Oxford eagle., 1913-12-04

Of their life. their local inarumeutaii
ties Of government. their schools, all
the common interests OF their commn.
mites. and 50 BY counsel and expert
ence set up a government which al
the world will see to be suitable to a
people whose Affairs are under their
own control At last. I hope and Be-
lieve. ne are beginning TO gain the
confidence Of the Filipino peoples Hy
their counsel and experience. rather
than by our own. We shall learn hos
best 70 serve them and how soon II
will be possible and wise to withdraw
our supervision. Let us once and the
path and set out with nrm and coma
dent tread upon II and we shall not
wander from Il or linger upon H.
Double Duty Toward Alaska.
A duty faces us with regard 10 Alas
IA which seems to ne very pressing
and very imperative: perhaps should
say double duty. for n concerns both
the political and the material develop
ment o. the territory. The people OF
Alaska should be given the full terri
torial form OF government. and Alas
Ia. as a storehoase. should Be un-
locked. One key to II 10 q system OF
railways These the government
should itself build and administer. and
the ports and terminals Il should itself
control in the interest OF all who wish
to use them for the service and de-
velopnent Of the country and its peo-
pie.
But the construction OF railways Is
only the first step. Is only thrusting
In the key to the ssorehouse 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 shall take
the liberty OF from time to time cali
ing your attention. for II Is a policy
which must be worked out By we'll
considered stages. not upon theory.
but upon lines OF practical expediency.
II Is part OF our general problem OF
conservation We have q freer hand
In working out the problem IN Alaska
than In the states Of the linton: and
yet the principle ane object are the
same. wherever We touch H. We must
use the resources Of the country, not
lock them up. There need BE- no con
1ict or jealousy as between state and
federal authorities. for there can be
no essential difference OF purpose be-
tween them The resources In ques-
ton must be used. but not destroyed
or wasted. used. but not monopoIixed
upon any narrow idea OF individual
rights as against the abiding interests
Of communities. That a policy can b.
worked out by conference and eonces-
sion which will release these resources
and yet not leopard or dissipats
them. I for one have no doubt: and II
can be done on lines OF regulation
which need r. TO less acceptable 20
the people and governments Of the
states concerned than to the people
and government Of the nation af large.
whose heritage these resources are
We must bend our crnnseis to this
end A common purpose ought to
ma&e agreement easy.
Specially Important
Threesor four matters OF special in
portance and Significance beg that
you wirbpermit me to mention IN clos
ing
Our bureau OF mines ought to be
equipped and empowered to render
even more eTectual service than II
renders now in improving the condi-
tons Of mine labor and making the
mines more economically productive
as well as more safe This Is an all
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-
tion from waste of our material re-
sources.
We owe il. in mere justice to the
railway employees OF the country. to
provide for them a fair and effective
employers liability act: and a law
that we can stand BY in this matter
will 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 20
the accomplishment OF political and
economic reforms Social Justice
comes first. Law is the machinery for
its realization and Is vital only as II
expresses and embodies II.
safety at Sea
An international congress for the
discussion OF all questions that affect
safety at sea Is now sitting in London
az 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 Il extremely difficult to
obtain the services OF spirited and
competent men such as every ship
needs n II Is to be safely handled
and brought TO port.
May I not express the very real
pleasure ! have experienced in CO
operating with this congress and shar-
ing with II the labors OF common
service 10 which II has devoted itself
so unrfservedly during the past seven
months OF uncomplaining concentrs-
tion upon the business OF legislation,
Surely n Is q proper and pertinent
part Of my report on -the state Of the
Union" TO express my admiration for
the diligence. the good temper. and
the full comprehension Of pablic duty
which has already been manifested
by both the houses: and hope that
It may not be deemed an impertinent
intrusion Of myself into the picture II
say with how much and how con-
slant satisfaction | have availed my
self OF the privilege Of putting my
time and energy at their disposal
alike in counsel and in action.