Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-12-10
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt's Communica-
ton to National Law Makers.
SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE

Control of the Trusts-Frauds Of Va.
Fio1s kinds-The Isthmian Canal
and Panama Revolution-The Mer-
chant Marlne-Our Insular Posses
siOns-Foreign Relations.
President Roosevelt's annual message to
congress deals largely with q few impor-
tant questions, leaving those OF minor in
terest to the annual reports Of the execu-
tive department heads
The first subject to receive attention ut
the hands Of the president is that of the
trusts In connection with the operations
OF the department of commerce and labor
and the bureau of corporations. OF the
results which this bureau will accomplish
he says:
The preliminary work of the bureau Of
corporations in the department has shown
the wisdom Of its creation. Publicity in
corporate affairs will tend to do away with
Ignorance, and will afford facts upon which
Intelligent action may be taken System
attic, Intelligent investigation Is already de-
veloping facts the knowledge of which 10
essential to right understanding of the
needs and duties of the business world.
Tho corporation which is honestly and
fairly organized, whose managers in the
conduct of its business recognize their
obligation to deal squarely with their
stockholders, their competitors and the
public, has nothing to fear from such
supervision. The purpose of this bureau
Is not to embarrass or assail legitimate
business but to aid in bringing about q
better industrial conditions condition
under which there shall be obedience to
law and recognition of public obligation
by all corporations great or small"
Capital and Labor.
On the subject of capital and labor the
president says:
THE consistent policy of the national
government so far as it has the power
is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man
whether employer or employe; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual Initiative or to
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
ment men OF the country. We recognize, that
t!on, In which great capitalistic corpora
tions and labor unions have become fac
tors Of tremendous Importance in all in
given the far-reaching, beneficent work
which has been accomplished through both
eorporations and unions, and the line as
different unions, is drawn as it is between
different individuals; that is, it is drawn
on conduct, the effort being to treat both
alike: asking, nothing save that the inter
est of each shall be brought into harmony
with the interest of the general public, and
that the conduct of each shall conform to
the fundamental rules of obedience to
law, of individual freedom, and of justice
and fair dealing towards all. Whenever
either corporation, labor union, or individ-
OF arbitrary or tyrannous interference with
the rights of others, whether corporations
or individuals then where the federal gov
ernment has jurisdiction, it will see to it
that the misconduct is stopped. paying
not the slightest heed to the position or
power of the corporation, the union or the
individual, but only to one vital fact-that
w hot thor 0$ khN
of the individual or aggregate of individ-
uals is In accordance with the law of the
land Every man must be guaranteed his
liberty and his right to do as he likes with
his property or his labor, so long as he does
not infringe the rights of others. No man
Is above the law and no man is below it;
we require him to obey it. Obedience to
the law is demanded as right; not asked
as favor
The Merchant Marine.
The president does not believe that any
financial legislation is needed or advisable
chant marine he asks that commission
consisting of the secretary of the navy,
postmaster genera general and secretary Of com
gate its needs and report to congress de-
sirable legislation. He believes in stop
ping undesirable immigration, but makes
to the nat4ralization frauds being, perpe:;
trated in the large cities especially, and
asks that a way be found to stop them.
He recommends that appropriations made
general to prosecute the violations of the
antitrust laws be extended to include all
violations OF national laws, including nat
uralizatio9 frauds, the postal and public
He refers to steps now being taken by
the state department for making bribery
an extraditable offense, and in connection
with this the president says:
Tho exposures and prosecutions of on
cial corruption In St. Louis, Mo-, and other
and afers ef brbes
fug1tives in foreign lands. Bribery has
not been included in extradition treaties
heretofore, as the necessity for it has not
arisen. While there may have been as
much official corruption in former years,
there has been more developed and brought
to light in the immediate past than in the
It should be the policy Of the United States
to leave no place on earth where a cor
rupt man fleeing from this country can
bribery should not be included in all trea-
ties as e1traditable" .~ =.
The Alaskan Boundary.
In connection with the Alaskan boundary
decision the president reviews the history
Of the case leading up to the appointment
pronounces the result entirely satisfac-
'dThe award is self-executing on the vital
points. 10 make IL eueCC1Ve as regards
the others, it only remains for the two
governments to appoint, each on its own
behalf, one or more scientific experts, who
shall, with all convenient speed, proceed
together, to lay down the boundary line
in accordance with the decision of the ma
jority of the tribunal. I recommend that
the congress make adequate provision for
the appointment, compensation and ex-
psenses of the members to serve on this
joint boundary commission on the part of
the United States.'
A review Of the Venezuelan case is given
and its amicable adjustment through the
efforts of this country, and the statement
made that the adjustment by arbitration
of this dispute has materially helped the
cause of international arbitration. He says
our relations with Turkey are friendly,
and claims against that government are In
process of adjustment. He calls attention
to the signing of new commercial treaty
with China on October which should give
to our commerce an impetus in that en-
pire, though he says the full measure of
cannot be looked for until the
present abnormal conditions are settled.
He strongly advocates the extension of
the rural free delivery system as rapidly
as possible. He recommends government
assistance for the Louisiana Purchase and
Lewis and Clark expositions, and such Leg
lslation AZ viii tend to the fuller develop