Newspaper Page Text
TBE MESSAGE
Of President Roosevelt to
Congress.
IS AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT
He Refer* Forcibly to All the Impor¬
tant Questions of the Day and
Gives His Ideas as to the
Best. Remedies For Cor¬
recting Present
Evils.
Washington afnual Dec message 3—The president congress
in in his bis annual message to to congress
derthrXdow The congress assembles “r this cS^tv year uu
of°ScptemberPresident a great 11
theCth e of ^Pttaiber I resident Me- Me
S tbe° Pan-Tnmrican^exposi^
attending
tion at Buffalo and died in that city
on the 14th of that month
Of the last seven elected presidents
m„l the here reel,at of tt.la faet Is
suttleient to justify ( r,-ave a,at,u a m oug
all loyal American citizens. Moreover.
the tue circumstances circumsianccs of or this tuis. the tne third luiru as- ms
sassiuation of an American president,
have a peculiarly sinister significance.
Anarchy nr.d Anarchi.ta.
The president, continues with a
eulogy of Mr. McKinley, then turns to
the subject of anarchy, denouncing its
doctrines and preachers. He says
1 earuystly rycuuiuu-ml to tbeuotigrese
that hi the exercise of Its tvlse tltocre-
tion it should take irrto consideration
the coming to this country of anarch-
ists or persons professing principles
hostile to all government and justify-
ing the murder of those placed in au-
tboritV. Such individuals as those w’lio
not long ago gathered in open meeting ”
to glorify the murder of King 111111
bert of Itaiv Slid perpetrate* w'tLlr a crime and
the law rigorous
punishment. 'They and those like them
should be kept out of this .country, and
if fouud here they should be promptly
deported to the country whence they
came, and fan-caching provision should
be made-for tbe punishment of those
who stay. No matter calls more
urgently for- the wisest thought of the
*
cougress.
The president next considers busi-
ness conditions, which he finds highly
satisfactory. He continues:
The tremendous aud higlfiy complex
industrial development which went ou
with ever accelerated rapidity during
the latter half of the nineteenth eeu-
tury brings us face to face at the be-
ginning of the twentieth with very
serious social problems. Tbe old laws
and the old customs which had almost
the binding force of law were once
quite sufficient to regulate the ac¬
cumulation and distribution of wealth.
Since the industrial changes which
have so enormously Increased the pro¬
ductive power of mauklud they are no
longer sufficient.
Trade Combinations.
The growth of cities has gone bn be¬
yond comparison faster than the
growth of tbe country, and tbe up¬
building of the great industrial centers
has meant a startling increase not
merely in tbe aggregate of wealth, but
ln tbe number of very large individual
aud especially of very large corporate
fortunes. The creation of these great
corporate fortunes has not been due
to the tariff nor to any other govern-
mental action, but to natural causes
in the business world, operating in otb-
er couutries as they operate in our
Ihe process has aroused much au-
jigonism. a great part of which is
wholly without warrant. It is not true
that as the rich have grown richer the
poor have grown poorer. On the con-
trary, never before has the average
man. the wageworker, the farmer, the
small trader, been so well off as in this
country aud at the present time. There
have been abuses connected with the
accumulation of wealth, yet. it remains
true thus a fortune accumulated in
legitimate business can be accumulat-
ed by the person specially benefited
only on condition of conferring im-
mense incidental benefits ujion oth¬
ers. Successful enterprise of tbe type
which benefits all mankind can only
exist if the conditions are such as to
offer great prizes as the rewards of
success.
Reasons For Caution.
The president adds that there are
Ciany reasons for caution in dealing
with corporations. He says:
The same business conditions which
have producer! the great aggregations
of corporate- and individual wealth
have made them very potent factors in
International coi n m ore
Moreover, it cannot too often be
pointed out that to strike with ignorant
violence at the interests of one set of
men almost inevitably endangers the
Interests of all. The fundamental rule
in our national life—the rule which un¬
derlies all others—is that, on the whole
and in the long run, we shall go up or
dow'n together.
