Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-09


and at their best, without delay and
without waste.
TO speak plainly. we have grossly
erred in the way in which we have
stunted and hindcred the development
OF our merchant marine. And now.
when We need ships, we have not got
them. We have year after year de-
bated, without end or conclusion. the
best policy to pursue with regard to
the use of the ores and forests aud
water powers of our national domain in
the rich states of the West, when we
should have acted and they are still
locked up. The key is still turned upon
them. the door shut fast at which
thousands of vigorous men. full of
initiative. knock DANGEROUSLY for adj
mittancc. The water power of our
navigable streams outside the national
domain also. even in the Eastern States.
where we have worked and planned
for generations, is still not used as il
might be. because we will and we
won't: because the laws we have made
do not intelligently balance encourage
ment against restraint. We withhold
by regulation.
nave come to ask you to remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis-
SionS, even at this short session of n
Congress which would certainly seem
TO have done all the work that could
reasonably be expected of it, The time
and the circumstances are eXtraordin-
airy. and so must our efforts be also.
fortunately, two great measures
nnely conceived, the one to unlock with
proper safeguards, the resources of the
national domain, the other to encour-
age the use of the navigable waters
outside that domain for the genera
tioh or power, have already passed the
Rouse of Representatives and are
ready Tor immediate consideration and
action by the Senate With the deep
est earnestness, l urge their prompt
passage In them both we turn our
backs upon hesitation and makeshift
ana formulate genuine policy of use
| anu conservation. in the best sense of
those words. We owe the one measure
not only to the people OF that great
western country for whose free and
systematic development. as it seems TO
me, our legislation has done so little.
but also to the people of the milton nv
whole: and we as clearly owe the
other In fulfillment of our repeat ted
promises that the water power of the
country should, in fact as we'll as in
name. be put at the disposal OF great
industries which can make economical
and profitable use of II, the rights of
the public being adequately guarded
the while. and monopoly i'm the use
prevented. To have begun such meas
urcs and not completed them would
indeed mar the record of this great
Congress very seriously I hope and
confidently believe that they will he
completed
WOULD FULFILL. PROMISES
TO PEOPLE OF PHILIPPINES
And there is another great nioce or
legislation which awaits and should
receive the sanction OF the Senate.
mean the bill which gives a larger
measure of sclf-governmcnt to the pco-
PIC OF the Philippines. How better. i'm
Of
perplexed policy. could we show our
confidence in the principles of liberty.
as the source as well as the expression
OF life, how better could we demon
strate our own sclf-possession and
stcadfastness In the courses of Justice
ana disinterestcdness, than by thus go
ing calmly forward to fulnIl our
promises to dependent people, who
VIII How look moro anXously than ever
TO sec whether we have indeed the
iioeraiity, the unselhshncss, the cour-
age, the faith We have boosted ana
protested. cannot believe that tho
Senate will let this great measure of
constructive Justice await the action
of another Congress- It's passage
would noolH crown the record of these
TWO years OF memorable labor.
But think that YOU will agree with
me that this does not complete the toll
or our duty. How arc we to carry our
goods TO the empty markets of which
| have spoken IL we have not the sbipsp
ROW are we to build up a great trade
II we nave not tho certain and constant
means OF transportation upon which All
prohtable and useful commerce de-
ponds? And how are we TO got the
SHIPS II we wait for the trade to de-
Velop without them? To correct tho
many mistakes by which we have dis
couragcd and all but destroyed the
merchant marine of the country, TO re-
trace the steps hy which we have. il
seems almost deliberately withdrawn
our flag from the seas, except where
mere and there, Il ship of war is hidden
carry II or some wandering yacht dis
plays II. would take Il long time and
involve many detailed Items of legis-
latton, and the trade which we ought
Immediately to handle would disappear
or find other channels while wc 40
hated the items
PROPOSES ANOTHER WAY Oh,
PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION
The case is not unlike tina, which
confronted us when our own continent
was To be opened up To settlement and
industry, and we needed long lines of
railway, extended means of transporto
ton prepared beforehand iC devotion
ment was not to lag intolcrably and
wait inter,ninably. We lavishly sinh
sidized the building Of transcontincnt,l
railroads. We look back upon that
win regret now. because the subsidies
lead 10 many scandals of which we are
ashamed; but we know that the rail