The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-12-11
OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
TO CONGRESS:
posToFFICE AFFAIRS.
Some of the Principal
Points Touched Upon.

congress was reao DeIOre tnat Douy
Monoay, after which congress ad-
journed.t The document is volum-
nous one, and only those sections that
are Of especial interest to the people
are published below:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatlves:
The country is to be congratulated
on the amount of substantial achieve
ment which has marked the past year
both as regards our foreign and as
regards our domestic policy.
With a nation as with a man the
most important things are those Of
the household, and therefore the coun-
try ID especially congratulated on what
has BEEN accomplished in the direction
of providing for the exercise of SUI
pervision over the great corporations
and combinations Of corporations en-
gagged in intestate commerce.
The establishment of the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor, with
the Bureau of Corporations hereunder
marks real advance in the direction
of doing all that Is possible for the
solution of the questions vitality af-
fecting capitalists and wage-workers.
CAPITAL AND LABOR,
The consistent policy of the Nation
al Government, 30 far as 1t has the
power, is to hold in check the un-
scrupulous man, whether employer or
employee; but to refuse to weaken in
dividual initiative or to hamper or to
cramp the Industrial development Of
the country. Whenever either cor
poration, labor union, or individual
disregards the law or acts in q spirit
OF arbitrary and tyrannous interfer-
ence with the rights of others, wheth-
er corporations or individuals, then
where the Federal Government has
jurisdiction. 1t 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 is, the question whether or not
the conduct of the individual or ag-
gregate of individuals is In accordance
long as he does not infringe the rights
must be guaranteed his labor, SO
Of others. No man as above the law
and no man Is below It; nor do we ask
any mans permission when we re-
quire him to obey 1t. Obedience to
the law is demanded as right; not
asked as favor.
POSTAL FRAUDS.
Through frauds, forgeries, and per-
juries and by shameless briberies--the
laws relating to the proper conduct
OF the public service in general and to
the due administration of the Post
Office Department have been notorious
have been found, and the consequen,
prosecutions are in course Of hearing
or on the eve thereof. For the reason
thus indicated, and so that the Gov
emment may be prepared to enforce
promptly and with the greatest effect
the due penalties for such violations
of law, and to this end may be fur
nished with sufficient instrumental
ties and competent legal assistance
for the investigations and trials which
will be necessary at many different
points Of the country, I urge upon the
Congress, the necessity Of making the
said appropriation available for i'm
mediate use for all such purposes, to
be expended under the direction of the
Attorney General.
RURAL DELIVERY.
Tn rural free-delivery service has
been steadily extended. The attention
of the Congress Is asked to the ques-
tion of the compensation of the let
ter carriers and clerks engaged In the
postal service. especially on the new
rural free-delivery routes. More routes
have been installed since the first OF
July last than in any like period in
the Departments history. While q
due regard to economy must be kept
In mind in the establishment of new
routes, yet the extension of the rural
free-delivery system must be contin.
ued for reasons of sound public pol.
icy.
COLOMBIAN AFFAIR.
Last spring treaty concluded be-
/ tween the representatives of the Re.
public OF Colombia and OF our Gov.
ernment was ratified by the Senate
This treaty was entered into at the ur.
gent solicitation of the people Of Col
ombia and after a body of experts ap.
pointed by our government especially
to 60 into the matter of the routes
across the isthmus had pronounced un.
animously in favor of the Panama
route In drawing up this treaty ev-
cry concession was made to the peo-
PIE aud to the Government Of Colon
bia. We are more than just In dealing
with them. Nevertheless the Govern.
ment of Colombia not merely repudiat-