Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-02
TUESDAY EVENING. DEC. 2, 1902

ppparnrNT ROOSEVELT sent his sec
ond annual message TO Congress today
In many things it is, to say the least,
disappointing, and in dealing with issues
and conditions which more vitality affect
the good of all and the perpetuity OF
American institutions the language Is
well guarded and savors somewhat OF
ambiguity. Like all members OF the
rank and file of the party OF which ne Is
the representative, the President mani
tests his exuberance over temporary
squirt in business circles, and cooiiy
credits it all to the laws under which the
country is now working, and which ne
thinks will be shattered by unwise legis-
lation-i. e., democratic rule. lie rec
ognizes the fact. though that the present
wave is transient and as likely to re-
cede. when depression will naturally
follow. The President, paradoxical as
II NAV seem, says "the tide will advance"
notwithstanding. After page or two
devoted to the enterprise and proves oil
the people Of the country. heapprcaches,
very cautiously, the most vital issue
with which he has to deal-the trusts
and talks much Of "the fundamental re-
ouisite of social efficiency being high
standard of individual efficiency and ex-
celIence, and that this is in no wise IN
consistent with the power to act In COM
b;nations for aims which cannot so well
he achieved by the individual acting
alone" He, however, thinks corpora
tons, and especially combinations OF
corporations, should be managed under
national legislation. The President sug-
eests that the power of Congress "to
regulate commerce with foreign nations
and among the States can prevent
monopolies, unjust determinations,
which prevent or cripple competition,
fraudulent overcapitalization and other
evils in trust organizations, and reiterates
his previously expressed opinion that
these organizations should be subject to
inspection. Should present laws be
found inadequate to meet such condi-
TONS the President thinks there should
be no shrinking from amending the con-
stitution. Mr.. Roosevelt devotes much
space to the present tariff, viewing 1t, OF
course, from republican standpoint,
and he finally says the reduction OF the
same would prove ineffective in produc-
ing desired results concerning the trusts.
He further says 'To remove the
tariff as punitive measure directed
against trusts would inevitably result
in ruin to the weaker competitors. "
Again he says "Our past experience
shows that great prosperity in this
country has always come under pro-
tective tariff" Further on the Presi-
dent favors reciprocal treaties with
Others nations, especially with Cuba, a
greater elasticity in our monetary sys-
TEN, suggests proper immigration law,
and devotes considerable space to capital
and labor, which, however, is more OF a
review of present conditions then the
presentation of a panacea for the
troubles so often precipitated between the
two classes. He urges the necessity for
a secretary of commerce in the Cabinet,
and favors the continuance of negotia-
lions for the construction of the
Panama canal, and paints roseate condi-
tions as existing in the Philippine
Islands. The remainder of the message
is devoted to routine matters generally
treated by the President at the COM
mencement of Congress in which moth
ing striking or suggestive occurs. AS
has been stated, in the beginning of the
document the President banks greatly
on present prosperous conditions and
imagines they are the result of repub-
lican legislation, high tariff, &c. The
fact, however, is incontrovertible that
the worst and most prolonged depres-
sion which ever came over this country,
beginning in 1873, was under rePubli-
can rule. The ancients observed thai
what has happened before is liable tC
occur again.