How to Correct the Evils.
AII this is true, and yet it is also
true that there are real aud grave evils.
one of the chief being overcapitaliza-
tion because of its many baleful eon-
sequences, and a resolute and practical
effort must be made to correct these
evils.
It is no limitation upon property
rights or freedom of contract to re-
quire that when’ men receive from gov-
ernment the privilege of doing .busi-
ness under corporate form, which frees
them from individual responsibility
and enables them to call into their en-
terprises the capital 6f the public, they
shall do so upon absolutely truthful
representations as to the value of the
property in which the capital is to be
invested. Corporations engaged In in
terstate commerce should be regulated
if they are found to exercise a license
working to the public injury. It should
be as much the aim of those who seek
for social betterment to rid tbe busi-
ness world of crimes of. cunning as to
rid * be entire body politic of crimes of
violence * Great corporations exist only
because they are created aud safe-
guarded by our -institutions, and it is
Ul £ refore our ri S bt and our duty to
SW that they work iU Larmony with
these iusti tutions.
Publicity the First Essential.
The essential in determining
. hmv t0 doal wltb the Rroat mdustr 'al
combinations is knowledge of the facts
J, f sllo " ld
.* g ^ ^
m raterstate . business. p Publicity is the
° ,< ' "w renipdv fullmr which remeSes we eon now Z
n k / A ha 1 1 i
needed , - iQ tbe wa ?’ of governmental t I
re g u,atl ! on or taxation can only be do-
te *“ d after publl ^ ity baS be f ° b '
ta!ued + by proce8s of law aud in t tbe
of administration. The first
1* '* k ? owlcd f f ful1 a Dd c0 “;
, lcd * e " l “ ch “■»» . madfi
p “ bllc tbe world '
f b ® larse cor Porations, , commonly .
ca,,t ' d trusts - though organized in one
St!lU, ' ahvays d 9 business m many
state8, often d P ing very little bu siness
Iu tll ° state wl,cre are incorpo-
rated ‘ rbere is utter lack of uniform-
Ity in G* e state laws about them, and,
as UO state bas auy t>xclusive interest
'>g r ,l ' Hr “g"- 11
P ia< ’ tice -P ro '® d impossible , to get ade-
fi aate regulation through state action,
1 hen-fore, in the interest of the whole
peop k !' th e 4 iation should without in-
' erlonn & with the power of the states
Ia the.matter itself, also assume power
of aud reg " latioa a 1
corporations doing an interstate busi-
U0S>S- ' *
Amend Constitution .. if >ecemnry.
^ hen the constitution was adopted,
a* end of the eighteenth century,
no human wisdopi could foretell the
sweeping changes, alike in industrial
and political conditions, which were to
tal {e Place by the beginning of tbe
twentieth century. f \.t that time it
was accepted as a matter of course
that the-several states were the proper
authorities to regulate, so far as was
then accessary, the comparatively in¬
significant aud strictly localized cor-.
porate bodies of tbe day. The condi-
tions are now wholly different, and
wholly different action Is called for.
I believe that a law can be framed
which will enable tbe national govern-
ment to exercise control along tbe lines
above •indicated, profiting by the expe-
rieuee gained through the passage and
administration of the interstate com-
iiierce act. If* however, the judgment
of the;-congress is that it lacks the con-
stitutlpnal power to pass such an act.
then a constitutional amendmefit
should be submitted to confer the
P°wiT\-;.
There should be created a cabinet of-
to be known as secretary of
commerce and industries, as provided
In the bill Introduced at the last ses-
slon of the congress. It should be his
province’to deal with commerce in its
broadest sense, including among many
other things- whatever concerns labor
and all matters affecting the great
business coi’poralions and our mer-
chant marine,
Labor.
