The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-12-04
WEDNESDAY, DEC. q, 1901.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Roosevelt's first message to
congress. AS it is his first official
utterance upon questions of state it
will be read with more than usual
interest AMI to most people we be-
lieve will prove disappointment
The public had been led to expect
a document bristling with bold an
nouncements of policy an dinstead
they are treated to an essay of gilt
tcring generalities. OF fine literary
construction, except for it's length,
it would make an excellent magazine
article, but as a basis for legislative
action by congress it is weak and un-
certain in most particulars.
The chapter devoted to the assas-
sination of President Mckinley and
to anarchy is by far the strongest
portion Of the message.
The public press recently announc-
Cu lIdL uOCAll6 VII Cdl III COuIu ~ e
vent the president from attacking the
ship subsidy steal, but these predic-
tions were wide of the mark. While
the president lacked the courage to
openly support the measure he indi-
rectly gave the steal boost that
will no doubt insure it's passage at
the present session. Upon the tar
if, generalities again take the place
of specific recommendations, but he
says: THE accumulation of great
fortunes are not due to the tariff but
to other causes operating in other
countries as they operate in our
own" But just why billionaires and
trusts multiply here so much more
rapidly than in other countries the
president does not explain
The message further says that
Small traders were never before so
well Off" This probably has refer
cnce to the fact that most of the
small traders are now clerking in
the department stores.
After saying that 'the act to more
firmly establish the gold standard has
been shown to be timely and judic-
ious," the important subject of cur
rency and the money question is dis
missed with this brief paragraph.
''In many respects the national
banking law furnishes sufficient lib
erty for the proper exercise of the
banking functions; but there seems
to be need of better safeguards
against the deranging influence of
commercial crises and financial pan
les. Moreover the currency of the
country should be made responsive
to the demands of our domestic
trade and commerce" The presidents
secretary must have inadvertently
taken this paragraph from the annual
address of the president of the Bank
ers' Association, as the language is
almost identical with that used by
him to prove his contention that all
greenbacks should be withdrawn and
the sole right to issue money be
given to the banks. Legislation on
this subject will be watched with
interest.
The president shows his friendship
for the west by his earnest and prac-
teal advice upon irrigation and the
recommendation that the tribal rela-
tions of the Indians be broken up and
their lands opened to settlement.
The distinctive feature of the mess
age is it's broad Americanism and the
evident desire of the president to
promote the welfare of the entire
people, but it shows the viewpoint of
it's author to be from the standing of
the aristocrat and capitalist, rather
than fro mamong the common people.
The message abounds in many gems
Of finished rhetoric and thought
which stamp it's author as a scholar
and man of affairs But the public
will be disappointed because it had
expected in a figurative sense to see
Teddy upon his broncho wildly charg
ing the cohorts of trusts and shir
subsidy thieves, but instead they see
him meekly turned the other way.