Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-11
HIS ANNUAL MESSAGE
President Roosevelt's communica.
ton to National Law Makers :,
SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE
Control of the Trusts-Frnuds of Va
riousr Kinls-The Isthninn Canal
and Panama Revolutfon-The Mer-
chant Marine-oUr Insular Possess
sions-ForeiEn Relations.

President Roosevelt's annual message to
congress deals largely with a few impor-
tant questions. leaving those of minor in
terest to the annual reports 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-
yeloping facts the knowledge of which is
essential to a 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
obligation to deal suuarely 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 y
better industrial conditional condition
under which there shall be obedience TO
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 tar as it has the power,
Is to hold in check the INSCRIPTIONS man,
whether employer or employe; but to re-
fuse to weaken individual initiative or TO
hamper or cramp the industrial develop
m Of
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 centers. Hearty recognition is
given the tar-reaching. beneficent work
corporations and unions, and the line as
between different corporations, as between
different unions, is drawn as it is between
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
and fair dealing towards all Whenever
either corporation, LABOR union, or indivd-
ual disregar1s the law or acts in a spirit
Of arbitrary or tyrannous interference with
the rights Of others. whether corporations
or individuals. then where the federal gov
eminent has Jurisdiction, It will see to 1t
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 kis
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 it. Obedience to
the law Is demanded as right; not asked
rs favor"
The Merchant Marine.
The president does not believe that any
at this time. On the subject of the mer
chant marine he asks that a commission
consisting Of the secretary Of the navy
merce and labor be appointed to investi
gate Its needs and repsrt to congress de
sirable legislation. He believes in stop
no specific recommendations. He refer!
to h Inds bsnE
asks that way be found to stop then,
He recommends that appropriations mad
for the purpose of enabling. the attorne
general to prosecute the violations Of tn
anti-trust laws be extended to include a
violations Of national laws, including rat
uralization frauds, the postal and publ
He refers to steps now being taken b
the state department for making briber
an extraditable onepse, and in connectio
with this the president says:
1.-THE exposures and prosecutions of eff
cial corruption in st. Louis, Mo-. and othe
cities and states have resulted in nun
Der of giyerS and takers of brides becom.n
fugitives in foreign lands. Bribery ha
not been included in extradition treatie
heretofore. as the necessity for 1t has nc
arisen. While there may have been q
much official corruption in former year;
there has been more developed and brougf
to light in the immediate past than in tn
preceding century of our country's histor,
IT should be the policy of the United State
10 leave no place on earth where col
rupt man fleeing from this country ca
rest in peace. There is no reason VIII
bribery should not be included in all trea
ties as extraditable"
The Alaskan boundary.
I'm connection with the Ala skan boundar
decision the president reviews the histor
OF tho case leading up to the appointment