The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-12-10

Washington, Dec. 5. - President
Roosevelt's annual message to con-
gross makes some 5000 words. In &C
cordance with established custom con-
siderable space is devoted to a re-
sumo of the year in the administrative
departments of the government, but
much of the message is given up to a
discussion of those subjects which are
considered Of vital interest to the ma
ton, and upon many of which he
deems legislation needed. 1t is this
portion of the message which We give
below.
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives: The nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity is of
course primarily due to the high individ-
ual average of our citizenship, taken to-
gether with our great natural resources;
but an important factor therein is the
working of our lon~g-continued govern
mental policies. The people have en-
phatically expressed their approval of
the principles underlying these policies,
and their desire hat these principles be
kept substantially unchanged, although
of course applied in a progressive spirit
to meet changing conditions.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement of scope of the func-
tions of the national government required
by our development as a nation involves,
of course, increase of expense; and the
period of prosperity through which the
country is passing ~justifeS expenditures
for permanent improvements far greater
than would be wise in hard times. Bat
tleships and forts, public buildings, and
improved waterways are investments
which should be made when we have the
money; but abundant revenues and a
large surplus always invite extravaganza,
and constant care should be taken to
guard against unnecessary increase OF
the ordinary expenses of government
The cost of doing government business
should be regulated with the same rigid
scrutiny as the cost of doing a private
business.
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
of our modern civilized life the dominant
note is the note of industrialism; and the
relations of capital and labor, and eS-
peciaIly of organized capital and organ
lied labor, to each other and to the pub
lie at large come second in Importance
only to the intimate questions OF family
life. Our peculiar form of government,
with its sharp division of authority be-
tween the nation and the several states,
has been on the whole far more adVan-
tageous to our development than a more
strongly centralized government. But it
is undoubtedly responsible for much or
the difficulty of meeting with adequate
legislation the new problems presented
by the total change in industrial condi-
tons on this continent during the last
hal~f-century. In actual practice 1t mas
proved exceedingly difficult, and In many
Iases impossible, to get unanimity OF
wise action among the various states on
etoea crhSootS From the very nature OF
the case this is especially true of the laws
affecting the employment of capital in
huge masses.
With regard to labor the problem is no
less important, but it is simpler. AS long
as the states retain the primary control
of the police power the circumstances
must be altogether extreme which re-
orire interference by the federal author
tiles. whether in the way of safeguard
ing the rights of labor or in the way OF
seeing that wrong is not done by un-
ruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. If there is re-
sistance to the federal courts, interfer-
once with the mails, or interstate com
nerce. or molestation of federal proper
~. or if the state authorities in some
crisis which they are unable to face cal
FOR help. then the federal government
nav interfere; but though such interfer'
opce NAV be caused by a condition Of
things arising out Of trouble connected
with some question Of labor, the interior
ence itself simply takes the form of re
storing order without regard to the ques
tions which nave caused the breach o.
order-for to keep order Is a primary
dutv and in a time of disorder and VIC
1ance all other questions sink into abey
ance until order has been restored. IL
tha District of Columbia and in the ter
~,+ories the federal law covers the entir'
Geld of government; but the TABOR ques
ATOM is only acute in populous centers o
commerce manufactures or mining
Nevertheless, both in the enactment an
~ tba enforcement of law the fedora
ams-ont within its restricted spher
pa,ld set an example to the state gov
ernments especially in a matter SO vita
- +bis affecting labor. l believe that un
g. rnoderu industrial conditions II ]
ef+en necessary, and even Wnere no
nSa-sarv # is vet often wise, that tner
-ho,,ld be organization OF LABOR IN Oroe
setter to secure the rights Oh the lnulVlo
,,aI wage-worker. All en~couraseLne
Ia be given to any such organlza
shouio lonr as it is conducted with
uon nj decent regard for the rights G
There are in this country som
49, Unions which have habitually, an
49, labor unions which nave oItei
49, omong the most effective agents
D~orLing for good citizenship ana loi ~
wftirg the condition of those whose We
80 ebould be closest to our hearls. ~
r1hen any labor union seeks Amp5ops
We ar seeks to achieve proper enus 7
enus, means. all good citizens an
ln NJ ssnecially all honorable pubic SER
must oppose the :
Isa,,,telv as they would oppose u
w-onpdoing of any great corpoIaeton. :
"Ion env violence. brutality or eorrul