Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-16
FEATURES OF THE MESSAGE.

President Rooseyelt's last message,
like previous ones. is an able and
characteristic production. II is
R~ooseveltian from start to finish, and
although It treats of many questions,
and some at length, 1t will be found
interesting reading by those who have
the time to give to it. Two topics to
receive special attention are the new
department of commerce and labor
and the Panama situation. In deal
ing with capital and labor the presi-
dent does not recede one iota from
the advanced position ne has taken
in his determination to enforce the
laws with equal consideration for the
welfare of both. After highly COM
mending this department and calling
attention to what has already been
accomplished under II, the president.
among other things, says:
Whenever either corporation, la
Dor union or individual ~disregards the
law or acts in a spirit of arbitrary
and ~tyrannous interference with the
rights of others. whether corporations
or individuals. then where the federal
government has jurisdiction. it will
see to it that the misconduct is stop.
ped, paying not the slightest heed to
the position or power of the corpora
ton, 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 In
~dividuals 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 il does not in
fringe the rights of others. No man
is above the law and no man is below
it: o do we ask any mans permits
sion when we require him to obey it.
Obedience to the law is demanded as
a right. not asked as a favor. The
consistent policy of the national gov
eminent. so far as it has the power,
| is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS
man, whether employer or employe,
; but to refuse to weaken individual in
|" ~itiative or to hamper or cramp the in
dustrial development of the country.
We recognize that this is an area of
federation and combination. In which
great capitalistic corporations and la
Dor unions have become factors Of
tremendous Importance in all indus
trial centers. Hearty recognition is
E given ~farreaching. beneficent work
: which has been accomplished through
, both corporations, as between differ
ent unions, is drawn as 1t is between
. different Northumberland is, 1t Is
drawn on conduct, the effort being to
treat both organized capital and or
gained labor alike; asking nothing
, save that the interest of each shall
: be brought into harmony with the in
terest 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 JUS
tice and fair dealing toward ALL"
The president treats the Isthmian
, canal question so exhaustively and
comprehensively that there a hard
/, ly be left a doubt in the minds OF fair
men as to the propriety Of every move
5 so far made since the secession OF
Panama. That no move has been made
1 that was not fully justified by early
treaty acts and the highest demands
of modern commerce and civilization.
The president effectually squelches
the mere sentimentalists who would
have it appear that he is aiding and
. abetting the destruction of a Central
] American republic of high ideals and
great stability by %recounting the num-
! Der of riots. revolutions and insur-
rections that have taken place on the
' Isthmus OF Panama In the past fifty.
E seven years. numbering over fifty, or
nearly one for every year during that
] period. As evidence of the duplicity
and dishonesty of the Colombian gov
: eminent In rejecting the canal treaty
the president gives the following
facts:
Last spring, under the act above
referred to. a treaty concluded be-
tween the representatives of the Re-
public Of Colombia and of govern
ment was ratified by the senate. This
treaty was entered into at the urgent
solicitation of the people of Colon
bia, 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
D. unanimously in favor of he Panama