Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-02
TIE RESIDENCES SERMON

congress today was evidently written tt
| ecutive documents that has ever beer
carried to the other end of Pennsylva-
| MIA avenue, and in style it reads like 8
public speech. Roosevelt is a born
preacher. In his message he has left
the statistical array to be presented in
the departmental reports, While he
breaches to congress upon general prin-
ciples. His sermon is essentially one
| upon morality and national duty in the
solving of great problems.
AS was to be expected, the trusts
were the first subject tackled. The
president always hunts big game in
preference to small when there is big
game to be hunted. There is nothing
new or startling in his deelaratio He
is careful to warn congress not to at
tack trusts indiscriminately, because
most trusts are very necessary to the
industrial development of this country
and are beneficial. However, since the
constitution gives congress the power
to legislate for the general welfare, he
thinks congress should protect the pub
lie from being imposed upon in the pur-
chase of fictitious values in watered
stocks. Publicity is his remedy
The president thinks that tariff re-
duction is no adequate remedy for the
trust evil at all, for the reason that SO
many trusts could not in any way be
affected by the tariff. However, he
seems to have caught the spirit of the
Iowa republican platform and closes his
discussion of the tariff question with a
statement to the effect that If any
schedule does aid monopoly no pro-
tectionist would object to its reduction,
and then gives it as his opinion that the
tariff on anthracite coal should be taken
off. General tariff revision and pro-
longed tariff debate, the president fears,
would be disastrous to business, but he
is strong in his recommendation for re-
eiprocity.
Having preached earnestly to con-
gress not to let superficial prejudices
lead 1t to attack capital because it is
invested in trust or combination, the
president naturally turned to the other
side and warned congress to be like
wise careful in its treatment of labor
unions. This is an era of eombina-
ton was Ills text. Labor unions should
not be condemned because they are
unions, nor be favored because of mere
sentiment. 1--WE are neither for the
rich man al; such nor for the poor man
as such: we are for the upright man, |
rich or poor" which will be accepted by |
men as the proper view of |
the labor union movement There is al |
together too much cheap sentiment and |
cation of labor and, on the other hand, |
much inexcusable fear and prejudice |
against it on the part of organized cap
ital. The president thinks that both
are here to stay, with beneficial mis-
sions to perform, and that they should |
work together. every employer and
every wage worker must be guaranteed
his liberty and his right to do as he
likes with his property and his labor, so
long as he does not infringe upon the
rights of others" and Each must re-
frain from arbitrary or tyrannous in
reference with the rights of others" are
his doctrines.
Cuban reciprocity was, of course,
urged strongly and with an assurance
that it would be accepted. The presi-
dent has won out with the people on
the Cuban question, and congress must
accept the mandate of public opinion.
A Panama canal, Pacific cable, rural
free delivery, irrigation legislation and h
many leading questions We're discussed
briefly, but not so as to tire the reader
The president has evidently written a
sermon upon public duty and has in
tended to make 1t sufficiently enter .
aiming for wide public reading. In this
respect he has made it an excellent
document.