The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-02

lIluueEN EllE8EgtlSEHA " 44ttr thRh3ttt ssesst4
Sens Of the achipelsgo { ne essential
Iinstraments of their life their local
|1nstrumentalitie Sf government,
their schools, an the common inter
ests of their commlnit lies, and so by
counsel and experience set up a gov
eminent which ali the world will see
to be suitable to a people whose af-
fairs are under their own control.
At last, hope and believe, we are
beginning to gain the confidence Of
the Filipino peoples. BY their coun-
sci and experience, rather than by
our own, we shall learn how best to
serve them and how soon it will be
possible and wise to withdraw our
supervision. Let US once <6hd the
path and set out With firm and con-
fident tread upon itand we shall not
wander from it or lipger upon it.
Duty to Alaska.
a duty faces us with regard to
Alaska which seems to me very
pressing and very imperative; per-
haps should say double duty, for
it concerns both the political and the
material development of the terri
tory. The people of Alaska should
be given the full, territorial form
of government, and Alaska, as a
storeh should be unlocked. One
key to it is a system of railways.
These the government should itself
build and administer, and the ports
and terminals it should itself con-
troll in the interest of all who wish
to use them for the service and de-
velopment OF the country and Its
people. 4 sEi'
But the construction Of railways
is only the first step; is only thrust
ing in the key to the storehouse and
throwing back the lock and opening
the door. How the tempting re-
sources of the country arc to be OK
plotted is another matter, to which
shall take the liberty Of from time
to time calling your attention, for
it Is a policy which must be worked
out By we'll considered stages not
upon theory, but upon linessof nrac-
tical expediency.s II is part Of our
general problem Of conservation. We
have freera handsin working out
the problem in Alaska than in the
states of the Union; and yet the
principle and object are the same,
wherever we touch It. We must use
the resources of the country, not lock
them up. There need be no conflict
or jealousy as between state and fed
cral authorities, for there can be nc
essential difference of purpose be-
tween them. The resources in qucs'
tion must be used, but not destroyed
or wasted; used, but not monopoliz-
cd upon any narrow idea Of individ-
ual rights as against the abiding in
tercsts of communities. That a pol.
icy can be worked out by confer.
encc and concession which will re.
lease these resources and yet not
leopard or dissipate them, / for on
Lave no doubt; and it can be done
on lines of regulation which need be
no les sacceptable to the people and
no less acceptable To the people and
than to the people and government
OF the nation at large, whose herit'
age these resources are. We must
bend our counscls to this end. A
common purpose ought to make
agreement easy.
Three or four matters Of special
Importance and significance bcg
that you will permit me to mention
IL closing.
Bureau Of Mines.
Our Bureau of Mines ought to bt
equipped and empowered to render
even more effectual service than Il
renders now in improving the condl
tions of mine labor and making thu
mines more economically productive
as we'll as more safe. This is an all
Important part Of the work of con
ScrMtion: and the conservation Of
Human life and energy lies even
Eearer to our interest than the pre-
seryatton from waste Of our material
resources,
We owe it, in mere Justice to tht
i railway employees Of the country, Il
provide for them fair and effective
employers liability act; and a law
that we can stand by in this matter
will be no less to the advantage OIL
those who administer the railroads
of the country than to the advantage
Of those whom they employ. Tho
experience Of Il largo number OF The
states abnndantly proves that.
We ought to devote ourselves Il
meeting pressing demands of plain
Justice like this as earnestly as Il
the accomplishment of political and
economic reforms. Social justice
comes first. Law Is the machinery
for It's realization and is vital only
as it expresses and embodies it.
Safety at Sea.
An international congress for the
discussion of all questions that af'
feet safety at sea is now sitting in
London at the suggestion OF our own
government. So soon as the conclu'
sionS of that congress can be learn.
cd and considered We ought to ad.