The commonwealth., 1903-12-10
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSA GE.

terests as they touch our national lie
here and abroad. The following COM
ments by prominent papers in the
State show how our North Carolina
editors regard it:
The News and Observer says in part
at is written with the accustomed
power and yigor OF the literary man in
the White House. There are few men
who write so clearly and so Interestingly
as Mr.. Roosevelt. The thing that
makes his books and magazine articles
popular is that he writes like he talks
-strenuousiy, graphically and in an
original manner.
"The message deals mainly with the
Panama question and the Panama
canal. He presents the question of the
administration in its most favorable as
pect and in most plausible light. AS
you read it, without recalling the real
history of the transaction, it sounds SO
smooth and nice that even follower
of Grant could scarcely blame the ad-
ministration for recognizing the doc
trine of Secession. OF course the Pres
ident does not tell Congress that the
Republic of Panama was born in the
back lot OF the White House and the
denizens of Panama didn't know they
had 'revolted' and their Republic was a
reality until a cablegram was received
from New York, telling them that the
Republic of Panama had been born
aud would be recognized.
"With reference to the policy of the
administration as to capital and labor,
the President utters some wise platI-
tudes and seems to be satisfied with
what has been done to check trusts.
The trusts also are satisfied, all except
the Northern Securities Company, the
officers OF which viii probably fud an
other way to monopo3ize the transpor-
tation Ct the country.
"The postal frauds are touched upon
very lightly. There is no demand ior
a thorough Congressional inye5tig tigation,
the President c0ateatlng hinlaeli with
recommending the appropriation Of
naora money so the Attorney General
coui1 employ assistants to prosecute
The last Congress appropriated large
sunl 10 ei:abie the Attorney General to
enforce the a2ti-trast law. It is sur
s.lised that the lawyers have been en-
pIcycd, but where are the convictions :?
Congress should thoroughly investigate
the postal scandals, which surpass in
magnitude and turpitude any official
corruption since the Star Rroute fraud
OF Grants administration.
"The President recommends the ex-
tension Of the rural free delivery sys-
tenn and the building OF good roads.
It is to be hoped that Congress will
greatly extend the free delivery until
every county Is honsycomted With
them"
The Charlotte Observer says edito-
rally:
president Roosevelt's annual mes
sage, a document of some II 900 words,
which was transmitted to Congress YES.
terday, and which appears in full in to-
days Observer, is, like nearly all of Mr..
Roosevelt's documents, we'll written.
When that is said, however, little else
remains, fer the message is hardly
more than general review O! the prin-
cipal events connected with the gov
ernment for the past year. AS regards
pensions and currency legislation the
President merely reiterates his we'll
known views as often expressed, to-wit
That no other class deserve 80 we'll oi
the country as the soldiers, and that it
would be unwise at this time to recon.
struct cur entire monetary system
The forestry preservation of the govern
ment is endorsed aud Congress urged
to continue it. The President, in this
matter, refers especially to the West
and makes no mention of the proposed
Appalachian forest reserve. AS to the
boil weevil scourge the President sug-
gests that Congress make prompt en-.
actment ct whatever remedial legisla.
ton Its Judgment may approve. Taking
it all in all, the message is the usual
recital put IN perhaps the most reada.
bic shape possible, which is not, how.
ever, neart as a guarantee that it will
pay busy man to read it,
The Morning Post estimates the
message as follows:
'The Post gives the full text of the
message OF the President delivered tc
Congress yesterday. It is written in
Mr.. Roosevelt's usually clear, vigorous
style, without ambiguity or hesitation
IN the expression of his opinion con
cernlng the subject treated or such
recommendations as he felt called upon
to make. 1t is conspicuously clea,