Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-12-12

l
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 go 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,
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 to clear our view for the steps
which are to follow Step by step
we should extend and perfect the sys'
tenn of self-government 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 the
control of the native citizens of the
archipelago the essential instruments
of their life, their local instrumental
AZ e hntr al oil
the common interests of their commu
mites. and so by counsel and expert
ence set up a government which all
the world will see to be suitable to
people whose affairs are under their
own control.
Territorial Rights for Alaska.
A duty faces us with regard to Alas.
ka which seems to me very pressing
and very imperative; perhaps l should
say a 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 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-
velopment of the country and it's PEG
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 l shall take
the liberty of from time to time call
ing your attention, for it is policy
which must be worked out by we'll
considered states, not upon theory,
but upon lines of practical expediency.
1t is part of our general problem of
conservation. We have 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.
fiict 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 policy can be
worked out by conference and conces
sion which will release these resources
and yet not leopard or dissipate
them, l for one have no doubt; and il
can be done on lines of regulation
which need be no less acceptable tt
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 tt
make agreement easy.
Three or four matters of special i'm
portance and significance l beg tina
you will permit me to mention in clos
ing.
Our bureau of mines ought to b.
equipped and empowered to rende
even more effectual service than |
renders now in improving the condi
lions of mine labor and making Tia
mines more economically productiv,
as we'll as more safe This is an all
important part OF the work of cor
servation; and the conservation o
human life and energy lies even near
er to our interest than the preserva
ton from waste Of our material re
sources.
Employers Liability.
We owe it, in mere justice to tn
, railway employees of the country, t
7 provide for them fair and effectiv
employers liability act; and a la
: that we can stand by in this matte
: will be no less to the advantage c
those who administer the railroads {
: the country than to the advantage c
r those whom they employ
5 We ought to devote ourselves
/ meeting pressing demands of plat
: justice like this as earnestly as
3 the accomplishment Of political an