The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-12-12
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosavelt's Communities
ton to National Law Makers.
SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE
Control of the Trusts-Frua of Va
rious Kinds-Thc Isthminp Canal
and Panama Revolution-Thc Mer-
chant Marinc-Our Insulnr Posses
sions-Foreign Relations.

chant Marine-Our Insulnr Posses
sions-Foreign Relations.
President Roosevelt's annual message 10
congress deals largely with few mpor-
tant questions, leaving those Of minor IN
terest TO the annual reports OF the eXecu-
tive department heads.
The hrst subject TO receive attention al
the hands OF the president is that OF IN"
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 know edge Of which !s
essential 10 right understanding OF the
needs and duties OF the business word.
The corporation which Is honestly and
fairly organized whose managers in the
conduct OF its business recognize their
oblis 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
better Industrial conditional condition
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 II has the power
is TO hold in check the unscrupuous man,
whether employer or emploYe, but to re-
fuse TO weaken Individual initiative or to
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
ment OF the country. We recognize that
this is an era OF federation and combna-
tion, in which great capitalistic corpora
tons and labor unions have become fac
tors OF tremendous Importance in all IN
dustrial centeTs Hearty recognition Is
given the far-reaching, beneficent work
which has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions, and the line as
between different corporations, as between
different unions, Is drawn as il Is between
different individuals that Is. 1t is drawn
on conduct, the effort being to treat both
organized capital and organized labor
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 10
law, OF Individual freedom, and of justice
and fair dealing towards all Whenever
either corporation labor union, or lndivd-
ual disregards the law or acts In a spirit
OF arbitrary or tyrannous interference with
the rights OF others, whether corporations
VI lHulNlNud4S, AHtll NItIt NIt ltueIdl gov
eminent 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 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 II;
nor DO Se ask any mans permission when
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
al this time, on the subject of the mer-
chant marine he asks that a commission
consisting Of the secretary OF the navy
postmaster general and secretary OF com
merce and labor be appointed to investi-
gate It's needs and report 70 congress de-
sirable legislation, He believes in stop
ping undesirable immigration, but makes
no specific accommodations He refers
TO the naturalization frauds being perpe-
trated in the large cities especially, and
asks that way be found to stop them.
He recommends that appropriations made
for the purpose OF enabling the attorney
general TO prosecute the violations Of the
antitrust laws be extended to include all
nralizatlon frauds, the postal and public
land frauds
He refers TO steps now being taken by
the state department for making bribery
an extraditable orense, and In connection
with this the president says;
The exposures and prosecutions OF ofn-
eial corruption In St Louis, Mo, and other
cities and states have resulted In a num-
Der OF givers and takers Of brides becoming
fugitiyes 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
10 light in the immediate past than In the
preceding century OF our country's history
II should be the policy OF the United States
TO leave no place on earth where a cor
rupt man fleeing from this country can
rest In peace, There Is no reason why
bribery should not be included In all trea-
There can be no crime more serious
than bribery, Other ofrenses violate
one law, while corruption strikes at the
foundation OF all law. Under our form
OF government all authority Ia vested In
the people and by them delegated 10
those who represent them IN oficial ca
pacty, There can be no offense heavier
than that OF him In whom such sacred
trust has been reposcd, who sells IL for
his own gain and enrchment and no less
heavy Is the offcnsc OF the bride giver.
He In worse than the thief, for the thief
robs the individual, while the corrupt OF.
fcal plumbers an entire city or state. lie
II as wicked as the murderer, for the
murderer my only take one llfe against
the law, while the corrupt official and
the man who corrupts the official alike
aim at the assassination OF the common
wealth Itself Government Of the pco-
pie by the people for the people win
perish from the face OF the earth n
bribery liz tolerated, The givers and
takers Of brlbes stand on an oyll proem.
- ltsT
ishment Of public corruption IL an honor
10 a nation, not n disgrace The shame
lies In liberation, not IN correction, No
city or state, stlll less the nation, can be
injured by the enforcement Of law As
long 0s public plundorcrs when detect,
ed can ind haven OF refuge In any for.
egn land ana avoid punishment Just ~
long encouragement ia given them 20
continue their practices. II We FAN 10 do
all that In us lies 60 stamp out Corrup-
ton we cannot escape our share Of re-
sponsplllty for the CUNT Tho first rc0u,-
site OF successful clt-govcrumcnt u uns
hlnchng enforcement OF the law and the
cutting out OF corruption
The Alaskan boundary,
In connection with the Alaskan boundary
decision the president reviews The history
OF the case leading up 10 the appointment
OF the tribunal ls sessions and decision,
pronounep the result cntirc,y satlsiac.
The result II satisfactory In every way,
II TX OF great material advantage 10
eur people In the far northwest II has 20.
moved from the field Of discussion and
possible danger a question liable 90 be-
come moro HculoY ncccntuatod with each
passing year Finally It has furnished
n signal proof Of the fairness and good
VIII with which two friendly nations can
approach ana determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their ma.
turc incapable Of submission 10 third
power Tor adjudication,
'Tho award II Holf'oNocullng on the vital
points To make Il effective rs regards
The others, II only remains for the two
governments 10 appoint each on It's own
Behalf one or more scientific experts, who
shah with all conNnlpnt speed, proceed
together TO lay down the boundary line
tn accordance with the decision Of the ma
nrity Of the tribunal | recommend that
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