The - president declares that he re¬
?ards it necessary to re-enact the Chi-
Dese exclusion law. In regard to laboi
be says that the government should
provide iu its contracts that all work
should be done under “fair” conditions
and *bat all night work should be for-
bidden for women and children as well
excessive overtime,
tie asserts that the immigration law’s
are unsatisfactory and that a law
should be enacted to keep out not ouly
anarchists, but persons of a low moral
tendency or of unsavory reputation
and those who are below a certain
standard of economic fitness to entei
°ur industrial field as competitors will
American labor,
The Tariff anti Reciprocity.
The president declares that nothing
coujd be more unwise than to disturb
the business interests of the country by
any general tariff change at this tiiu iC.
Seed For Wider Markets.
Subject to this proviso of the proper
protection necessary to our industrial
well being at Lome, tbe principle of
reciprocity jnust .command our hearty
support. Tbe phenomenal growth of
our export trade emphasizes the ur-
gency of the need for wider markets
and for a liberal policy in dealing with
foreign nations. Whatever is merely
petty and vexatious in the way of
trade restrictions should be avoided.
The customers to whom we dispose of
our surplus products in the long run,
directly or indirectly, purchase those
surplus products by giving us some-
thing In return. Their ability to pur-
ebaso our products should as far as
possible be secured by so arranging
our tariff as to enable us to take from
them those products which we can use
without harm to our own industries
and labor or the use of which will be
of marked benefit to us.
It is most important that we should
maintain the high level of our present
prosperity. We have now reached the
point in the development of our in-
terests where we are not only able to
supply our own .markets, but to pro-
duce a constantly growing surplus for
which wc must find markets abroad.
To secure these markets we can util-
ize existing duties in any case where
they are no longer needed for the pur-
pose of protection, or in any case
^ nre k nr k e s no pro< ucc ere
and the duty is no longer necessary
for revenue, as giving us something to
offer in exchange for what we ask.
Th<? relatl °” S ^ ° th ' r M '
+ tl0 “f ^‘ch are sa desirable will nat- t
urnlly be promoted by-the course thus
required by our own interests.
J b * natura P I .ne <)Clty of developn^m w “ “ for a
tion with those c of our productions .
e." Sou “vLre a”m, ef,lu"beeau n d tesla and wl?h ojturaj thow ott
S e of or
or c f economic ecouomie causes causes we we are are beyond otjona the uie
reach of successful competition.
I ask the attention of the senate to
the the rociprocity reciprocity treaties treaties laid laid before before it it by by
.1
The Th ® eombHon'oJThe con(lltion of J he ClL American mer mer-
chant . marine is such as to call for im-
B Set ” ss - “ It U^ '* d 'sbre sereSable d «»l>^ « “ M » s M as » a
natlon th at our merchant manne
should be utterly insignificant in com-
pail son to that of other nations whic 1
we overtop in other forms of business.
sbou J d not longer submit to con 1 -
tious under which onh a trifling por-
tion of our great commerce is carried
in our own sliips. To remedy this state
of things would not merely serve to
b “ ,ld u ■ , ”“ r »'”« '"‘fgf 3 - “
w ou d 1 a , so resu t in bent it to a w o
at nteies ed In lie pei mam-nt esta ^
lis mien o a wi er market for Amer-
ican prew uc s am y, ou d provide an
aux i:u> orce or tie navy. up
work for their own countries just as
tallroads work for their terminal
points. Shipping lines, if established to
tb e Principal countries with which we
have dealings, would be of political as
vtell as commercial benefit. Proin ev-
ery standpo s unwise for the
United States to continue to rely upon
the ships of competing nations for the
disttibutiou of our goods. It should be
made advantageous to carry American
goods in American built ships,
Financial.
The passage of the act establishing
gold as the standard money has, It is
declared, been shown to be timely and
Judicious. The president adds:
*, n man y respects tbe national bank-
,n S law furnishff sufficient liberty Nuking for
tbe I >r °P er excrdse of tbe
function, but there seems to be need
better safeguards against the de-
ranging Influence of commercial crises
and financial panics. Moreover, the
currency of the country should be
made responsive to the demands of our
domestic trade and commerce.
