Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-12-03
Comment on the First Message of
President Roosevelt,
BRIEF DIGEST OF TEE DOCUMENT
Men Of Both Parties Praise It's
Construction.
o M E XPR E SION S

or the government, mentioning only the
Chinese situation at length, and that at
the close of the paper. The custom here
tofore has been for the message to be MAIN
~ devoted to foreign relations, those mat
ters occupying the first portions. Naturally
the message treats primarily of the assas-
sination of Mr.. Mckinley, and this leads
directly TO a discussion of anarchy and the
best methods of governmental cure. In
logical sequence comes a discussion of the
prosperous condition of the country in en-
phasfs of the declaration that the anar-
chists have no ground for operating here.
Then follows discussion of the trusts,
with the recommendation that Congress
enact laws giving the federal government
supervision over all corporations doing an
interstate business. The President next
recommends the organization of a new
CABINET Office, to conserve the interests of the
commerce and industries of the country,
and In this connection urges the immediate
re-enactment of the Chinese exclusion law
to prevent the influx of cheap labor from
the far east After few words on the
state OF American labor, in which the Pres
1dent reveals his sympathy with intelligent
organization, he urges a remodeling OF the
immigration laws to further protect the
home worker and to elevate the standard
Of citizenship
Reciprocity Is Urged.
Passing to the consideration of the tariff
the President declares that reciprocity is
essential to the furthering of the American
export trade. He says that reciprocity is
the handmaiden of protection" and specifi-
cally calls the attention of the Senate to
the treaties laid before it by President Nc
klnley. He next recommends some meas
ure for the rehabilitation of the American
merchant marine as further essential in
the substantial growth of the export trade
He beSpeakS the maintenance of the gold
standard and suggests that changes be
made in the currency and banking laws
still further to guard against the deranging
influences of crises and panics He warns
against too radical a reduction of the rev.
enues and urges economy in expenditures
Ihe interstate commerce act should be
amended, he says, to give the commission
more power to insure justice to both ship
perS and railways.
One of the most striking features of the
message is the Presidents urgent recon-
mendation that steps be taken at once to-
ward the further preservation of the for
ests of the country and that the govern
ment undertake the establishment of irri-
cation systems on a large scale to open up
the arid lands of the west to settlement.
he speaks encoura gingly of affairs in the
1usular possessions, and as to Cuba de-
clares that I'VE are bound by every consid-
Grafton of honor and expediency to pass
commercial measures in the interest of her
material wellbeing. AS to the Philippines
he holds that our work there is being well
done, toward the end of giving the Fill
pinos not only good government in the
present, but toward educating them in the
ways of future self-government. The Pres
ident recommends that laws be passed for
the development of the resources of the
Islands through the grant of franchises.
An Isthmian Canal.
Mr.. Roosevelt declares in positive terms
in favor of the immediate construction of
the isthmian canal and points to the newly
negotiated Hay-Pauncefote treaty as OPEN
ing the way to this consummation Of the
ongdeferred American plans. He urges
the construction of Pacific cable. He re-
iterates the Monroe doctrine as the govern
ing principle in all American dealings with
the European powers in western affairs,
and proceeds TO urge the upbuilding of the
navy one of the Surest steps toward the
preservation of the peace. He bespeaks the
construction of additional battle ships and
the maintenance af1oat of large sQuadronS
comprising all classes of vessels to give the
personnel of the navy the fullest possible
drill in the actual handling of war engines.
On the same line are his remarks concern
ing the army, for which he asks ia ciiities
for frequent drills on large scale to per-
feet the discipline and to prevent dry-rot in
the various departments. He asks for a
closer cooperation between the army and
the militia.
The concluding points of the message are
of less consequence, but all are treated in
the same spirit of urgent recommendation.
The President suggests that henceforth the
Indian be regarded individual rather
than as member of a tribe. He naturally
expresses his desire to extend the merit
system in the government service in all
practicable directions and expresses the
hope of a change in the laws regarding the
consular service to insure the employment
of the ablest public servants for this in
creasingly important work.
A word OF praise for the ST. Louis
Charleston and Buffalo expositions for the
Smithsonian Institution and for the Library
of Congress is followed by a recommenda-
tlon that permanent census bureau be
established. The President points to the
success of the rural free delivery and in
this connection asks for additional laws to
correct the second-class mail matter
abuses.
Situation in China.
In conclusion the Presndent reviews the
situation in China and declares for the con-
tinuance of our policy of demanding equal
treatment in China with all other nations
to ensure our natural trade advantages in
that held. A reference to the Pan-American
conference and reference to certain claims
aHectlng the relations of this government
and Mexico Is followed by statement as tn
foreign expressions of sympathy for the
national loss. apropos Of the death of Queen
Victoria and the German empress dowarer
which anords opportunity for expression
OF the PRESIDENTS intention that our policy
shall be such as to continue unbroken
these international relations of mutual re-
spect and good will
Comments ON the Document.
The expressions as to the message are
generally commendatory. Some follow.
Representative Hit of Illinois, chairman
of foreign affairs COMMITTEES, said: 1T is the
message OF statesman. 1t contains more
than mere words. 1t ,breathes an original
force, both striking and delightful mart
to which particularly refer is to one on
trusts and combinations. 1t is full of mean
ing"
Representative Sibley of Pennsylvania
1t Is a strong message. Nowhere have I
ever seen so forcibie discussion of an
archy. 1t positively delighted me-"
Representative Moody of Massachusetts
President RooseveIt's message is the be-
ginning OF ne epoch. It contains many
utterances in which concur, but what /
observed particularly is the Importance 1t
attaches to social topics. hitherto disre-
garded by Presidents-topics which, in my
opinion are destined to be the live ques-
tions of the century,"
Representative Bingham of Pennsylvania:
1T is an admirable state paper. / was