Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-07
President Rooseveit's Message


morning, the full text of the message
sent to Congress, yesterday. by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and We urge upon our
readers a careful perusal Of this i'm
IOrtaut document. II is long. TO be
sure--it cannot well be otherwise with
such a multiplicity of matters TO D.
tre.ted-but no utterance Of the Presi-
dent or other public man during the
year merits :he attention Of the Amtri-
can people hitch this annual message
d. serves. II Is Il clear. dispasaioi!a'e'
nua-partisan presentation OF natiohai
conditions and discussion of national
affairs, showing what the general gov
ernut MT is doing along many lines and
what It aims to do in the future.
President Roosevelt has such mas
terry of the English language and is so
frank and fearless in the way h"
handles national questions that NJ
hlls d public document OF this KIND
with much more live interest than
most Presidents have been able to ID"
This message Is characteristic of III"
man and is a most happy augury OF
hie policy during the new term ~ Once
10 which the people have called hun py
such an Overwhelming and unprece-
dent.d majority. The message rs al
his own and the stamp of his vigorous
and positive personality IS upon every
paragraph. There is no mlncinS
matters when il comes TO tn" DISCUS
sion Of subjects wh-r. plain talk is
best and there is no evasion OF any
topic which merits consideration by
III. President and by Congress.
In opening he touches upon our ma
tional prosperity and upon tn" verdict
Of tn. people in favor of continuing IN"
policies under which this prosperity
has been achieved. He cautions Con-
gr. ~ against eXtravaSlnce and then
proceeds at once to discuss the rcla-
tions of capital and labor. He warmly
approves of labor organizations but de-
plor.s any tendency on their part
toward lawle ssncss and mob rule. He
urges an employers liability law for
III. District Of Columbia. and the
pa:sage Of :, law requiring the block
signal system and other precautions
against railroad accidents which hay"
been so numerous of late. He recon-
inend, a thorough examination INT"
child Ia Dor conditions. evidently refer
rirg to the cotton mills OF the South
witch are competing with those of the
North whore there are more stringent
child labor laws.
In discussing the subject of trusts h.
uraes the people to use common sense. |
discrimination and moderation, quail /
ties which are often laid asid. when
trusts" are mentioned He declares
that the laws must be strictly enforced
t. have great corporations managed
with du. regard to the interests Of the
people as 4 whole. and that II present
laws are lot sufficient then new laws
must u. passed On the subject of
the government of the city of Wash
inSton he speaks at length. urging
many changes In the present laws.
such AS tenement house Legislation.
compulsory school attendance. 4 court
for Juvenile Offenders. public play
grounds and corporal punishment for
ul,r-hcatrrs. Agriculture. irrigation
ma forestry are Al discussed IN ex-
.austivc fashion. and the importance
ana scope Of the present work pointed
,u'.
Tn. Pr.siden, declares that the p.n-
: ON bureau WAS never better managed
than now. Itc urges closer relations
b tween the Indian bureau and the In
dian agents: says good word ior tn"
J?m. stown tri-ccnt"nnial to be held in
laN7: urges Il new classification and
grading in tn" consular service and
lll' SutStltut.at VI Siih "s III it'S'
SAYS the amount OF government print
ing should be cut down on"-half:
wants NOR. elastic currency and a
law making every silver dollar re
d.crnahle in gold: urges a law cncour-
aging our merchant marine: says there
is no danger of too many immigrants
of the right kind but that naturaliza-
ton laws should be- revised: vigorously
condemns delays In criminal prosecu-
tiors: ard emphasizes the need Of new
laws TO meet changing conditions In
Alaska.
The President dcvotes much space to
our foreign relations. the American
ain, for a reign of peace with justice
in the world. the call for second
Hague conference. the firm enforce
uent of the Munroe doctrine. the
prompt protection OF the rights OF
American citizens abroad and the
maintenance Of strong navy as the
best guarantee Of peace. The >rrduc-
tion of The army is referred to as m
exan1nlc of diSarln. lnent where dis