Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-27
MESSAGE IS READY
TO GO TO CONGRESS
President Has Put Last
Finishing Touches to
His Annual Recon-
mendations.

have been expecting that the annual mes
sage Of President Roosevelt win be a
dun and indecisive document win be dis
appointed The message viii take grounds
or no uncertain nature on some of the
great subjects which attracted wide at
tention during the last congressional cam
paign. IL win strike the Republican key
note on the subject OF trusts ard an idea
OF its nature can be drawn from this in
cident.
When the cabinet met Friday the pres
fdent read a portion OF his message TO his
the trust question II was found to urge
legislation on the subject and recOmmen-
ded that this legislation be attempted inn
mediately By congress. IL has been the
fortune. good or bad OF President Roose-
welt when he is about 10 attempt some
thing out Of the beaten track to have
some member OF his cabinet object and
advise that he do nothing In each in
stance subsequent events showed that the
president was doing the right thing and
that his cabinet was In the wrong. Two
members or the cabinet Friday did not
think the president was doing the wise
thing IN asking congress to legislate on
the trusts at the short session of con-
gress. and they advised that the message
be modified.
The members who gave this advice was
Secretary Moody and Postmaster General
Payne. two Of the men on whom the
president relies for political counsel. It
Il not likely that the message win be al
tered 70 meet the suggestions although
thu disagreement on that subject be-
tween them and the president Is good
natured-
Blow Aimed at Trusts.
On the subject OF trusts. 1t is under
stood that the president has written a
very strong paragraph. phrasing II in the
same broad spirit that characterized his
memorable addresses. delivered north and
south last summer and fall he win in
sist on publicity as something that con-
gress might wisely provide for. Such leg
isiation as viii be introduced win prob
ably come from the pen OF Attorney Cen
eral Knox. but Mr.. Knox has never taken
very pronounced stand IN favor OF fur
Their legislation than IS on the statue
books. He believes. however, that the
great principle OF common law governing
moncpolies enables congress to make a
wise discrimination between contracts
not Injurious
The president VIII undoubtedly have
something 70 say about the tariff, but HIS
utterances on this subject VIII be con-
nned @ revision. He wiz probably maze
no RECOMMENDATION as 70 the altering Of
any schedules. although he may take the
ground that there is some reason IN the
complaints that some schedules are too
niBn and that others have a tendency 10
foster monopoly. but the line that win
oe pointed out as the one congress shan
follow VIII be What Is the best course
% pursue for the general good OF the
country
In other words. win II be better 70 al
4oM present conditions TO continue or TO
attempt 70 upset business by beginning
ne mobilization OF the tariff OF even BY
threatening 70 do so2
Labor and Capital.
II is understood that the president vr,u
devote large portion OF his message 10
the relations OF labor and capital. There
nave been long and anxious discussions
between the president and his friends
whether he should make Recommendation
for legislation. He has been urged 10 al
wise congress 70 pass bin providing for
arbitration OF great strikes and disputes
Nnere interstate commerce may be in
FolVed- The argument in favor Of this
needs only 70 cite the object lesson which
the country had this fan during the coal
strlke- OF course under the federal con-
sutution. coal strike arbitration by statue
would have been impossible because the
mining OF coal is strictly a state AFFAIR.
confined within, the commonwealth OF
Pennsylvan But at any time a serious
dispute might arise which would tie nm
the great transportation lines OF the coun-
Try and no one would be surprised II the
president with a view 70 meeting such an
emergency should at the last moment in
sert IN his message a Recommendation
that congress, take Up this question and
give Il careful consideration.
The Isthmian Canal.
What the president win say about the
Isthmian Canal viii be shaped entirely
BY the negotiations now being conducted
BY Secretary Hay for the rights OF Eav
through Central American republics for
the Panama and Nicaragua canals. He
hopes 20 be able 10 inform congress that
he has negotiated a treaty for the control
or the territory By the United States
through which one OF these canals shall
run II Columbia does not recede from
her present position a Is altogether urob-
able that the president win announce that
the United States has turned TO the con-
sideration OF the Nicaragua route
The president may be compelled to say
20 congress that the state department has
been unable 70 negotiate a treaty with
Cuba No definite news has come how
General Bliss. who went to Havana to
bring the treaty along. The failure OF
these negotiations will not be described as
meaning that some arrangement ulti-
mately be made
The principle OF establishing the recip-
recital relations with the island republic
win BE strongly advocated whatever may
be the obstacles placed IL the way by
antagonistc elements at home and by
anti-American infiue=-es IN Havana, the
president viii not cease 70 endeavor TO
bring about Cuban reciprocity.
The Philippine Islands.
on the subject OF the Philippines. the
message viii be particularly felicious
Peace prevails throughout the entire
archipelago. Great progress has been
made By the Philippine commission ex-
tending the system OF government which
VIII gradually be altered so that the FIJI
pinos VIII participate In the management
Of the internal that the Euited States
en- never cut loose entirely. from the
Philippines. and that the question OF
granting the Fiiipinos independence is
not 70 be contemplated during his admin
istratson-
The president viii recommend TO con-
gress a steady and substantial Increase OF
the fighting ships OF the navy. His views
privately expressed on numerous occa-
si0ns Is that We should build four or five
ships each year until our navy Is the equal
10 that OF any European power.