Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1913-12-06

| Porto ttico by giving them the ample
/ and familiar rights and privileges ac-
corded our oWa citizens in our own
territory and our obligations toward
the people of Hawaii by perfecting the
! provisions Of self government already
granted them. but In the Philippines
we must so further, We must hold
| steadily in view their ultimate indie
| pendence, and we must move toward
the time of that independence as
steadily as the way can be cleared
and the foundations thoughtfully and
| permanently laid
Acting under the authority con-
ferred upon the president by congress,
I have already accorded the people OF
the islands a majority in both houses
of their legislative body by appointing
! five instead of four native citizens to
the membership of the commission /
believe that in this way we shall
make proof of their capacity in coun
sci and their sense of the responsible
| ity in the exercise OF political power
and that the success of this step will
be sure 10 clear our view for the steps
which are TO follow. Step by step
we should extend and perfect the sys-
tenn of selfgovernment in the islands,
making test of them and modifying
them as experience discloses their
successes and their failures that we
should more and more put under che
| control of the native citizens of the
archipelago the essential instruments
| 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 4
people whose affairs are under their
own control
Territorial Rights for Alaska.
A duty faces rs with regard to Alas
! ka which seems to me very pressing
and very imperative; perhaps / 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 I'M
| locked. 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
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 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 / shall take
the liberty OF from time to time call
! ing your attention. for it is policy
! which must be worked out by well.
| considered states. not upon theory,
/ but upon lines of practical exBediency.
| II 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
| use the resources Of the country. not
/ lock them up There need be no CON
/ tiict or jealousy as between state and
/ federal authorities, for there can be
no essential difference of purpose be-
/ tween them. The resources In ques-
! tiou 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 policy can be
( Da ant Inv
/ sion which witt -elease these resources
and yet not leopard or dssipate
/ them. for one have no doubt, and II
! 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 common purpose ought to
/ make agreement easy
! Three or four matters of special i'm
/ portance and significance l beg that
/ YOU will permit me 10 mention in clos
( ing
Our bureau of mines ought to be
/ equipped and empowered to render
/ even more effectual service than II
/ renders now in improving the condi-
/ lions Of mine labor and making TIE
mines more economically productive
I 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
I er TO our interest than the preserya-
ton from waste OF our material re-
/ sources
Employers Liability
+ We owe it, in mere justice TO he
/ RAILWAY employees Of the country 70
provide for them fair aud effective
/ employers liability act; aud Ia"
/ that we can stand BY IN this matter
/ will be no less 10 the advantage OIL
+ those who administer the railroads If
the country than 10 the advantage Of !
/ those whom they employ