Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-12-05

message was delivered TO congress
today. 1t deals largely with the
trusts and the labor problem. 1t de-
clares for trade reciprocity with other
nations; for a conservative revision of
the tariff, and an enlarged navy. The
president informs congress of progress
in investigating the titles of the 18TH
milan canal grants, and of the practical
completion of the Pacific cable TO Hong
Kong by way of Honolulu and the
Philippine islands. The following alb
stracts give the most important points Of
the message:
No country has ever occupied higher
plane of material well-being than ours
at the present moment. Great fortunes
have been accumulated, and vet in the
aggregate these fortunes are small in
deed when compared to the wealth Of
the people as whole. The plain peo-
pie are better off than they have ever
been before. There are more deposits
in the savings banks, more owners of
farms, more well-paid wage workers in
this country now than ever before in
our history. OF course, when the con-
ditions have favored the growth of so
much that was good, they have also
favored somewhat the growth of what
was evil. The evils are real and some
of them are menacing, but they are the
outgrowth, not of misery or decadence,
but of prosperity-of the progress of our
gigantic industrial development. This
industrial development must not be
checked, but side by side with it should
go such progressive regulation us will
diminish the evils.
believe that monopolies. unjust
determinations, which prevent or
cripple competition, fraudulent over.
capitalization, and other evils in trust
organizations and practices which in
juriously affect interstate trade can be
prevented under the power of the con-
gress. The question of regulation of
the trusts stands apart from the ques
ton of tariff revision.
Our past experience shows that great
prosperity in this country has always
come under protective tariff; and that
the country can not prosper under fit
full tariff changes at short intervals.
Moreover, if the tariff laws as a whole
work well, and if business has prospered
under them and is prospecting. it is bet
ter to endure for Il time slight incon-
veniences and inequalities in some
schedules than to upset business by too
quick and too radical changes. Tn
questionably business interests will
best be served ii together with fixity
of principle as regards the tariff we
combine a system Which will permit us
from time to time to make the necessary
reapplication Of the principle to the
shifting national needs. There must
never be any change which will
jeopardize the standard of comfort. tie
standard of wages of the American
wage worker. The cases in which the
tariff can produce a monopoly are so
few as to constitute an inconsidera Bile
factor i'll the question; but of course
if in any case it be found that given
rate of duty does promote a monopoly
which works i'll, no protectionist would
object to such reduction of the duty as
would equalize competition. In my
judgment, the tariff on anthracite coal
should be removed. and anthracite put
actually, where it now is nominally. on
the free list.
Exactly as business men find they
must often work through corporations,
and as it is a constant tendency of
these corporations 10 grow larger, so it
is often necessary for laboring men to
work III fedora tons, and these have be-
come important factors of modern in.
dustrial life. Organized capital and
organized labor alike should remember
that in the long run the interest of each
must be brought into harmony with
the interest Of the general 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.
1t is earnestly hoped that secretary
of commerce may be created, with a
seat i'll the cabinet. The rapid multi
plication Of questions affecting labor
and capital, the growth and complexity
of the organizations through which both
labor and capital now find expression.
the steady tendency toward the ELI.
ployment of capital in huge corpora.
tons, and the wonderful strides of this
country toward leadership in the inter.
national business world justify an ur-
gent demand for the creation Of sucl; n
position.
urge the adoption of reciprocity with
Cuba not only because it is emincntly
for our own interests to control the
Cuban market and by every means to
roster our supremacy in the tropical
lands and waters south of us, but also
because we, of the giant republic of the
north, should make all our sister ma
tons of the American continent feel
that whenever they will permit it we
desire to show ourselves disinterestedly
and effectively their friend.
On July last, on the 10th anniyer-
sary of the declaration of independence
peace and amnesty were promulgated in
the Philippine islands. Not only does
each Filipino enjoy such rights to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
as he has never before known during
Schooner Long Overdue.
Fall River, Mass, Dec. 2.-Fears ar
entertained for the safety Of the schoon
er Fanny l.. Child, from Jacksonville