Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1903-12-11
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt's Communica-
tion to National Law Makers.
SUBJECTS oflMPoRTANCE
Control Of the Trusts--Fraids of Va
and Panama Reyolution--The Mcr-
chant Marine--gur Insular Possess
sions-FOreign Relations.

ana Panama HeYOlutiOn-The Mer-
chant Marine--0ur Insular Possess
sions-Foreign tRelations.
President Rooseveis's annual message to
congress deals largely with a few impor.
tant questions, leaving those of minor in
terest to the annual yreports Of the execu-
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:
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 knowledge Of which is
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
obligation to deal squarely with their
public. has nothing to fear from such
supervision. The phrpose OF this bureau
Is not to embarrass or assail legitimate
business, but TO aiu in bringing about
better Industrial eondition-a condition
under which theregshall be obedience to
law and recognition Of public obligation
by all corporationsIgr great or small"
Capital and Labor.
On. the subject Of capital and labor the
president says. a
THE consistent policy of the national
government, SO far as II 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
ment of the county. We recognize that
this Is an era of federation and combiha-
tion, In which great capitalistc corpora
tions ana labor unions have become fac
tors Of tremendous Importance in all in
dustrial centers Hearty recognition is
given the far-reaehing, 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 it is between
dinerent 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 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 spirit
of arbitrary or tyrannous interference with
the. rights Of others, whether corporations
or individuals then where the federal gov
ernment has juris ,llction, It will see to it
that the ,mscond act is stopped, paying
not the slightest heed to the position or
power of the conservation, 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 indivld-
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.;
nor do we ask any mans permission when
we require him to obey 1t. Obedience to
the law is demanded as right; not asked
as a 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 a commission
consisting of the secretary OF the navy,
postmaster general and secretary of com
merce and labor be appointed to investi-
gate its needs and report to congress de-
sirable legislation. He believes in stop
ping undesirable immigration. but makes
sptClllC f1t TtItTS
to the naturalization frauds being perpe-
trated in the large cities especially, and
asks that way be found 10 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 1nnartment for making hrihpry
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
ber of givers and takers of bribes becoming
fugitives in foreign lands. Bribery has
not been included in extradition treaties
heretofore, as the necessity for 1t has not
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 country's history
1t 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 nc reason why
bribery should NOT be included in all trea-
Ties as extraditable."
The Alaskan Boundary.
In competition 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,
pronounces the result entirely satisfac-
tory, and says:
The result is satisfactory in every way
1t is of great material advantage tc
our people IN the far northwest. 1t has re.
moved from the field of discussion and
possible danger a question liable to be-
come more acutely accentuated with eacf
passing year. Finally, 1t has furnished
a signal proof of the fairness and goot
will with which two friendly nations car
approach and determine issues involving
national sovereignty and by their ma
ture Incapable of submission to a thir(
power for adjudication.
THE award Is se.t-executing on the vita
points. To make 1t effective as. regards
the Others, 1t only remains for the two
governments to appoint each on its owr
behalf, one or more scientific experts, whC
shall, with all convenient speed, proceed
together to lay down the boundary line
in accordance with the decision of the ma
jority OF the tribunal. l recommend tha
the congress make adequate provision fol
| the appointment compensation and ex
| psenses of the members to serve on thii
joint boundary commission on the part o.
! the United States
| A review OF the Venezuelan case is giver
and It's amicable adjustment through tht
| efforts of this country. and the Statement
made that the adjustment by arbitration
! of this dispute has materially helped thu
/ our relations with Turkey are friendly
and claims against that government are II
process of adjustment. He calls attention
1 to the signing Of new commercial treat,
| with China on October which should Civ,
| to our commerce an impetus in that EN-
| pire, though he says the full measure o
| development cannot be looked for until thu
| 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 ant
| 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.
Insular Possessions.
| In connection with our insular posses
sions he recommends an appropriation TO
| the building of lighthouses in Hawaii an
| the payment for those already built b,
| the island government. He asks that tn
| governor of Hawaii be empowered to dis