The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-04
STATE CAN HELP
In the Workingman's Struggle for
Existence, Says Governor
Roosevelt


Albany, N Y, JAN 4-The state
legislatur convened today. In both the
assembly and the senate the Republi-
can caucus nominees were elected. Fred
Dixon of Chautauqua county, was made
speaker of the assembly and Archie
Baxter of Chemung, was chosen clerk.
In the senate T. f. Ellsworth of Nj
agara county, and James s. Whipple
of Cattaraugus county, were elected
temporary chairman and clerk, respec-
lively. After a brief address by Lieu
tenant Governor Woodruff the annual
message of the governor, Theodore
Roosevelt, was read.
Governor Roosevelt's message opened
with a reference to the alacrity with
which New York responded to the call
for volunteers to engage in the war
with Spain. I've are Americans, the
governor continued, 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 great part for good or for evil,
in the affairs of the world at large, the
people of New York wish it understood
that they look at all American queS-
lions of foreign policy from national
standpoint. The tropical islands we
have taken must neither be allowed to
lapse into anarchy, nor 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 memories of victory won on land
and sea, but even more blessed heritage,
the know ledge that it was waged frcm
the highest motives, for the good of
others well as for our own national
honor. Above all, we are thankful that
it brought home to all of US the fact
that the country was indeed one when
serious danger confronted 1t. The men
from the east and the west. from the
north and the south, the sons of those
who wore the blue and of those who
wore the gray, stood shoulder to Shout
der in the fight, met the same dangers,
zI,o he hoy 5C11fv n Ia
same ultimate triumph
Governor Roosevelt recommends a
continuance of the committee appointed
under the preceding state administra-
ton to examine into the causes of the
decline in the commerce of New York
city.
TT is essential to the state no less
than to the city of New York. said he.
that our commercial supremacy should
be maintained. With this end in view,
the canals should be administered
economically and with 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 per-
NIT
Governor Roosevelt discussed the SUBJ
ject of state labor laws at considerable
length. Under this head he says:
I'm dealing with the interests which
we have grown to group together as the
interest of labor, we must always keep
in mind the fact that ultimately each
mans salvation rests mainly with him
self and that no amount of legislation,
or of combination can supply the lack
of individual initiative-the lack of in
diVidual energy and honesty, thrift and
industry. Yet this capacity for individ-
ual Self-help can, and should be general
ly 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 some times it can
be supplemented by the direct action of
the state itself.
Thus 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, Gov
Roosevelt says among other things:
ut is much to be hoped that some well
thought of plan may be adopted 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 which the
national guardsmen ought certainly
perform differs entirely from that ex-
pected from regulars.
MANY of the troops who volunteered
gladly for the emergency now that the
war is over, are most anxious to return
That they are not all of them able to
return is due to the utterly inadequate
size of our regular army. If our reg
ular army is, it should be, Increased
to 900 men, the hard necessity of re-
tanning in the service the volunteer or
CARNATIONS, which ought not to be re-
tanned, will disappear.
''The lamentable result of keeping the
guard armed with archaeic weapons ut
terly unfit for modern warfare was
shown very concIusively in the late con-
test with Spain. 1t is an understate-
ment of the case today, that single
first-class regiment armed with Krag-
Jorgensens is worth three regiments
armed with a low power, single shot,
| black powder piece like the Spring.
| field"
| After mention of subjects that effect
exclusively state interest Governor
| Roosevelt says: I'm New York city even
| more than in the state there is need of
| cutting down the salaries of certain Of
! ffcials, of forcing others to do more
work, and of altogether getting rid of
! others.