The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-03

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Roosevelt's second annual mes
sage is conspicuous for its departure from
traditional forms, its able discussion of live
issues and its frank presentation of the
Presidents personal views. Some Pres
idents' messages have been very dull read
ing because OF their tiresome recapitulation
of department reports. their perfunctory
review OF foreign and domestic affairs and
their general colorlessness. This one
states conclusions without details. and, in
stead Of repeating the department reports,
it gives the Presidents views regarding
the live issues of the day and the duties of
the hour. 1t is full of the Presidents per-
s~onality. Its first sentence, 1--WE still con-
tinue in a period of unbounded prosperity"
is a keynote to the spirit that pervades it
a spirit of political optimism and national
progress.
The message consists largely of a reaf-
frmation, with added emphasis, Of views
expressed by the President either in his
first message or in public addresses.
From such expressions heretofore a it
"1D - ~ 1OASO0N
position regarding trusts, corporations, in
terstate-commerce legislation. tariff revi-
sion, reciprocity with Cuba, the relations of
labor and capital and the needs of the army
and navy. On all of these points the mes
sage is largely an ampliication in clear and
vigorous style of views already expressed
by the President. He regards corporations,
i15,c+soI COMMUNICATION ao5 ,xor ca-oaIIad
trusts as inevitable outgrowths Of high
commercial conditions and prosperity, but
he would regulate and control them. He
would give them a cleer field to engage in
legitimate business enterprises, but would
regulate them so as to prevent their becom-
ing Injurious to the public. 1--WE can do
nothing good in the way of regulating and
supervising these corporations" he says.
until we fix clearly in our minds that we
are not attacking the corporations, but en-
deavoring to do away with any evil in
them As to the manner of control, he
thinks it should be done by national legis-
lation and that Congress has ample power
under the Constitution as it now stands.
This means by amendment of the present
antitrust law. The President gives no en-
enlargement to the idea that the trust evil
can be cured by repeal or reduction of the
tariff. 1.-The question of regulation of the
trusts" he says, stands apart from the
question of tariff reform" In regard to
the latter question he would make haste
slowly. He believes in tariff reform. but
not in tariff tinkering. He regards protec-
ton as the established policy of the coun-
try and not to be interfered with, and he
would only change rates from time to time
as the business interests of the country
might require. and that only after careful
elaboration. He regards reciprocity as an
excellent way of readjusting the tariff and
of extending our markets., and he recon-
mends the adoption of all the reciprocity
treaties now pending. He says. 81 hope
soon to submit to the Senate a reciprocity
treaty with Cuba" The labor question, or
rather, the relations between labor and
capital, are discussed with the President
characteristic ~frankness and with the con-
clusion that the right of both to combine
and organize must be recognized. Perhaps
the most important declaration in the
whole message is that Every employee, oil
every wage worker. must be guaranteed hi:
liberty and his right to do as he likes with
his property or his labor, so long as HI
does not infringe upon the rights Of
Others" That embraces the whole law ant
gospel of free government. The President
does not recommend any legislation to de-
fine the rights of workingmen or of CAPT
talists beyond what is necessary to protec
all citizens in their personal rights. Oul
policy In the Philippines is represented al
highly successful and promotive OF the
welfare of the people, who, says the Pres
ident, NOW enjoy a measure of self-gov
eminent greater than that granted TO an!
other Orientals by any foreign power, anC
Orientals under their own governments
save the Japanese alone" Among tn,
minor recommendations of the message ar
for the passage of the army reorganization
bill, the liberal support of the navy, the ex
tension of rural free delivery, for the en-
.couragement of national irrigation and for
estry reserves, for the rescue of publ
lands from trespassers and looters and 70
the better government of Alaska. The styl
of the message as well as its matter i
characteristic of it's writer. and for a pub
lie paper 1t is unusually readable.