Arizona republican., 1902-12-03
rlr. RooseveIt's Second Message.

President ROOSeYeltS second annual message. transmitted to congress yes terday afternoon, opens with a di- rectness which is more characteristic of newspaper writers than old-fash- toned statesmen, and the reader is car ried along with a swing to the close of the document interest being easily sustained throughout. There are nc dull lines. Indeed, the message is such a document as a trained newspaper man, holding the views expressed, would write; and the absence of d turgid, ponderous style is not surpris- ing when it is remembered that MT. Roosevelt's literary accomplishments are of high order. It is customary Tor newspapers friendly to a president to speak of his message as strong and able" while the papers of the oppo- sition usually find the document "dull' and heavy" In reference to yester- days message, however, the writers clearness of mind and directness and lucidity Of expression will be admitted everywhere. The message is distinct lively shorter than most of Its prede- cessors, and here again it will meet general approval. Precedent, rather than necessity, seems to have governed the length of most messages. There is no reason why they should not be made shorter, still. The discussion Of some topics requires the president merely to repeat in different language that which may be found in the de partmental reports.
 The ease with which President Roosevelt prepares his annual mes sages, and the short time he takes for the work, will go far to remove the popular impression that the prepara- tion of a presidents annual message is necessarily the laborious work of months. Having the data in hand, q professional writer would not need more than two days in which to get up a message as long as the one printed in The Republican this morning, and it Is doubtful whether MT. Roosevelt gave much more than that time 10 It's actual composition.
 The people of the territories will of course, be deeply disappointed upon finding that the president has not said word in favor of the admission of Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma into the Union. It has been hoped that MT. Roosevelt would take advantage of the occasion to show his under standing of western conditions and prove once more his friendship for western people-for this understanding and friendship cannot be doubted-and we trust that the rumor is well found- ed which credits him with an inten- ton to write a special message on the subject in the event that the passage of the omnibus bill appears to be greatly endangered.
 Somewhat contrary to general expec- tations, MT. Roosevelt makes no sen sational pronouncement upon the sub jects of trusts and tariff, the two top ics upon which his views have been awaited with much interest. As a matter of fact, there has been no req son to expect anything sensational.
 The public will learn by and by, per haps. that there is nothing of the spread-eagle, the swashbuckler, or the china-shop bull about Theodore Roose- welt. One of the most positive, frank and energetic of Americans, he is one of the most conservative. Pictured ire quently by his enemies as a typical man on horseback in search of mili- tary glory, and as a national trouble hunter, he is essentially man Of peace. He desires unbroken peace and un- broken prosperity for his country, for he is among the sanest of the sane. In reference to the trusts, as we'll as the mooted question of tarin revision, he has made his position clear from time to time by public addresses. His mes sage embodies only a more formal statement and a more careful ampli- ficaticn Of his views. As to the trusts he repeats his suggestion made in his message of a year ago, that enforced publicity concerning the business oper- ations of the great corpora tions will operate to check the evils of which they may be guilty. He is inclined to be- 1ieve that a constitutional amendment Is not necessary to enable congress to deal with the question. He is in favor of proceeding cautiously along legisla- tive lines until, ct least, it be demon strated that congress has not the con- stitutional power required, and a lib- eral appropriation for the enforcement of the Sherman antitrust law is reconl- mended
 There are grave obstacles in the way