The leader., 1903-12-12
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt's Communica-
tion to National Law Makers.
SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE e
Control of the Trusts-FraHds of va
rious Kinds-The IstIlmian Canal
and Panama Revolutioa-The Mer-
chant Marine-Our Insular Possess
sions-Torcign Relations.

lSEeSl 10 the annual reports OIL the t4eCA~
tive department heads.
The first subject to receive attention at
the hands OF the president is that OF the
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:
'"rhe 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
atic intelligent investigation Is already de-
Veloping facts the knowledge of which is
essential to a right understanding of the
needs and duties of the business world.
The corporation which is honestly and
fairly organized. whose managers in the
conduct of its business recognize their
stockholders, their competitors and the
public, has nothing to fear from such
supervision. The purpose of this bureau
business, but to aid in bringing about a
better industrial condition-a condition
under which there shall be obedience to
law 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 1t has the power,
is to hold in check the unscrupulous man,
whether employer or employe; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or to
hamper or cramp the Industrial develop
this is an era of federation and combina-
tion, in which great capitalistic corpora
tions and labor unions have become fac
tors of tremendous Importance in all in
dustrial centers. Hearty recognition Is
given the far-reaching, benefcent work
which has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions, and the line as
between different corporations as between
dlferenf unions is drawn ii is between
different individuals; that is, it is drawn
on conduct, the effort being to treat both
organized capital ard 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 to
law, of Individual freedom, and of justice
and fair dealing towards all. Whenever
either corporation, labor union, or individ-
ual disregards the law or acts in sp rit
of arbitrary or tyrannous interference with
the rights of others, whether corporations
or individuals then where the federal gov
ernment has jurisdiction, it 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 it;
We require him to obey it. Obedience to
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
at this time. On the subject of the mer-
chant marine he asks that commission
consisting of the secretary of the navy,
postmaster general and secretary Of COM
gate its needs and report to congress de-
sirable legislation. He believes in stop
ping undesirable immigration, but makes
no specific recommendations. He refers
to the ma 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
violations of national laws, including nat
uralization frauds, the postal and public
land frauds.
He refers to steps now being taken by
the state. department for making bribery
an eXtraditable offense, and in connection
with this the president says:
THE exposures and prosecutions of Off
cial corruption in St. Louis, Mo, and other
cities and states have resulted in a num-
ber of givers and takers of bribes becoming
fugitives in foreign lands. Bribery has
not been included in eXtradition treaties
heretofore, as Cne necessity 1Or II mas not
arisen. While there may have been as
much official corruption in former years,
there has been more developed and brought
to light in the immediate past than in the
preceding century of our countryS history.
1t should be the policy of the United States
to leave no, place on earth where cor
rupt man fleeing from this country can
bribery should not be included in all trea-
ties as extraditable."
There can be no crime more serious
| horN I1,,fIN g-g-
one law, while corruption strikes at the
foundation of all law. Under our form
of government all authority is vested il
the people, and by them delegated tc
those who represent them in official ca
pacity. There can be no offense heavier
than that of him in whom such sacred
| trust has been reposed, who sells it fol
his own gain and enrichment; and no less
heavy is the offense of the bribe giver
He is worse than the thief. for the thiet
| robs the individual. while the corrupt of.
| ficial plumbers an entire city or state He
is as wicked as the murderer, for the
murderer may only take one life agains
the law. while the corrupt official ant
the man who corrupts the official alik;
wealth itself. Government of the peo
| pie, by the people, for the people will
| perish from the face of the earth i
bribery is tolerated. The givers an6
| nenee of infamy. The exposure and pun
| ishment of public corruption is an honor
| to nation, not a disgrace The shame
lies in liberation, not in correction M
city or state, still less the nation, can b,
| injured by the enforcement of law A.
| long as public plunderers when detect
ed can find haven of refuge in any for
| eign land and avoid punishment. just 81
| long encouragement is given them tt
continue their practices. If we fail to dt
| all that in US lies to stamp out corrup
| ton we cannot escape our share of re
sponsipility for the guilt The first reuui
site of successful self-government is un
| fiinching enforcement of the law and this
| cutting out of corruption.
The Alaskan boundary.
In connection with the Alaskan boundary
| decision the president reviews the history
of the case leading up to the appointment
of the tribunal, its sessions and decision
pronounees the result entirely satisfac
| tory and says:
The result is satisfactory in every way
/ 1t is of great material advantage Il
| our people in the far northwest. 1t has re
moved from the field of discussion ant
/ possible danger question liable to be
come more acutely accentuated with eacl
passing year. Finally. it has furnished
will with which two friendly nations car
| approach and determine issues involving
/ national sovereignty and by their ma
4 ture incapable of submission to thirC
! power for adjudication.
The award is self-executing on the vita
| points. To make. it effective as regard:
| the others, it only remains for the twt
governments to appoint each On its owr
behalf, one or more scientific experts, wht
shall, with all convenient speed, proceed
! together to lay down the boundary line
4 in accordance with the decision of the ma,
4 jority of the tribunal. I recommend tha
| the congress make adequate provision fol
the appointment, compensation and ex
/ psenses of the members to serve on thi.
i joinr boundary commission on the part O.
| the United States
review of the Venezuelan case is givel
and. its amicable adjustment through thu
| efforts of this country, and the statemen
made that the adjustment by arbitration
of this dispute has materially helped tn,
4 cause of international arbitration He say,
j our relations with Turkey are friendly
and claims against that government are il
process of adjustment He calls attention
| to the signing of a new commercial treat,
with China on October which. should givt
to our commerce an impetus in that EN-
pire, though he says the full measure o
/ development cannot be looked for until TIL,
present abnormal conditions are settled
He strongly advocates the extension O
/ the rural free delivery system as rapid,
as possible. He recommends government
/ assistance for the Louisiana Purchase AM
| Lewis and Clark expositions, and such leg
islation as will tend to the fuller develop
| ment of Alaska. especially in regard to tn,
land laws.