Economy in expenditures is urged,
Amendment of the interstate commerce
ac * s advised to insure the cardinal
provisions of that act. Tbe work car¬
ried on by. tbe department of agricul¬
ture is next considered and praised
highly. The president then turns to
forest preservation and irrigation of
arid lauds, saying that both are highly
necessary. He would put all the work
in connection with- the forest reserves
in charge of the bureau of forestry.
Irrigation.
The president continues by tracing
tbe connection between the forest re¬
serves and the water supply. He says:
The forests are natural reservoirs.
By restraining the streams in flood
and replenishing them iu drought they
make possible the use of waters other¬
wise wasted. They prevent the soil
from washing and so jjrotect the stor¬
age reservoirs from tilling up with
silt. Forest conservation is, therefore,
an essential condition of water conser-
vation.
The declaration is made that in the
arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized is that of
use. Ihe president says that the doc-
trine of private ownership of water
apart from land cannot prevail without
causing wrong.
Insolar Problems.
Insular questions are next treated.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
tbe territory on the traditional Amer-
ican lines. I’erto Rico is (Icelan d to he
thriving as never before. The atten-
tion of congress is called to the need of
legislation concerning the island’s pub-
U c la »ds. In Cuba it is stated that
muc h progress has been made toward
Butting the independent government of
fhe Island upon a firm footing, and it la
declared that independence will be an
accomplished fact, The president
adds:
Elsewhere I have discussed the ques-
tion of reciprocity. In the case of Cu-
l> a , however, there are weighty reasons
of morality and of uational Interest
why the policy should be held to have
a peculiar application, and 1 most ear-
nestly ask your attention to the wis-
dom, indeed to the vital need, of pro-
viding for a substantial reduction In
tbe tarlff duties' on Cttban Imports into
> > V v
In paling the Philippine peo-
. ws Ejast show .bothTtetlenee.iind’ steadfast
gtreD gth, fo r bearahcp and bigb.^RK!tt6
olution v . Our aiip is isjGu&ergu not
desire \ to do "for the-- dpiidTor merely
what as elsewhere been trap-
ic pebp iV s w even' Rape'Vljb-them W-ffiest/Torei'gn
g 0verQm?ntgi • -tVe before-bOgu/doVe 'for
w , iaf bflS neve r
■ pecip i e - 0 f the - . make.
^ iem for s(1 j f government after the
fashion of the rea jj y free nafibhs. '
Tbe on y ; v fcar ls i eS t ifV ^ur overanx-
Jpt '’ r .^ e tbem a de -, ree - of j n d e .
p cn( ] cll< ; e f rtr w h| c b th'ffy’ ate disaster! unfit,
th( ; reby inviting vea cfi6ti an'd
As ^ t aa there district ls any "reasonable hope
a Lnselves. given Wlf,! tlie govelnment people can
^ t
haa be6R glr ^ ln tfaat-dhrtrteU. There
is not a locality fittedself govern-
which ba8 bot re <**<*d lt . flut it
■. • : certain' it
, in cases
.
wi jj bave t0 be withdrawn because-the
, ubabKanta shovv twelves unfit to
exercise it; such instances have already
d j other words, there is not
8how a suffleieutty humanitariao spirit,
««***'«««• «» dl —
ll0U-
Troubles Ahead Yet.
The __ re a ^ stI11 trmib , ,, cs ahead . , in . the
islautls , 1 , - The insurrection has become
^ affa , r Qf local banditti and maraud-
ers, who deserve no higher regard
tlu,u th " brisauds of portious of tbe
, d ]d> Euc0 uragenicnt, direct or
iudirec t, to these insiirrectos stands ‘on
th<? s “ me ,ootlll!! as Mcouragemeut to
hostile Indians iu the days when we
gtul bad Indian wa rs.
The president dec lares that the time
has come for add itioual legislation for
^ Philippines.
