Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-12-05

"And yet, this is precisely the sort Of mes
sage that will arouse the greatest enthusiasm i,
the columns of Republican organs. Its self
conqratulatory' TINE and assurance that we ar
the greatest mai ion on earth, and that all'
we'll enough as is, sets the organ-grinder a
rest and enables i'm to pronounce the message
the true measure If the presidents statesman
ship. The same old platitudes will serve Il
commend a state paper that has not singh
passage to make the pulse beat faster or new
recommendation that requires second thought
"But the opposition press will find little thai
it has not thrashed over before to condemn ir
this document. Its very inconsequence will
save it from the hard knocks that would have
been visited on message taking an advanced
stand on live political subjects.
1.-THE general impression to be gained from
Mr.. Roosevelt's utterance as TO trusts and the
tariff is that nothing we con do will be effect.
i've to cure any Ills we may suffer from them
that we are so prosperous under them that the
benefits outweigh the evils, and that he is not
sure that there are any evils resulting from
them, anyhow.
"After saying that tariff reduction as means
of reaching the evils of trusts would be Who'll.
ly Ineffective he admits that IF in any case
it be found that given rate of duty does pro-
mote monopoly which works i'll, no protection
list would object to such reduction of the duty
as would equalize competition
"This sort of balancing by the aid of an
ever.convenient 'if' yervades the message
wherever it approaches the discussion of ques'
tons about which there is difference of popu-
lar opinion. This is all the more disappoint-
ing because it is unlocked for in the utterances
of Theodore Roosevelt. The American people
are not accustomed to seeing him strike Out
without nerve land aimessly in sea of diff.
Guilty.
We have read the presidents message, and
# is conservative statement to say that, to all
who expected from him an able, fearless and
torcefu; discussion of the trusts and other kin.
bred questions, it will be a great disappoint'
ment. He 'wres in and wires out" and
leaves the public 'still in doubt whether the
snake that made the track was going in OF
coming back"
Mrs. Darlington said that the way to tel
good indigo from bad was to drop it in the
water, and if it was good indigo, it would eithe,
sink or swim; bun she declared she had forgot
ten which.
Mr.. Roosevelt tells us that there are gooe
trusts and bad trusts, but, like Mrs. Darlington
he fails to tell us how to distinguish one from
the other.
On the question Of finance, he says: "Ther'
should be an element of elasticity in our none
tary system That's easy. Let congress
authorize the national banks to issue an India
rubber currency WHICH can be expanded or con
tracted at the will of the holder.
In one breath, he tells us that taking the tar
if off trust-made goods would be 10 remedy
for the trust evil. and in the next, he declare
that free trade in anthracite coal would be
protection to the consumer.
The essage as whole bears the ear mark
OF trimmer. 1t doesn't sound like Roosevelt
before he got his leg hurt. He gives harmless
tafy to the laboTing man, but makes sure no
to utter word that would offend the monopo
lies and trusts There is not sentence in tn,
entire document that will not be heartily ell
dorsed by the money power and Wall stree
stock gamblers. But he HAD to do it.