The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-04

| the Presidents annual message OF
much of it's interest, because it is un-
| derstood that it is a review, in a great
! measure, of the reports, and an appro-
val of the recommendations Which they
contain. There is unusual interest in
| President Roosevelt's message, how
! ever. because of the Importance of a
number of questions with which Con-
gress is expected to deal during its
| present session, and also BECAUSE of
the reputation which the President has
for literary ability. Those who expect
ed a we'll written and vigorous state
paper will not be disappointed. 1t has
a literary finish which will at once at
tract attention. and the forceful man.
ner in which the facts and arguments
are presented, together with the easy
way in which one topic leads to an
other, makes it very readable docu-
ment.
Naturally the leading subject is the
tragic death of the late President Nc
Kinley, to whose memory and charac-
ter beautiful tribute is paid In this
connection anarchism and anarchists
are discussed at considerable length
The shot that killed President McKin-
ley was aimed at all Presidents-at
every symbol of government-and the
assassin was infamed by those who on
the stump or in the press, appeal to
the dark and evil spirits of malice and
greed. and of envy and sullen hatred
For the spread of anarchism the dema-
gogue, the eXpoiter of sensationalism
and the foolish visionary who apollo
gizes for vice or excites airnless dis
content, are responsible. The tone of
the message is bitter against anarch-
lists, and the position is taken that
there should be immediate legislation
against them. The recommendation is
made that the federal courts be given
jurisdiction over the man who kills or
attempts to kill the President or any
one in the line of the presidential sue
cession. AS anarchy is crime
against the whole human race all man
kind should be against anarchists.
Their crimes should be made offenses
against the law of nations by treaty.
The agitation against trusts appears
to have impressed the President great
ly, and he devotes considerable at
tention to them and the evils which
flow from them. In this connection he
touches upon the question of wages.
He does not believe that the rich are
becoming richer and the poor poorer.
He recognizes of course that private
fortunes are greater now than ever
before, but he insists that better wages
are paid now than at any previous
time in the country's history-that the
financial condition of the average man
has steadily improved. 1t is evident
therefore that he does not think that
trusts are making the people poorer.
The chief evil of trusts, as he sees
the trust situation. is over capitaliza-
ton. and to remedy that he thinks
there should be greater publicity in all
matters pertaining to them. He is OPP
posel to drastic antitrust Legislation
based upon prejudice against trusts
and believes that much of such legis,
lation is calculated to do harm rather
than good. In his opinion there is q
great deal of ignorance respecting
them, and he believes that the mean
ing of these vast combinations of cap
ital that are being formed should be
thoroughly understood in order to leg
islate in regard to them for the best
interests of all. From his present point
of view he thinks that they should be
put under government supervision
that is, those which extend beyond
the state in which they are fncorporat-
ed. These great combinations of cap.
| ital are extending our international
commerce in a way that is amazing
the world, and the forceful men whC
are directing them should not be ham
| pered and harassed unnecessarily il
| their business operations. 1t would b,
an easy matter to cramp the youth
full energy of the nation by crude anC
hasty legislation to such an extern
that it would be difficult for the coun
try to hold the commanding position
the world. The idea of the Presiden
seems to be that trusts should not b.
destroyed, but so controlled as to b.
made a mighty factor in the develop
ment of our commerce.
In order to carry out this policy h
recommends that a new department
be created, the department of com
merce and industries. so as to dea
with commerce and industries in tn
broadcast sense.
The President believes that we ar
too generous in our dealings with i'm
migrants. The time Is past when w
should permit the country to be tn
dumping ground for the offscourings ]
Europe or China's cheap laborers. H
would restrict immigration to thos
having a good moral character an
the intelligence sufficient to appreciat
in economic fitness should be shut out
The talk of the Republican leader
gave n correct forecast of what tn
message would contain on the tart
question. The President is against an
general effort to reform the tariff o
the ground that tariff agitation woul
bring about business and industri;
depression. He is inclined to fave
reciprocity, however. He calls it I'll
handmaiden of protection, but h