The Washington herald., 1909-01-23

terial weH-being. In this respect oul
situation is far from satisfactory. After
every possible allowance has been made
and when every hopeful indication has
been given its full weight. the facts stu
give reason for grave concern
We know now that our rivers can and
should be made 10 serve our people ef-
fectively in transportation, but that the
vast expenditures for our waterways
have not resulted in maintaining. much
less IN promoting, inland navigation
Therefore. let rs take immediate steps tC
ascertain the reasons and TO prepare and
adopt a comprehensive plan for inland
waterway navigation that viii result ir
giving the people the benefits for which
they have paid. but which they have not
Yet received
we know now that our forests are
fast disappearing. that less than one-dfth
OF them being conserved. and that nC
good purpose can be met by falling 70
provide the relatively small sums needed
for the protection. use. and improvement
Of al forests still owned BY the govern
wasteful destruction Of the forests in
private hands. There are differences OF
opinion as 10 many public questions; but
the American people stand nearly as z
unit for waterway development and for
forest protection
Danger of Exhaustion.
I'VE know now that our mineral re-
sources once exhausted are gone forever.
and that the needless waste Of them costs
Us hundreds Of human lives and nearly
S9o9. .eoaOo0 a year. Therefore, let Us IN
dertake without delay the investigations
necessary before our people VIII be in
position, through State action or other
wise. 10 put an end to this huge loss
and waste. and conserve both our mineral
resources and the lives OF the men who
take them from the earth.
Public Land Policy.
Our public land policy has for its aim
the use Of the public land so that II viii
promote local development by the settle
ment Of h0me-makers, the policy we
champion is to serve all the people legiu-
mately and openly, instead OF permitting
the lands TO be converted, Wegitimately
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 10 higher uses for the general
benefit, was passed 50 that more Ameri-
cans might have homes on the land.
These policies were enacted into law.
and have justified their enactment.
Others have failed so far TO reach tbs
point Of action. Among such is the at
tempt 10 secure public control Of the
open range and thus 70 convert its bene-
fits 70 the use OF the small man. who is
the home-maker. instead Of allowing II
10 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 70 private
gain. and that no man may poison the
people for his private profit The en-
ployers' liability bin recognized the con
trolling fact that while the employer
usually has at stake no more than his
profit, the stake Of the employe IS a hv-
ing for himself and his family.
Task of Nation
''The tasks this nation has 10 do are
great tasks They can only be done at
all By our citizens acting together. and
they can be done best Of all by the direct
and simple application Of homelv com
mon sense The application Of common
sense 10 common problems for the COM
mon good under the guidance OF the
principles upon which this republic was
based, and by virtue OF which il exists
spells perpetuity for the nation. civil
and Industrial 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 It can be perpetUated- Upon this
platforn-large- than party differences.
higher than class prejudice, broader than
any question Of profit and Ioss-there Is
room for every American who realizes
that the common good stands first.
The national conservation commission
wisely confined its report 10 the state
ment OF facts and principles. leaving the
Executive 10 recommend the specific stems
to which these facts and principles inev-
ltably lead Accordingly. I call your at
tention 10 some OF the larger features Of