The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-12-03
Couhle Cuty Toward Alaska.

! ka which seems to me very. pressing
and very imperative; perhaps should
say double duty, fer it concerns both
! the political and the material develop
meLt cf the territory. The people of
! Alaska should be given the full terri
; torial form of government and Alas
= ka, as storehouse. should be I'M
; locked One key to 1t is q system of
! railways. These the government
: should itself build and administer, and
the ports and terminals it should itself
, control in the interest of all who wish
! to use them for the service and de.
| yelopment of the country and its peo-
pie,
But the construction of railways Is
! only the first step; is only thrusting
in the key 10 the storehouse and
throwing back the lcck 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 tino to time cali
ing your attention. for II is policy
which must be worked cut by we'll
NNAAe'AN.~'N ~ NNAHSas hAON hiOn lliGOI
but upon lines Of practical expodiency,
1t Is part Of our general problem of
conservation. We have froer 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
use the resources of the country, not
lock them W. There need be no con
tict 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 monopolized
upon any narrow idea OF individual
rights as against the abiding interests
of communities, That a policy can be
worked out by conference and conces-
sion which will release these resources
and yet not leopard or dissipate
them, for one have no doubt; and 1t
can be done on lines Of regulation
/ which need be no less acceptable to
| the people and governments of the
! states concerned than TO the people
: and government Of the nation at large.
! whose heritage these resources are.
We must bend our counsels to this
end. A common purpose ought to
make agreement easy.
| Specially important
Three or four matters OF special i'm
! portance and significance | beg that
you will permit me to mention in clos
/ ing,
! Our bureau OF mines ought to be
| equipped and empowered to render
! even more effectual service than it
| renders now In improving the condi-
| lions OF mine labor and making the
/ mines more economically productive
as we'll as more safe. This Is an ALI
important part of the work of con-
| servation; and the conservation of
! human life and energy lies even near
/ er to cur interest than the preserva-
/ tion from waste of our material re-
! 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 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 to
the accomplishment Of political and
economic reforms. Social Justice
| comes first Law is the machinery for
its realization and is vital only as IL
expresses and embodies It.
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 burdensoms conditions which now
surround the employment of sailors
and render It extremely difficult to
obtain the services OF spirited and
competent men such as every ship
needs II It 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 It the labors Of common
service TO which it has devoted itself
so unreservedly during the past seven
months of accomplishing concentra.
ton upon the business Of legislation?
Surely 1t Is 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 public duty
which has already been manifested
by both the houses; and | hope that
Il may not be deemed an impertiuent
intrusion of myself into the picture II
say with how much and how con.
slant satisfaction have awaited n.y.
self of the privilege OF putting nv
time end energy Ar 'hoir disposal
alike In counsel and In action.