Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-03


the full text Of the message sent to
Congress. yesterday. by President
Roosevelt and we urge upon our read
efs careful purusal OF this important
document The first message sent to
Congress by President Roosevelt. a
var ago, in it's vigorous, stsaiehtfor-
ward style and in it, mastery grasp Of
national Affairs. was universally con-
ceded to be one OF the strongest mes
sages ever penned by Chief Executive.
The present message Is not below the
high standard then established by the
President, though ir the nature or
things it will not attr tot s'icn wide at
tentlon or be 80 general nd carefully
read az was that first 0ffciai utterance.
II is, in every line. character site OF the
leader and statesman who writes ".
touching without fear or favor upon
the matters which must engage the AZ
teution of Congress In the conlirs
months.
II is doubtless true that the present
nfbounded prosperity Of the country
I'd not the creature of law. but it is
equally true that the laws under which
we work have made this prosperity
possible, and it could be destroyed by
unwise legislation. In the opening
paragraphs OF his message the Pres
dent dwells upon the causes and sig
njficance of this prosperity, and in TAX
ing ~ the grave problems that con-
front us ne breaches the gospel of hope
and of triumphant endeavor. He
dweIls on the fact that The plain peo-
pie were never before 80 well off. But
the prosperous times with their great
Industrial development have beer
marked by the growth OF powerful,
corporations, and with few preliminary
remarks the President plunges into
discussion Of the trust problem. He
makes It plain that there should be lao
attack on these corporations as such,
but only on the evii in them; no hostil-
ity to wealth or individ ual enterpl Use,
but determination that all such cor
norations shall subserye the public
good.
President Roosevelt believes tn 'lli
power to regulate such trusts il al
ready vested In Congress in It's power
to regulate interstate commerce, anu
that no constitutional amendment is
necessary. He say hat this power Is
absolute and unrua aiied. and holds
that il has by no means been exhaust
ed by laws already enacted. Not only
docs he want further laws, reasonable
and effective passed by Congress. but
he also urges an appros I'tation to aid
the department of justice n enforcing
the law. More could hav, been done
under the present antitrust law IL the
attorney general hadnot been hampered
by the lack of funds.
The tariff tinkerers will get scant en-
couragement from this message. The
idea OF reaching the trusts by tariff
reductions is thrown aside, as 1t de-
serves to be. Tariff rivision and trust
regula ton are wholly different matters.
and President Roosevelt wisely recog-
nizes this and treats them as sich.
The country believes in the protective
tariff and knows that under 1t. and
only under it, have we enjoyed pros
perity. II there are fcatur which
ought to be remedied, they should be
attended to by the friends OF the tariff
through careful and conservative re-
adjustment or reciprocity treaties,
but no radical changes are to be
thought OF at this time To- business
prospers under the pr. r' system and
II is better to sufft. slight incon-
venienccs and INEQUALITIES than to up
set business by quick or impcrtau
revision Of schedules. This is the Pre-
sidents attitude and e, cry though { al
business man in the country will ap-
prove of ii. There must never be any
change" he declares. which will
ieopardize the standard OF comfort or
the standard of wages of the Ameri-
can wage Garner"
The relations OF labor and capital,
not a usual subject in presidential
message, are taken up. and in view OF
the great coal strike are of special in
terest. Organized labor will rejoice at
the declaration that declarations of
labor. as wei. as those OF capital. are
necessary and can do much good in the
Industrial world. But Il should also
mark well the emphasis which is put
upon the evil 1t can do by ignorant
and selfish activity. The employer and
the independent laborer. or .'scab" as
ihe Ia called, will hail the declaration
that every employer, every wage
worker must be guaranteed his liberty
yand hie right ia, do as he likes with his
property or his labor SO long as he
does not infringe upon the rights OF
others" The substance OF the Pres,.