The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-12-05
PRESIDENT ROOSEvELT'S MES
SAGE.

PRESIDENT ROOSEvELT'S MES
SAGE.
President Roosevelt's message was
delivered to-, both houses of congress
today and the document which has
been looked forward to with much an
ticipation will be found elsewhere in
this issue of The Free Press. The
message is entirely characteristic OF
the man who penned it. The people
are reminded that the prosperity
which they are now enjoying Is not
the creature of law, but undoubtedly
the laws under which we work have
been instrumental in creating the con-
ditions which made it possible, and
by unwise legislation it would be easy
enough to destroy it.
Attention is called to the different
barometers which indicate the we'll
being of the country, the insurance
companies, which represent accumu-
Istion of capital. the bank deposits.
more owners of farms and the large
number of wage esrners employed.
Touching the question of trusts
President Roosevelt rightly says that
these evils are not the out
adversely but of prosperity, of the pro-
gress of our gigantic industrial devel-
opment. This industrial development
should not be checked, but at the
same time the American people would
fail in their duty If they put forth no
effort to diminish those evils. Presi-
dent Roosevelt clearly states that cor
porations and combinations of corpor-
atoms should.be managed under public
regulation, and this regulation must
be brought about not through state
action but must be achieved by ma
tional action. 1t is not the thought of
the president to do away with the
corporations, but to eliminate the evil
that is in them. They should be SO
handled as to subserve the public
good. 1t is not fight against wealth.
but against misconduct. In curbing
and regulating the combinations it
must be done in wise and thoughtful
manner so that great enterprises will
not be stricken down nor wageworkers
turned into the street idle and penni-
less and leaving the farmer without a
market for what the grows.
President Roosevelt is mindful of
the fact that no more important sub
ject can engage the attention of con-
gress than the regulation of interstate
business BE speaks plainly upon this
matter, and there is no room foI
doubling his meaning. He declares
that congress has the power to act in
the premises that the power has moi
been exhausted by any legislation now
on the statute books. Therefore, 1t il
up to congress to do its full duty.
Continuing his discussion of the
trust question the president declares
in unequivical language and points
out the way for congress TO act. He
says:
81 believe that monopolies, unjust
determinations, which prevent OF
cripple competition, fraudulent over.
capitalization and other evils in trust
organizations and practices which in
juriously affect interstate trade Car
be prevented under the power of the
congress to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several
states through regulations and re.
quirements operating directly upon
such commerce, the instrumentalities
thereof and those engaged therein. .
Reduction of the tariff as means
of reaching the trusts is not favored
by the president. who is of the opin.
ion that such q, course would affect
large and small corporations that are
legitimately organized and such an
action might be detrimental to the
country The question of regulation
of trusts stands apart from the ques-
tion of tariff revision. The tariff
question should be treated as bust
ness proposition and radical changes
might affect the prosperity of the
country. The president says one way
to bring about readjustment is
through reciprocity treaties
Reciprocity with Cuba is urged and
the president states that he will soon
submit treaty to congress for their
consideration. It is proper that
America control the markets of that
country.
Many other subjects of importance
are touched upon, all of them handled
in President Roosevelt's vigorous
style. He is plain-spoken and his mess
age is strong one. containing many
forceful and sensible suggestions for
congress to act upon.