The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-12-05

ent tha. great act by legislatioh
which will not only clarity II w. n a
facilitate its administration ana hah ss
il fairer to all concerned. NO uou ;m
We shall all wish, and the country W.,
expect this to be the central suu' ros
Of our deliberations during 'he ~
ont session; but it is suo1ec' ~
m.nv.sided and so deserving OF caie
full and discriminating discussion ss s
7 shall take the liberty of adaress,ne
Won upop it in a special message a. A.. q
later date than this 1t is OF cap'oas
Importance that the business men ", y,
this country should be reileVeu VI -
uncertainties of law with regard "
their enterprises and investments anu
a clear path indicated which thes t ;n.
travel without anxiety. 1t is as I'M
nortant that they should be rehe'eu
of embarrassment and set free ~
nrosner as that private monopoly
should be destroyed. the "ase "
action should be thrown wide open
turn to a subject which ! nope
can he handled promptly and WIN
ont serious controversy of any kino'
7 mean the method of selecting noun,
nees for the presidency of the united
States, feel confident that l
do not misinterpret the "'snes
or the expectations OF the
country when | urge the prompt
enactment of legislation which Will
proyide for primary elections through.
out the country at which the voters OF
the several parties may choose tnelr
nominees for the presidency without
the intervention of nominating con-
ventions.
INDEPENDENCE for Philippines.
These are all matters of vital 40
nestle concern, and besides them out
side the charmed circle OF our own
national life in which our affectiohs
command us, as we'll as our con-
sciences, there stand out our ooilga'
lions toward our territories over sea-
Here we are trustees. Porto Rlco'
Hawaii the Philippines, are ours, once
regarded as mere possessions, are no
longer to be selfishly exploited; they
are part of the domain of public con-
science and of serviceable and enlight-
ened craftsmanship. We must admin
lister them for the people who live IN
them and with the same sense OF re-
sponsibility to them as toward o'ii
own people in our domestic affairs. No
doubt we shall succsssfg,., snQllcE
alsbfnd Porto Rico and zoe s.
lands to ourselves by ties ofIhstc'
and affection, but the performance Q
our duty toward the Philippines is
more difficult and debatable matter
; We can satisfy the obligations OF gel
erous Justice toward the people {
/. Porto Rico by giving them the ampl
and familiar rights and privileges a.
Z corded our own citizens in our ow
u territory and our obligations towal
l. the people of Hawaii by perfecting tt
u provisions of self-government alread
granted them, but in the Philippine
we must 20 further. We must no
e steadily in view their ultimate ind
Is pendence and we must move toWal
a. the time Of that independence
f. steadily as the way can be cleared al
Is the foundations thoughtfully and pc
le manently laid.
y Double Duty Toward Alaska.
~ A duty faces US with regard to Als
u. ka which seems to me very pressil
to and very imperative; perhaps shou
II. say double duty, for it concerns DO
II. the political and the material develt
"a. ment of the territory. The people
nc Alaska should be given the full tel
ed torial form of government, and AL
n. ka, as a storehouse, should be
MT locked. One key to it is a system
20. railways. These the governme
"a should itself build and administer, a
he the ports and terminals it should its
Mt. control in the interest of all who W
nd to use shem for the service and
to velopment of the country and its p
We pie.
les Specially Important.
to Three or four matters of special
I'VE portance and significance beg t
the you will permit me to mention in cl
cit ing
IN Our bureau Of mines ought to
lou equipped and empowered to rem
any even more effectual service than
the renders now in improving the CO..
len tons of mine labor and making
pro- mines more economically product
as we'll as more safe. This is an
important part of the work of I
and servation; and the conservation
re- human life and energy lies even n
{ a er to our interest than the prese
arr tion from waste of our material
lich sources.
Eur We owe 1t, in mere justice to
ady railway employees of the country
light provide for them a fair and effec
nine employers liability act and
to that we can stand by in this ma
will be no less to the advantag,
those who administer the railroad
d OF the country than to the advantag
and those whom they employ. The ex]
all ence of large number Of the st
that abundantlv proves that
the W. al4 L.