reward o
| common industry and thrift may b,
too small If the reward for others, ant
on the whole less valuable, qualities
are made too large. and especially /
the rewards for qualities which ar,
really, from the public standpoint, un
desirable, are permitted to be come too
large. Our aim Is so far as possibl,
to provide such conditions that ther.
shall be equality of opportunity wher,
there is equality OF energy, fidelity
and intelligence; when there is q rea-
sonab Bile equality of opportunity the
distribution of rewards will take care
| of itself
Fighting Privilege.
The unchecked existence of monop-
| oily is Incompatible with equality OF
opportunity. The reason for the exer-
else of government control over great
monopolies is to equalize opportunity
We are fighting against privilege. 1t
was made unlawful for corporations
to contribute money to the election
expenses in order tn abridge the power
of special privilege at the polls. Rail-
road rate control is an attempt to Sc
cure an equality of opportunity for
all men affected by rail transporta-
tion; and that means all of us. The
great anthracite coal strike was set
tied. and the pressing danger of a
coal famine averted, because we
recognized that the control of a pub
people. and that public intervention in
the affairs of public service corpor-
alton is neither to be resented as
usurpation nor permitted as a privi-
lege by the corporations, but on the
contrary to be accepted as a duty and
exercised as a right by the govern
ment In the interest of all the people
Ihe efficiency of the army and the
navy 3s 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. fit in as parts of a con-
sistent whole.
Public Land Policy.
Our public-land policy has for it's
aim the use of the public land so that
it will promote local development by
the settlement of home makers; the
policy we champion Is to serve all
the people legtmately and openly
instead of permitting the lands to be
converted, illegitimately 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 domain are con-
verted 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 enactment.
Others have failed, so far, to reach
the point of 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, instead
of allowing 1t to be controlled by a
few great cattle and sheep owners.
The enactment of the pure food law
was 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
profit The employers liability bill
recognizing 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.
Building Canal.