East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-08

~ ''pNi" H"fN hNlfui ana tney arr
still locked up. The key Is still turn
ed upon them, the door shut fast a
which thousands OF vigorous men full
OF initiative, knock camorousIy fol
admittance. The water power OF oul
navigable streams outside the nation.
al domain also even in the eastern
states, where we have worked and
planned for generations. Is still moi
used as II might be, because we will
and we won't; because the laws wa
have made do not intelligently bal.
ance encouragement against restraint
We withhold by regulation.
To Remedy Mistakes.
I have come to ask you to remedy
and correct these mistakes and omis.
slons. even at this short session OF
congress which would certainly
seem to have done all the work that
could reasonably be expected OF II.
The time and the circumstances are
extraordinary and so must our ef-
forts be also.
In the senate. 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 I urge their
prompt passage. In them both we
turn our backs upon hesitation and
makeshift and formulate a genuine
policy OF use and conservation in the
best sense OF these works We owe
the one measure not only to the peo-
pie OF that great western country for
whose free and systematic develop.
ment. as II seems to me. our legisla-
ton has done so little, but also to
the nation as a whole, and we also
owe them the fulfillment OF our re-
peated promises that the water pow
er OF the country should in fact as
we'll as in name be put at the dis
posal Of great Industries which can
make economical and profitable use
OF II. the rights OF the public being
adequately guarded the while. and
monopoly in the use prevented. To
have begun such measures and not
complete them would indeed mar the
record OF this great congress very
seriously. hope and confidently be-
lieve that they will be completed.
Philippine Question
And there is another piece OF leg
islation which awaits and should re-
ceiye the sanction Of the senate. l
mean the bill which gives a larger
measure Of self government to the
people OF the Philippines. How bet
ter, In this time OF anxious question !
ing and perplexed policy. could we
show our confidence in the principles |
OF liberty as the source as well as
the expressions OF life. how better
could We demonstrate our own self
possession and steadfastness in the
courses OF justice and disinterested- |
nes than by thus going calmly for
ward to fulfill our promises to a de-
pendent people. who will now look 1
more anxiouly than ever to see wheth-
er we have indeed the liberality, the
unslfishness, the courage, the faith
We have boasted and professed. 1
cannot believe thatlthe senate will
let this great measure of constructive
justice await the action of another
Its passage would nobly
rcown the record of these two years Of
labor.
with me this does not complete the
toll OF our duty. How are we TO car
ry our goods to the empty markets
Of which l have spoke IL We have
not the ships? How are we to build
up a great trade IL We have not the
means of transportation on
which all profitable and useful com
nerce depends And how are We to
get these ships II we wait for the
rade TO develop without them? To
.orrect the many mistakes by which
We have discouraged and all but de-
itroyed the merchant marine of the
country. To retrace the steps by
which we have, 1t seems, almost de-
iberately, Withdrawn our flag from
he seas, except where, here and
hese a ship of war is hidden carry it,
n some wandering yacht displays it,
would take a long time and involve
many detailed items OF legislation.
md the trade which we ought i'm
nediately to handle would disappear
r find other channels while We de-
ated the items
Transportation Problem
The case is not unlike that which
onfronted us when our own contin-
Mt was to be opened up TO settle-
lent and industry, and We needed
mes OF railway extended means
transportation prepared beforehand
! which development was not to lag ST
ltolerably and wait interminably. We Ell
.vishly subsidized the building of al
ans sentimental railroads. We look W
ack upon that with regret now, be- III
luse the subsidies led to many scan al
ais of which We are ashamed; but eN
e know that the railroads had to be
lilt and If we had II to do over
gain we should Of course build them ST
1t in another way. Therefore. is
'opose another way OF providing the al
cans of transportation which must ed
'eede, not tardlly follow, the devel- a
,ment of our trade with our neigh il
" states of America. 1t may seem 70
reversed Of the natural order of M