Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1913-12-04
Territorial Rights for Alaska.

Territorial Rights for Alaska.
duty faces us 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 storehouse. should be un-
locked. One key TO ii is a system of
railways. These the government
should itself build and administer. and
the ports and terminals Ii should itself
control in the interest of all who wish
to use them for the service and de-
velopment 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 10 be exploited is
another matter. TO which shall take
the liberty OF from time to time call
ing your attention. for il 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 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 il. 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 ba
no essential difference of purpose be-
tween them. The resources in ques-
tion 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 10y conference aad conccs-
sion which will release these resources
and yet not leopard or dissipate
them ! for one have no doubt: and il
can be done on lines Of regulation
which need be no less acceptable 10
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. y common purpose ought to.
make agreement easy.
Three or four matters of special i'm
portance and Significance | beg that
you Will permit me to mention in clos
ingA
Our bureau OF mines ought to be
equipped and empowered to render
even more effectual service than Il
renders now in improving the condi-
tions OF mine labor and making tho
mines more economically productive
as well as more safe. This Is an all
important part OF the work OF con-
servaton; and the conservation Ct
human life and energy lies even near
or to our interest than the preserva-
ton from waste OF our material ra-
sources
Employers Liability.
We owe it. in mere justice to the
railway employees OF the country. 10
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
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