The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-12-08

turned upon them. the door shut fas
at which thousands Of vigorous men
tull OF initiative. knock clamorousl!
our nayigable streams outside the ma
tional domain, also. even In the east
= ern states. where We have worked anC
planned for generations. Is still moi
used as II might be. because we will
and We won't; because the laws We
have made do not intelligently balance
encouragement against restraint. We
withhold by regulation.
| have come 10 ask you TO remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis-
sions, even al this short session OF a
congress which would certainly seem
70 have done all the work that could
reasonably be expected OF IL. The time
and the circumstances are extraor.
binary. and so must our efforts be
also.
Use and Conservation.
Fortunately, two great measures.
| finely conceived. the one TO unlock,
with proper safeguards, the resources
Of the national domain, the other TO
encourage the use OF the navigable
waters outside that domain for the
| generation OF power, have already
passed the house OF representatives
and are ready for immediate consider.
alton and action By the senate. With
the deepest earnestness | urge their
prompt passage In them both
we turn our backs upon hesita-
tion and makeshift and formulate
a genuine policy of use and con-
seryation, 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 10 me. our legislation has done
so little. but also to the people of the
nation as whole: and We as clear
ly owe the other in fulfillment of our
repeated promises that the water pow
er OF the country should In fact as
well as In name be put at the disposal
Of great industries which can make
economical and profitable use of Il,
the rights OF the public being ade-
quately guarded the while, and mo-
nopoly In the use prevented. To have
begun such measures and not com
pleled them would indeed mar the
record of this great congress very
seriously ! hope and confidently be-
lieye that they will be completed.
And there is another great piece Of
legislation which awaits and should
receive the sanction of the senate:
mean the bill which gives larger
measure OF self-goyernment to the peo-
pie Of the Philippines How better,
In this time of anxious questioning
and perpleNing 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
demonstrate our own self-possession
and steadfastness In the courses OF
Justice and disinterestedness than by
thus going calmly forward to fulfill
our promises TO a dependent people.
who will now look more anXiously
than ever to see whether we have in
deed the liberality, the unselishness,
the courage. the faith we have boast
ed and professed ! cannot believe
that the senate will let this great
measure OF constructive Justice await
the action OF another congress. It's
passage would nobly crown the record
of these two years OF memorable la
Dor.
An important Duty
But ! think that YOU will agree
with me that this does not complete
the toll OF our duty How are We to
carry our goods to the empty markets |
OF which have spoken II We have |
NOT the certain and constant means |!
Of transportation upon which all profit !
able and useful commerce depends? !
And how are we 10 get the ships IL |
We wait for the trade 10 develop with !
ont them To correct the many mis-
takes by which We have discouraged
and all but destroyed the merchant
marine of the country. to rctrace the
NlfiN " " ll.u We nave II SftllS az
most deliberately. Withdrawn our flag
rom the seas, except where here and
here. a ship OF war is hidden carry
I, or some wandering yacht displays
L. would take long time and in
'olves many detailed items OF legisla.
ion and the trade which we ought
to handle would disap-
,ear or find other channels while We
lebated the Items.
The case is not unlike that which
confronted us when cur own conti-
lent was to be opened up to settle
nent and industry, and we needed
ong lines of railway extended means
II transportation prepared beforehand.
I development was not to lag intoler.
bly and wait intermlnably. We Law
shly subsidized the building OF trans
Continental railroads We look back
Ipon that with regret now. becsuse ,
he subsidies led TO many scandals ;
4 which We are arhamed; but We ,
now that the railroads had 10 be :
uilt. and II we had il to do over again I
=