The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-08
THE MESSAGE.


admitted that he makes a pretty
| strong defense of the position taken
by the administration in the recent
| revolution in Panama and OF the pol
icy it pursued in negotiating a treaty
with the Republic of Panama for
canal concessions Immediately after
| the success of the revolution was as
sured. He points out that Colombia
| had never been able to maintain or
! der on the Isthmus of Panama, and
| that the burden OF doing this had
| fallen upon the United States ever
since the treaty of 1916, when they
| guaranteed the safety of traffic across
the isthmus. At various times the
! United States have been called upon
| by Colombia to assist in depressing
disorder, and it is probable that Co
| Lmn1ia would thave lost control of
! Panama long ago if it had not been
| for the help given her by them in
maintaining order. withstanding
| this assistance. however, when the
United States had negotiated a treaty
for canal concession with her govern
ment that was highly favorable to
her and particularly desired by the
| people of Panama, the Colombian peo-
pie, through their Congress- refused
to ratify it, and it doesn't appear that
the Colombian government made any
| special effort to have it ratified.
The President points out that the
law authorizing a treaty with Colom-
bia for concessions for a canal across
the Isthmus of Panama does not neces-
sarily mean that the treaty must be
negotiated with Colombia. 1t author
ICES the negotiation of a treaty with
the power having control of the 18TH
mus of Panama.
! 1t happens that the Republic of Pam
anna has now control of the isthmus,
| and a treaty has been negotiated with
her, and the treaty so negotiated is
much more favorable to the United
| States than was the one that was re-
jected by Colombia.
1t does not appear from anything
the President says that the United
! States were instrumental in bringing
| about the revolution in Panama by
which the Republic of Panama was
| created. They kept well within the
scope of their authority under the
treaty of 1916. 1t is, apparent, how
ever, from what the President says,
that ind exercising that authority
| Panama received the support that was
necessary to enable her to sever her
| relations with Colombia, and set up
a government of her own.
The President points out that it only
| remains for the United States to ratify
! the treaty which has been negotiated
with the republic of Panama to clear
the way for the beginning of work on
the canal across the Isthmus of Pan
anna. He does not make any other
explanation of his failure to author
lie the beginning of work on a canal
on the Nicaraguan route When Gel0nt7
bia refused to ratify the Panama cana1
| treaty than to say that it was the
opinion of Congress that the best route
for the canal was across Panama.
There is no doubt the President makes
the very best presentation of the
course he has pursued in the matter
that could be made. and as there is a
very general desire that the canal
shall be built as soon as possible, it is
probable that while there will be crit
icism of the course pursued by the adj
ministration to obtain the necessary
concessions for canal across the
Isthmus of Panama, the treaty with
the republic of Panama will be ratified
by the Senate as it has been by eX-
listing authority in Panama.
There are other portions of the mes
sage which have moEe than a passing
interest, though, as already stated,
the canal question is its chief feature.
Its opening paragraphs deal with the
question of capital and labor, and the
need for a closer supervision of the
great corporations. 1t is asserted
that with the creation of the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, with the
Bureau of Corporations hereunder, a
real advance in the direction of do
ing all that is possible for the solu-
ton Of the questions vitality affecting
capitalists and wage learners was
made. 1t is probable that publicity
will be secured in regard to the affairs
of corporations, and by that means,
doubtless, many of the evils of which
there has been great complaint will
be prevented. And it is also probable
that statistics respecting labor will be
collected so that it will be possible to
reach intelligent conclusions respecting
the demands of labor organizations.
The President seems to think that
corporations that are honest can have
no reasonable objections to publicity
and that only those who do not intend
to deal fairly with the public will OBJ
iect to making exhibits of their affairs
1t is possible to get the impression from
this part of his message that the
President had in mind the criticisms
of his course in regard to corporations
and the hostility to him which trusts
} have shown. 1t is possible also to gel
the impression from some things he
says that he recognizes the fact thai
the labor element is a power on cleo.
ton daY.
There is a recommendation that az
appropriation be made for the prose
cution of those who offend against tht
antitrust laws. the inference being