Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-05
NUMBER 40

ing for negotiations. 1t will be of
great benefit to America and of impor-
tance to all the world. The policy of
holding the Philippines has been vim
dicated in a signal manner. Too
much praise cannot be given the army
/ for what it has done there both in war
and administration. The system of ma
noeuvring begun in our army should
be steadily continued.
/ The president recommended a gen
eral staff and militia reorganization
for the army and more ships for the
navy. The navy needs more men.
''The Monroe Doctrine should be
treated as the cardinal feature of
American foreign policy: but it would
be worse than idle to assert it unless
we intended to back it up, and it can
be backed up only by a thoroughly
good navy. A good navy is not pro-
vocative of war. 1t is the surest guar
anty of peace.
Rural free delivery is now fixed
policy and should be extended also
the system of nationally aided irriga
tion for the arid regions of the West.
Wise legislation is needed for the In
dians and for Alaska. The merit sys-
tenn of making appointments in the
government service should be extended
to our consular service.
Labor and capital must heed the
rights of Others. Both capitalistic and
labor combinations can do much good,
or can both do evil. Opposition to
either should only be to what is bad in
the conduct of the organization-not
to corporations or unions as such;
for some of the most ar-reaching be-
neticent work for our people has been
accomplished through them The in
terest of each must be brought into
harmony with the interest of the gen
eral public. Every employer, every
wage worker, must be guaranteed his
liberty and his right to do as he likes
with his property or his labor so long
as he does not infringe upon the rights
of others. We are neither for the rich
man as such nor for the poor man as
such: we are for the upright man, rich
or poor. 1t is earnestly hoped that
secretary of commerce may be created,
with a seat in the Cabinet to supervise
the whole subject of great corporations
doing an interstate business.
In the Senate, Senator Cullom in
troduced the so-called administration
antitrust bill. 1t provides for nine
to the Sherman antitrust
act. 1t forbids the moving of trust
products out of the state in which they
are produced and provides for per-
petual injunction in case of infringe
ment of the law. An interstate com
merce commission of 80 men will
search for violations of the act, and
upon their notification the attorney
general is expected to take action. All
firms employing one hundred thousand
capital must render yearly returns of
business including all details.
In the House bill creating a gen.
eral staff to the United States army
along the lines of the recommendation
by Secretary Root in his annual report
was introduced. The Judiciary com
mittee decided to refer all bills dealing
with trusts to subcommittee of
which Representative Littletield of
Maine is chairman.
In the Senate Wednesday the COM
mittee on territories reported a subst-
tute for the omnibus statehood bill,
with the recommendation that Oklaho-
ma and Indian territory be admitted
into the Union as one state, under the
lame of Oklahoma. No reference what
ever is made to New Mexico or Arizo-
Ia Ihe bill provides that nothing in
he new states constitution shall limit
)r impair the rights of the Indians of
hese territories so long as such rights
hall remain uneXtinguished. Indians
ire eligible as delegates to the Consti-
utional convention. The new state is
o be allo" ed four representatives. in
Congress and two United States sena-
ors.
The House passed the bill to appro-
,riate so, 600 to defray the expenses of
he anthracite coal strike commission,
nd then adjourned until Friday.
Senator Lodge, chairman of the com
nittee on the Philippines, introduced
bill providing that the currency of
he United States shall be legal tender
n the islands, and making the gold
ollar the unit of value, but authoriz-
ng the coinage of silver peso of 146
rains.