The Cable and the Cnnai.
j call your attention most earnestly
t£> tbe cr y| ng need of a cable to Hawaii
and tbe Philippines, :tq be continued
f rom tbe Philippines to points iu Asia,
No single great material work which
remailig to be under taken on this con-
t j U ent is. of such consequence to the
Amerlcal j' peop i e as t he building of a
canal acrosa the isthmus connecting
North and South America. Its impor-
tance to the nation is by no me ans lim-
lted in ere ly to its material effects upon
our busine8s prosp errty, and yet with x
v i ew to these effects alone it would W
to tlie lust degree important fop us im-
mediately to begin it. While its beno-
fi c j a i effects would perhaps be most
marbed t |p 0 n the Pacific coast and the
jjulf and oouth Atlantic states, it would
a j so gren tly benefit other sections. It
j a emphatically a whrk which it is for
the interest of the entire country to be-
gin and complete as soon as possible.
I am glad.to be able to announce to
you that our negotiations on this sub-
ject with Great Britain, conducted on
both sides in a spirit cf friendliness and
mutual good wiH, have resulted in
my being able to lay before the sen-
ate a treaty which, if ratified, will en-
able us to begin preparations for an
isthmian canal at any time and which
guarantees to this natioja .every right
that it has ever asked ln connection
with the canal. It specifically pro-
vides that the United States alone shall
do the work of building and assume
the responsibility of safeguarding the
canal and shall regulate its neutral use
by all nations on terms of equality
without the guarantee or interference
of auy outside nation from any quarter,
The Monroe* Doctrine.
The Monroe doctrine should be the
cardinal feature of the foreign policy
of all the nations of the two Americas,
as it is of the United States. The Mon¬
roe doctrine is a declaration that there
must be no territorial aggrandizement
by any non-American power at the ex¬
pense of any American power on Amer--
ican soil. It is in nowise intended as
hostile to any nation, in the old world.
Still less is it intended to give cover to
any aggression by one new world power
at tbe expense of any other. It is sim-
pl.v o step, and a long step, toward us.
sunng tbe universal peace of the world
by securing the possibility of perma-
nent peace on this hemisphere/
During the past century other influ-
ences have established the, permanence
and Independence of the smaller states
of Europe. Through the Monroe doc-
trine we hope to be able to safeguard
like independence and secure like per-
manence for the lessfer among the new
world nations. *
This doctrine has nothing to do with
the commercial relations of any Amer-
lean power save that it ia truth allows
nach of them to form such as it desires.
In other words, it is really a guarantee
of tbe commercial independence of tbe
Americas. We do not ask under this
doctrine for any exclusive commercial
dealings with any other American
state. We do not guarantee any state
against punishment if it misconducts
itself, provided that punishment does
not take the form of the acquisition of
territory by any non-Aruerican power,
liave not the slightest desire We
territory to secure
any at the expense of any f
our neighbors. 0
The \avy,
The president devotes considerable
space which, to he the navy, the upbuilding 0 !
says, should be steadily con
tinned. The navy offers us, it is d'eclar
ed, Monroe the only doctrine, means of insisting on \hl .!
and a strong'navy
the best guarantee against war. He
r-ecoiumepds that provision be made
not only for more ships, but for more
men. Four thousand additional sea-
meu -1,000 additional marines
should' fee Provided, as'”well as an in-
weftse in officers’. After indorsing the
uavai^nlli.tia forces the. president says-
But ia addition we' should at once
Provide for a national uaVal reserve
and tfaLnetJ, under the direc-
«ol>.of the navy department and sub-
the call of the' chief executive
Whenever war 'becomes Imminent, it
should be a real auxiliary to the naval
seagoing peace establishment and offer
material to< be drawn on at once f or
manning our sliips in time of War.
The Army.
