The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1910-10-28

need the lalthiLl exercise OF tne pow
er which is unquestionaby ours
am bound to say that the national
government in the last 20 years under
the administration OF both parties,
Democrats and Republicans alike. has
disclosed shameless disregard for
the first principle of good govern
ment, that of the enforcement OF its
laws. Upon the statute books are to
be found laws with reference to trusts
and combinations which have been
shamefully violated and impudently
disregarded for 20 years. We are told
of a new nationalism. Let us bid its
coming God speed If it is to be a ma
tionalism which enforces the laws up
on the statute books, nationalism
which exercises powers which are UNI
questionably ours and which, in my
Judgment, are also unquestionably eff
ficient to protect fully the public well
fare For more than 20 years power
full combinations have lived in open
violation of the Sherman antitrust
law. Now and then a spasm of virtue
seizes u.s. a step is taken, the courts
uphold the law, cry of alarm goes
up from the business world, the gov
eminent puts out the white flag and
gives out that we are not going to do
anything further at present There is
not a state in the Union, even west
ern state which is now exciting the
benefcent commisseration of friends
living far away, which has not far
better enforced its laws, better pro-
tected the rights of its people and
given them a more economic govern
ment than has the national govern
ment. Let's make it part of our
party faith, inviolate and uncomprom-
ising, that so long as a law is upon
the statute books it shall be enforced;
if unfit to be enforced that it shall
be repealed Let's put an end to the
shameful and demoralizing effect upon
the whole body polite of having
statute like the Sherman law and hav-
ing men constantly and yearly and
daily defying it. l maintain that the
law as finally Interpreted by the courts
is efficient and effective. | maintain
that the powers of the national gov
eminent have not been found faulty
| insist that there has been a lack of
courage to enforce the law. And
this lack of courage in the higher
walks of like to enforce the law, this
utter disregard for the most import
ant laws upon the statute books is the
breeder of anarchy and lawlessness
throughout the whole body polite.
Conservation of Natural Resources.
The conservation of our natural re-
sources is one of those far reaching
and momentous questions calling for
the highest class of craftsmanship
and the most patriotic effort upon the
part of the citizen. It's most pronounce
ed and distinguished advocate, the
man who gave life and scope and
purpose to the cause, Is that remark
able personality, the most imposing
figure in the politics of this country
since Lincoln-eX-Preside Roose-
welt. That we should through the in
telligent means at our command pre-
vent waste and extravagant exploita-
ton, that we should through all pro-
per and available methods withhold
from the control Of monopolies and
under a system of regulation and con-
troll dedicate these natural resources
to the economic use of the people
would seem to command the approval
of all right thinking men. The Repub-
| lican party is thoroughly committed
to this task. President Taft during his
administration has brought to this
subject his best efforts and in a most
| practical and statesmanlike manner
| pointed out and secured most import
| ant legislation looking to a proper So
luton of this question. There has
| been a studied and persistent effort to
| misrepresent the west upon this sub
| ject. But the west is thoroughly in
favor of protecting and conserving
| the vast wealth which makes of the
west an empire within itself We want
/ ~
| Veloped, so regulated and controlled
| as to render them indeed the wealth
| or the people. We are more directly
interested than any other part of the
country and we are just as intelligent,
| just as patriotic-we do not claim to
be more so-as any other portion of
| this great people. We are too good
natured and have too keen a sense of
humor to be greatly disturbed over
| the self adulatory psalms and self
righteous cry which break out in var
ious parts of this country.
West Accepts Roosevelt Assurance.
In speech delivered in the city of
Denver a few weeks ago Colonel
| Roosevelt said, CONSERVATION does
ment. 1t does not mean the tying up
| OF the natural resources of the states
1t means the utilization of these re-
sources under such regulation and
control as will prevent waste and
extravaganza and monopoly, and at
+ the same time not merely permit but
encourage such use and development
as Will serve the interests of the peo-
pie generally" The west accepts with
out hesitation this policy thus an
nounced by the most advanced leader
upon this subject. We want a chance
TO develop, we want a chance to
grow. We want to take care of our
which we can place the burdens of
taxation and build up great common
wealths. What sane man would deny
us those chances? They are not in
conflict but in harmony with the
highest principles of conservation.
one of the most accomplished arts
or the demagogue is to try to interest
the people in an effort to do an i'm
possible thing in order to escape the
responsibility of doing a possible and
q right thing. Instead of addressing
themselves to the task of practical
legislation, of eliminating the crudities
OF the present system and making il
serviceable to the people, through n
studied and persistent effort some are
seeking to engender the belief that
the western states under the some
what discredited phrase of States
rights are asking that the national
/ government withhold the exercise of
It's constitutional powers in this great
| work. They would have the peopIe
believe that there is a great conflict
on between the national government
ana the states. and that a few self
erected warriors are destined to again
become preservers Of the Union. II is
an enhancing vision. The western
states not only accept but they en-
courage the exercise Of tba cons+i.,,