Gilpin observer., 1913-12-04

l
of their life, their local instrumentali-
ties Of government, their schools, all
the common interests of their commu-
mites, and SO by counsel and expert
ence set up government which all
the world will see to be suitable to a
people whose affairs are under their
own control. At last, hope and be-
lieve, we are beginning to gain the
confidence of the Filipino peoples. By
their counsel and experience, rather
than by our own, we shall learn how
best to serve them and how soon 1t
will be possible and wise to withdraw
our supervision. Let us once find the
path and set out with firm and conf
dent tread upon it and we shall not
wander from 1t or linger upon 1t.
Double Duty Toward Alaska.
A duty faces US with regard to Alas
ka which seems to me very pressing
and very Imperative; perhaps I should
say double duty. for It concerns both
the political and the material develop |
ment Of the territory. The people of |
Alaska should be given the full terri |
torial form of government, and Alas
ka, as a storehouse, should be un-
locked. One key to 1t is a system of
railways. These the government
should itself build and administer. and
the ports and terminals 1t should itself
control in the interest of all who wish
to use them for the service and de-
velopment of the country and its peo-
Pile.
But the construction Of railways Is
only the first step; Is only thrusting
in the key to the storehouse and
throwing back the lock and opening
the door. How the tempting resources
of the country are to be exploited Is
another matter, to which l shall take
the liberty of from time to time call
ing your attention, for it Is a policy
which must be worked out by we'll
| considered stages, not upon theory.
r but upon lines of practical expediency.
| 1t is part of our general problem of
, conservation. We have a freer hand
! in 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
n use the resources of the country, not
v lock them up. There need be no con-
+ f1ict or jealousy as between state and
federal authorities. for there can be
q | uO eSSeulldl ulueTeuCt VI puIpOo0 pC-
:. tween them. The resources in ques-
|. tfon must be used, but not destroyed
I. or wasted; used, but not monopolized
d upon any narrow idea of individual
rights as against the abiding interests
q of communities. That policy can be
q worked out by conference and conces-
If sion which will release these resources
II and yet not leopard or dissipate
h. them, for one have no doubt; and 1t
If can be done on lines OF regulation
ir which need be no less acceptable to
NJ the people and governments of the
n. states concerned than to the people
m and government Of the nation at large,
10 whose heritage these resources are
= We must bend our counsels to this
RI make agreement easy.
as Specially Important.
at Three or four matters Of special i'm.
OF portance and significance | beg that
r. you will permit me to mention In clos.
n ing.
ts Our bureau of mines ought to be
le equipped and empowered to render
ct even more effectual service than 1t
8. renders now in improving the condi.
" tions of mine labor and making the
Is mines more economically productive
20 as well as more safe. This is an all
T. important part of the work Of con-
servation; and the conservation of
human life and energy lies even near.
er to our interest than the preserva-
tfon from waste of our material re-
L sources
We owe 1t, in mere Justice to the
. railway employees OF the country. to
provide for them a fair and effective
employers liability act: and law
= that we can stand by in this matter
= VIII be no less to the advantage of
those who administer the railroads of
= the country than to the advantage of
those whom they employ. The expert
ence OF large number OF the states
" abundantly proves that
We ought to devote ourselves to
meeting pressing demands of plain
Justice like this as earnestly as to
the accomplishment of political and
economic reforms. Social Justice
comes first. Law is the machinery for
Its realization and is vital only as 1t
expresses and embodies 1t.
Safety at Sea.
An international congress for the
discussion. OF all questions that affect
safety at sea Is now sitting in London
at the suggestion OF our own govern.
ment. So soon as the conclusions Of
that congress can be learned and con-
sidered we ought to address ourselves.
among other things to the prompt
alienation of the very unsafe, unjust.
and burdensome conditions which now
surround the employment Of sailors
and render 1t extremely difhcult to |
obtain the services OF spirited and |
competent men such as every ship |
needs II It Is to be safely handled |