I* * s not necessary to Increase thj our
army beyond its present size at
time, but it-is necessary to keep it «
the highest point of efficiency. The in-
dividual units who as officers and ea-
^ted men compose this army are, leasts! v*
have good reason to believe, at
efficient as those of any other army i n
tjie entire world It is qu» fluty to see
that their training is of a kind to in-
sm 'e the highest possible expression of
coutbihation.
Tie piesulent .. T?» indoises *>--■ the
merit sys.
tern of making appointments ‘ and u says sirs-
-
T recommend A the passage of law
a
which will extend the classified serv-
ice to the District of Columbia or will
at least enable the president thus to ex-
t0Ud U ' ln my all laws pro-
viding for the temporary employment
of clerks should Weafter contain a
provl.ion that they be BelMed U ad«
tlie civil service law.
Cordial support from confess and
people is asked for the St. Louis expo-
sition. The Charleston exposition is
commended to the good will of the
people. The work of tbe Pan-American
exposition ls praised,
It is recommended that the census
office as now T constituted should be
made a permanent government bureau
Th. P„.„, Service,
A tribute is paid to the postal service*
and the extension of free rural delivery
is commended. The postoffice depart-
ment should be sustained, the president
says, in its efforts to remove the abuses
iu connection with second class mail
matter.
Much attention is paid to the situa-
tion in China, and the progress toward
the establishment of peace there is re
capitulated. Stress is laid on the im*
portauce of our continuing to advocatt
moderation in the dealings with China,
The president concludes his message as
foilow ; s:
-
The death of Queen Victoria caused
the people of the United States deep
and heartfelt sorrow, to which the gov-
eminent gave full expression. When
President McKinley died, our nation in
turn received from every quarter of the
British- empire expressions of grief aud
sympathy no less sincere. The death
of the Empress Dowager Frederick of
Germany also aroused the genuine sym-
pathy of tbe American people, aud this
sympathy was cordially reciprocated
by Germany when the president was
assassinated. Indeed, from every'quav-
ter of the civilized world we received
at the time of the president’s death as-
surances of such grief and regard as to
touch the hearts of our people. Iu the
midst of our affliction vv^ reverently
thank the Almighty that we are at
peace with the nations of mankind,
and we firmly intend that our polity
shall be such as to continue uabrdken
these international relations of mutual^
respect and good will,
ATLANTA MARKET*. •
COBUKCTKD WEEKLY. —49
Groceries.
-Boasted coffee, oer 100 pounds, Arbucto
*11.80. Lion *11.30. Green colle», choice
nj c .' { a i r 9 cents; prime 7 cents.
Suirnr, stanuard granulated, 5 . 10 e Syrup-
New Orleans open kettle C ’
J^CMeVrup, 35@38 cent’s. Salt dairy
*i.30 <® $ l. 40 ; do bbR bulk
ice cream *1.25; common eo®70.
^ Jff ^ i3 CO. Crack-
75 s da> Ar * Hammer, 6 V;-
ers, soda 6 J*c : cream 7 ^e; Singersnap*
Candy, common stick 5 }^c; fauev if.
f )v “V ,r ?: # 2 . 00 ; L. v '- • • '
FloGr . ln mnd Mesl .
Dia^d, first patent. *3.85:-**^“ * 4 . 75:9 wf
patent, * 4 . 30 , Straight,
S 3 5 ' 5 extray ►
£3.65; fancy** spring . ; *
First patent « y.
s-°. r n ’v ^ ll0i ^ e ’84
^..’ . T
5 mixed 65 •/ r!»
Kansas 70 cents,
!? r *£ «LI®>.No. 7 -Tu a
> ;o - ; meal. * 1.35 4 val* V
pounds. Cotton s«.«i b\c
P^ UDlls - -Hudnut’s grits! - . 13
f S. G r Jy' r ! [m'.-r i i
Tennessee butter, good fpl 1
Live pouitrv. hem., 25®26 •;
Ducks,
h‘ & x 40 :
i r | s potatoes *1.25 per Wjtifer
^vhite *l.‘,5«2.00; lady.
field * 1 .15® 1.3). Celery 40 @5