Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

disinterestedly and effectively their friend
AS TO ARBITRATION.
1t IS matter of sincere congratulation to
" country that the United States and Mex
= should have been the first to use the good
ofhces of The Hague court. This was done
last summer with most satisfactory results in
the case of a claim at issue between and
our sister republic.
THE PANAMA CANAL.
Congress has wisely provided that we shall
build at once isthman canal, if possible
at Panama. The attorney general reports that
| we can undoubtedly acquire good title from
| the French Panama Canal company. Nego-
tiations now pending with Colombia to
secure her assent to building the canal.
The work should be carried out a continu-
| ing policy without regard to change of admin
istration; and it should be begun under cir
cumstances which will make it matter of
pride for all administrations to continue the
policy.
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
No policy ever entered into by the American
people has vindicated itself in signal
manner than the policy of holding the Philip
pines. The triumph of laws and prin-
ciples, has come sooner than we had any right
Too much praise can not be given to the
army for what it has done in the Philippines
both in warfare and from administrative
standpoint in preparing the way for civil gov
eminent: and similar credit belongs to the
civil authorities for the way in which they have
planted the seeds of self-government in the
Taking the work of the army and the civil
authorities together, it may be questioned
whether anywhere else in modern times the
world has seen better example of real con-
structive craftsmanship than our people have
given in the Philippine islands High praise
should also be given those Filipinos. in the
aggregate very numerous, who have accepted
the new conditions and joined with repre-
sentatives to work with hearty good will for
the welfare of the islands.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
The army has been reduced to the minimum |
allowed by law. II is very small for the size |
of the nation. and most certainly should be
kept at the highest point of efficiency. The |
senior officers given scant chance under |
ordinary conditions to exercise commands COM
mensurate with their rank, under circumstances
which would fit them to do their duty in time
of actual war. A system or maneuvering our
army in bodies of some little size has been
begun and should be steadily continued.
The measure providing for the reorganization
of the militia system and for securing the
highest efficiency in the national guard, which
has already passed the house, should receive
prompt attention and action.
For the first time in our history naval man
euvers large scale are being held under
the immediate command of the admiral of the
navy. Constantly increasing attention IS be-
ing paid to the gunnery of the navy, but it ID
yet far from what it should be. In battle the
only shots that count are the shots that hit.
It is necessary to provide ample funds for prac,
ice. There should be halt in the work OF
building up the navy. providing every year
additional fighting craft.
The Monroe doctrine should be treated as the
.ardina feature of American foreign policy
nut it would be worse than idle to assert il
Unless intended to back it up, and it can
e backed up only by thoroughly good navy.
good navy is not provocative of war 1t is
he surest guaranty of peace, Il
[ call your special attention TO the necd
t providing for the manning OF the ships.
I is no more possible to improvise crew
han it is possible TO improvise warship. va
eed thousand additional officers in order te
nder construction The classes at the naval
chool at Annapolis should be greatly enlarged.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The striking increase in the revenues of the
ostofice department shows clearly the prosper.
y of our people and the increasing activity
f the business of the country:
Rural free delivery service is no longer IN
lie experimental stage; it has become hxed
olcy. The results following its introduction
ave fully justified the congress in the large ,
preparations made for its establishment and
<tension. {
On November !. 1909. 1860 rural free {
,livery routes had been established and were
operation, covering one-thrd of the terri.
ry of the United States available for rural
ee delivery service There are now awaiting
e action of the denartment petitions and APP I
ications for the establishment of 1918 ad-
tiona1 routes This shows conclusvely the
ant which the establishment of the service
Is met and the need of further extending 1t
rapidly as possible. 1t is to be hoped that q
e congress will make liberal appropriations .
r the continuance of the service already es- 5
bshed and for its further extension. q
PUBLIC LANDS.
So far as they are available for agriculture:
d to whatever extent they may be reclaimed [
der the national irrigation law. the remain
g public lands should be rigidly held for o
E home builder. On the other hand, we A
oud recognize the fact that in the grazing
zion the man who corresponds to the home
ader may be unable to settle permanently
only allowed to use the same amount OF
sture land that his brother, the honiesteader, -
allowed the use of arabic land. One hun.
I'd and sixty acres of fairly rich and well b
tered SOIL much smaller amount or IT
ated land, may keep family IN plenty,
ereas no one could get a living from 100 -,
-es of dry pasture land capable of support 81
at the outside only head of cattle "
every ten acres :,
LEGISLATION FOR ALASKA q
especially urge upon the congress the need
wise legislation for Alaska. II is not to our :,
dit as nation that Alaska. which has been q
IS for thirty-fve years. should still have as ~
,r system of laws as IS the case
SCIENTIFIC AID TO FARMERS. 81
m no department of governmental work in
ent years has there been greater success h;
n in that of giving scientific aid to the III
ming population. thereby showing them now al
st efficiently to help themselves There is
need of insisting upon its importance, tor Of
welfare of the farmer IS fundamentally
essary to the welfare of the republic as
Die. In addition to such work as quarantine N
inst animal and vegetable plaques. and war
: against them when here introduced. much re
lent help has been rendered to the farmers
the introduction of plants especially ds
d for cultivation under the peculiar condi-
is existing in different portions OF the coun-
m
lew cereals have been established IN the a.,
i-arid west. For instance, the PRACTICABLE ae
of producing the best types OF maearoni on
ats in regions of annual rainfall OF only
inches or whereabouts has been conclusNeiy IN
lonstrated.
THE WHITE HOUSE. Al
through wise provision of the congress at
last session the White House. which has Gu
me dis6gured by incongruous additions and ~
1ges has now been restored to what 1t was On
med to be by Washington. In making the al.
orations the utmost care has been exercised
ONE as near as possible to the early plans
to supplement these plans by careful