Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-03
TELEPHONES,
WEDNESDAY,, 800. DECEMBER 3. 1902
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The annual message OF the president
was sent to Congress yesterday. 1t is OF
moderate length and interest. but is
well written. When Mr.. Roosevelt finds
himself without job he will be able to
make an easy living with his pen. he has
much newspaper instinct too. and isn't
afraid to trust the press. In proof Of this
re can say that a printed copy OF his
message was put into the hands OF every
editor Of daily newspaper in the land
last week to be held in confidence until
''rc!ea sed'-that is to say. until the Asso-
ciatcG Press notified its members. and.
through them, the world. that the read
ing of the message in Congress had be-
gun. The advantage the President Sc
cured by this sagacious arrangement
was that his copy went to the printers
free from those errors which would have
been inevitable and unavoidable in tel
graphing and transcribing it
The President depicts the country as
e., q condition of unbounded and unprece-
5,nted prosperity. Periods Of depression
will come. he doubts not, but he expects
is to continue to thrive. AS for the trusts,
ne thinks Of them as Coroner Taylor does
If the rncrobes-that some are good and
some Dad The bad trusts he
President would curb by publicity
snu restrictions in the issue of
stock. For this purpose he would use the
Federal Interstate commerce act. as far
as it is available, and then, If necessary,
amend the United States Constitution so
IS to give the Congress great power over
corporations. BY the way, the President
s particular to say. always. the Con
.ress'' And that is the correct usage.
though more honored in the breach than
n the observance
In all that is done, whether to curb the
trusts, or to revise the tariff, the Presi-
dent recommends action SO conservative
and well-tined as not to disturb business
or to inpcril the prosperity of the Nation
which he writes with big n. But he
insists that 1.-The question of regulation
ST the trusts stands apart from the ques.
lion of tariff revision" The latter he
would accomplish mainly through reci-
orocity treaties A commission OF bust.
aess experts is recommended to be ap-
pointed to assist the congressional eN-
,erts Festina lente is his motto. But he
would have the tariff on anthracite coal
removed at once.
The President is opposed to any at
.empt, at this time to reconstruct our
financial system, yet he advocates the
use of such Observation-Disclosures as will au-
tomatically supply every legitimate de-
nand of productive industries and of
commerce, not only in the amount, but
n The character of circulation Further
ietails of the plan he favors he does not
give.
This IS an era Of fedora ton and COM
sina ,ioM.'' and the President believes in
combination OF labor as well as OF conlb-
aaaion Of capital. Both can do much
good. and both can do evil he says.
Each must refrain from arbitrary or
tyrannous interference with the rights OF
Others" lie pleads for a better under
standing between employer and employ
ed. I'VE are neither Tor the rich man
as such. nor for the poor man as such:
we are for the upright man. rich or poor"
AS q political dclirerance few can object
TO what the President has to say OH
this question. but We fail TO discover
where 1t adds to the sum of human
wisdom or points the way for an early So
luton Of this vexed problem.
a Secretary Of Commerce he thinks is
needed. and he urges that the Office be
created; the incumbent to have a sear
I'll the Cabinet.
lie hopes soon &c submit to the Senate
reciprocity treaty with Cuba. He re-
CARDS Cuba as part of our
international political system" and
he wishes her to have the ben
fits. O! our economic system" He
speaks Of stretching out helping
hand to young and weak sister repub-
lie just entering upon her career OF in
dencndcnce.'
With respect 10 an isthm;an canal, the
President says the At,orney-Gene re
ports that We can undoubtedly acquire
good title from the French Panama
Canal Company" Negotiations. he
sccs. are now pending with Colombia
70 secure her assent to our building the
canal. There he leaves off to say what
grand thing an is,hm1an canal will be.
reference is made to the revival Of
ne Nicsraguan scheme.
IN the Philippine Islands. all is lovely
3 y We may believe the President. ..sone
I1ocn'e has from tins 10 time ttrea1en-
50 with the Mohammedan Moros. but