Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-08

not the people Of the United States
but only q very small number OF them
have been partners in that legislation.
The Labor Question.
"The so-called labor question is
question only because we have not yet
found the rule OF right id adjusting the
interests of labor and capital. Here,
again. the sense of universal partner
ship must come into play II we are TO
act like statesmen, as those VINO
serve, not class, but a nation.
''The working people Of Amerlca-
If they must be distinguished from tne
minority that constitutes the rest OF IT,
are, of course, the backbone OF the
nation. No law that safeguards their
life. that improved physical and moral
conditions under which they live, that
makes their hours of labor rational
and tolerable, that gives them free
dom to act In their own interests, and
that protects them where they cannot
protect themselves, can properly be re-
garded as class legislation or as any
thing but as a measure taken IN tne
interest Of the whole people, whose
partnership in right action we are
trying to establish and make real ana
practical. It is in this spirit that we
shall act II We are genuine spoKesineh
of the whole country.
Banking and Currency.
"In dealing with the complicated
and difficult question Of the reform OF
our banking and currency laws, 1T ID
plain that we ought to consult very
many persons besides the bankers
not because We distrust the bankers,
but because they do not necessarily
the business of the coun-
try. Notwithstanding they are 1ndispen-
sable servants OF it and may DO vast
deal to make it hard or easy. NO
mere banker's plan will meet the re-
ouirements. no matter how honestly
conceived. It should be merchants
and farmers plan as well, elastic in the
hands of those who use 1t as an IN
dispensable part Of their daily ousi-
ness.
should NOT allow ourselves to stand
upon any mere point Of pride: we are
NOT the owners Of the Philipplne
islands. We hold them in trust for the
neople who live in them. They are
theirs for the uses Of their life we
are not even their partners. 1t IS our
duty as trustees, to make whatever
arrangement of government Will be
most seryiceable to their freedom and
development. Here, again, we aTe 70
set up the rule Of justice and rient'
Conservation Question.
'I do not know any greater CUES
tion than that of conservation. we
have been spendthrift nation ana
must now husband what we nave lelt.
We must do more than that We must
develop, as we'll as preserve, our water
mowers and must add great waterways
to the transportation facilities OF the
nation. to supplement the railways
within our borders as well as upon
the Isthmus. We must revive our
merchant marine, too, and I'LL the seas
again with our own fleets. We must
add to our present postoffice service
a parcels post as complete as that OF
any other nation. We must look 70 the
health of our people upon every land,
as we'll as hearten them with Justice
and opportunity. This is the construc-
tive work OF government. This is the
nolicy that has vision and a hope and
looks to serve mankind.
Waterways and Merchant Marine. !.
"With regard to the development OF
greater and more numerous waterways
and the building up Of merchant
marine. we must follow great construc-
tive lines and not fall back upon the
cheap device OF bounties and sub.
sides. In the case OF the Mississippi
river, that great central artery Of our
trade, it is plain that the federal gov
...-..< X,rcf h,,ild and maintain the
levees and keep the great waters in
harness for the general use. 1t is plain.
too. that vast sums of money must be
spent to develop new waterways
where trade will be most served and
Transportation most readily cheapened
hy them. Such expenditures are no
largess on the part Of the government;
they are national investments.
"The very fact that we have at last
taken the Panama canal seriously in
hand and are vigorously pushing 1t
toward completion is eloquent OF our
re-awakoned interest In international