Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-09
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

In his annual message. which President
Roosevelt communicated to Congress
Tuesday, he points out that while the ma
ton is enjoying noteworthy prosperity
constant care should be undertaken to
guard against governmental extravaganza
AS to relations between capital and la
Dor he remarks that the lack of unifor-
nifty of state legislation makes difficult
the meeting of new problems. Wage
workers. he says have a right to or
ganize and legal right to refuse to work
with men who decline to join their orga-
nizations, but they have no right to COM
init violence. He urges that the employ
ers liability law be amended and
strengthened
Railroad accidents are becoming more
frequent and the President recommends
the passage of law requiring the adop-
ton of the block signal system. He says
there is no objection to employees of the
government forming or joining labor I'M
ions, but the government cannot discrimi-
nate against non-union men.
lie says 1t would be well for the de-
partment of commerce and labor to in
vestigate labor conditions in mines and
factories; and in this connection special
attention should be paid to child labor and
child-labor legislation As to corporations
he asserts that it is absurd to expect to
eliminate abuses by state action. The
national government alone can deal ade-
quately with these great corporations"
These corporations, he holds, should be
managed with due regard to the interest
OF the public as a whole; and If present
laws are inefficient for this, then other
laws should be enacted The bureau
of corporations has made a careful pre-
liminary investigation of many impor-
tant corporations. 1t will make a special
report on the beef industry.
The highways of commerce, the Presi-
dent declares should be open to all on
equal terms; and to do this it is neces-
sary to stop all rebates The interstate
commerce commission should be believes,
be given power to revise rates and regu-
lations. We should not permit over
crowding in cities, the President holds;
and in this connection he contends that
there should be severe chld-labor and
factory inspection laws.
Praise is given to the administration of
the pension bureau The President thinks
the Indian work might be improved by
closer supervision of the agents, and he
believes the appointment of a field assist
ant to the commissioner would be benefi-
cial. He finds the postal service in
creasing in efficiency. The consular sys-
tenn he says, requires Improvement. A
national quarantine law is deemed de-
sirable. Extravaganza is found In the
printing of government publications. He
urges consideration of the currency ques-
ton and commends to congressional at
tention the merchant marine.
He protests that there Is no danger of
having too many of the right kind of
immigrants, but those who would lower
our standard of living should not be ad-
mitted.| Similarly the greatest care
should be taken as to naturalization
for which there should be a uniform rule
a law to purify elections is recommend
ed.
Regarding criminal prosecutions. the
President argues that wrlts of the United
states should run throughout its borders
He speaks for government aid for Alaska
for revision of the Alaskan code and for
an Alaskan delegate in Congress.
our foreign policy, he says is that
of seeking the peace of justice; but strong
attitudes he goes on to show. demand
strong force behind them. There is as
yet no judicial way of enforcing right in
international law" he says, and until
there is nations cannot disarm. He notes
the advance of arbitration. He declares
that the United States does not feel any
land hunger as regards other parts of the
western hemisphere. "All that this coun-
try DESIRES" he explains, sis to see the
neighboring countries stable, orderly and
prosperous" As to our taking any ac-
ton regarding other foreign affairs, only
extreme cases render this course justifi-
able. However, it is necessary to guard
the rights OF our citizens who may be
abroad the President points out that this
has proved difficult in the cases of
citizens of Jewish birth travelling in
Russia. such conduct" he observes,
is not only unjust and irritating to-
ward us, but 1t Is difficult to see
its wisdom from Russia's standpoint. No
conceivable good is accomplished by It,"
That there be no halt in the work of the
upbuilding of the navy is earnestly rec
commended. Our voice." says the Presl-
dent lis now potent for peace. and is so
potent because we are not afraid of war"
The army, 1t is said. needs more officers,
and the standard for them and for enlist
ed men should be kept high. He thinks
the navy officers should be rewarded for
bravery just the same as the army off,
GERS Steady progress in the Philippines
is recorded. The Justification for our
stay there, It is declared must rest chief
~ on what good We can do. What the
Fiipinos need the President contin-
ues, is not independence. but good laws
good public servants, and moral and in
dustrial development. To this end he
urges that every measure concerning the
islands be taken primarily with view to
| their advantage.