Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-23
TAKE THOUGHT or THE DIS
TANT

where there is no vision the peo-
ple perish" and. IF man will take
no thought Of the distant, he will
find sorrow near" These bits OF
wisdom, Hebraic and Chinese, were
in tho Introductory thought OF the
address before the Massachusetts
Chamber of Commerce, given by
Geo. Otis Smith. Maine man who
has made his way to be director OF
the u. S. Geological Survey and al
80 is now serving on President Cool
idge's special oil commission.
The superpower idea was theme
OF his address and his argument was
forcible. backed by his conviction
that superpdwer offers the best
deal possible to American labor.
providing absolute protection against
the competition of cheap labor" that
conservation is but term for fore
sight, so greatly needed in our gov
ernmcntal affairs.
Illustrating the need of taking
thought OF the future he cited the
naval oil reserves. What he had to
say about this was of especial inter-
est by reason of his intimacy with
the immediate conditions.
He declared that as a geologist he
could see no geological warrant
whatever for leases as extensive or
long termed as those which now are
in litigation" At this time when
oil is cheap and steel Is high he
could see no sound business reason
for the Government to swap its oil
in reserve for steel tanks. This
emergency supply of oil this country
has Is not regarded excessive even
IL adequate to our future needs, and
he declared that "in the name of
good business. the navy's oil has
been saved by spending 90 barrels
out of every 100 extracted from the
California reserves in order to put
less than 8 barrels in storage"
He added: However. this policy
of doing things without cash out
lay was not adopted without some
indirect help from the legislative
branch Of our government which
therefore must share the blame" He
pointed out that when 1t came to a
choice between oil and dollars
obviously Congress alone has the
power to choose. that Secretary
DENLY, in seeking to have a navy
fully prepared. possibly thought
that he had no choice-that II the
navy was to have storage at Pearl
Harbor, naval Oil must meet the
bills"
Evidently the speaker was think
ing of the application to our oil
reserves and methods OF that
Chinese saying to which he pre-
viously had alluded: III q man take
no thought Of the distant, he will
f,nd sorrow near" The application
fits. admirably. 1t fits. too. certain
conditions outside the scope of the
address. In government manage
ment of our oil reserves the speaker
located a divided responsibility and
incorrect functioning, a condition
that pertains, so far as we have
been able to observe, to nearly IL
not quite all governmental manage
ment.
It Is assumed this conclusion
would not altogether meet with the
approval OF that distinguished gov
eminent official. who, We believe.
has been instrumental in securing
governmental work that is of great
benefit. But II we take no thought
of the distant--and not so far dis
tant as may be supposed-evolution
of government management we and
the Generations that come after us
will find trouble very near: there
will be no need to hunt for 1t.
Right now experts are differing In
their estimates of our revenues. In
their computations of our expenses,
in the amounts that will be re-
ouired for our country to keep
its credit good. A reading OF the
days happenings in Washington
must prove convincing that those on
the spot and intimately concerned
in the performances are bewildered.
What must be the muddled state OF
the public mind, viewing the situa-
ton from afar? How can 1t have a
vision worth the effort OF. visioning
In such a complexity Of affairs
Howl may It coherently take thought
of the distant? One thought Of the
distant. however. stands revealed
star{ingiy. II this sort Of thing goes
on q It has been going the past
twenty-five years the governmental
mudEle will be past the understand
ing of man.
Unless we confine the efforts Of
the national government within
lines OF more limited endeavor. COM
mon folks might as well give ur
hops. Of understanding and look
upon their privilege Of the ballot as
nothing better than badge of in
competency. When 1t comes about
that we cannot know what t.
thiyk that time, is near at hand
Also viii come inability to think
We better take thought of that no,