The record-union., 1899-01-05
New York Governors First Message
to the Legislature.
Deals at Length With Important National
and State Questions.
Tropical Islands Must Neither Be
Allowed to Lapse Into Anarchy
OF to Return Under the Sway
Of Tyranny-Advocates the In
crease of the Regular Army to
One Hundred Thousand Men.

ALBANY On. W, Jan. 1.-THE State
Legislature convened to-day. In both
the Assembly and the Senate the Re
publican caucus nominees were elected
Fred Dixon Of Chautauqua County was
made Speaker of the Assembly, ana
Archie Baxter of Chemung was chosen
Clerk In the Senate T. F. Ellsworth OF
Niagara County and James S. Whlpple
of Cattaraugus County were elected
temporary Chairman and Clerk, re-
spectively. After a brief address by
Lieutenant Governor Woodruff, the
message of the Governor, Theodore
Roosevelt, was read.
The message opens with a reference
to the alacrity with which New York
responded to the call for volunteers to
engage in the war with Spain
1--WE are Americans" the Governor
continues, land the interests of all
Americans are equally dear to the men
of the Empire State. AS we grow into
a mighty nation which, whether it will
or not, must inevitably play a great
part for good or evil in the affairs OF
the world at large, the people of New
York wish it understood that they look
at all American questions of foreign
policy from national standpoint. The
tropical islands we have taken must
neither be allowed to lapse into an
archy or to return under the sway OF
tyranny. War is a grim thing at best,
but the war through which we have
passed has left US not merely mem
cries of victory won on land and sea-
but an even more blessed heritage,
knowing as we do that it was waged
from the highest motives for the good
of others as we'll as for our own ma
tional honor. Above all, We are thank
full that it brought home to all of US
the fact that the country was indeed
one when serious danger confronted it.
The men from the East and the West,
from the North and South, the sons of
those who wore the blue and of those
who wore the gray. stood shoulder to
shoulder in the fight, met the same
dangers, shared the same hardships,
and won the same ultimate triumphS."
Governor Roosevelt recommended a
continuance of the committee appoints
ed under the preceding State Admin
istration to examine into the causes of
the decline in the commerce of New
York City.
1T is essential to the State no less
than the city of New York that our
commercial supremacy should be
maintained. With this end in view,
the canals should be administered
economically and with an eye single to
the welfare of the whole people. Any
man, whether public servant or con-
tractor, who in any way defrauds the
State or perverts the business of the
State to his private gain, must be dealt
with as vigorously as the laws will
permit
Governor Roosevelt discussed the
subject of State labor laws at consid-
cradle length. Under this head he
said:
In dealing with the interests with
which are grouped together the inter-
ests Of labor we must always keep in
mind the fact that ultimately each
mans salvation rests with himself, and
that no amount of legislation or OF
combination can supply the lack of in
dustry in the native-the lack of indi-
vidual energy and honesty, thrift and
industry, yet this capacity for individ-
ual self-help can and should be gener-
ally supplemented by that form of self
help that follows on organization and
association, as has been shown by the
careers of many of the trade unions
and labor declarations, and sometimes
1t can be supplemented by the direct
action of the State itself
This legislation is not necessarily
against the interest of capital; on the
contrary, if wisely devised. it is for the
benefit of both labor and capital"
In discussing the National Guard
Governor Roosevelt says. among other
things:
TT is much to be hoped that some
well-thought-o plan will be devised
by the National Government for the
use of the guard in any future war
The guard should be used as it was in
the Civil War, and should not be called
out for foreign service. The work with
which the National Guardsmen ought
certainly to perform differs entirely
from that expected from regulars.
MANY of the troops who volunteered
gladly for the emergency, now that the
war is over, are most anxious to re-
turn. That they are not all able te
return is due to the utterly inadequate
size Of our regular army. If our reg
ular army is, as it should be, increased
to 100000 men, the hard necessity OF
retaining volunteer organizations VINO
ought not to be retained would disap'
pear.
"The lamentable result of keeping the
guard armed with archaic weapons ut
ter1y unfit for modern warfare wa:
shown very conclusively in the late con-
test with Spain. 1t is an understate-
ment of the case to say that single
first-class regiment armed with Krag
Jorgensens, is worth three regiment:
armed with a 1ow-power, single-shot
black-powder piece like the Spring
field"
After mention of subjects that were
of exclusively State interest, Governor
Roosevelt said
"In New York city even more than II
the State there is need of cutting dowr
the salaries of certain officials, of fore
ing others to do more work. and of al
together getting rid of others.s
1.-THE evils of the police system IL
New York have become very serious. ]
may find 1t necessary to communicate
with you again on this subject
MINNESOTA'S NEW GOVERNOR
ST. PAUL, Jan. 1.-The Legislature
met In joint session to-day to hear the