The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-07
Gentlemen of the shade, mInlons of the moon. |. King Henry W.
President ROOseveIt's Message.

President ROOSeVelJB meSSd5o eo the third session of the Fifty-eighth congress, published in full today, hard ly rises to the dignity of a strong state paper, and yet it Is a business document which shows thoughtful con- sideration and management in detail of subjects that are or vital interest to the American people.
 The commendable features of the message are its simplicity, it's depart ure from high-sounding phrases, and the absence of the Rooseveltian party spirit which characterized the candi- date in some of his speeches during the campaign. At the outset the President refers of course to the pros porous condition fo the nation, and appreciation or the fact that the peo- pie have just expressed their ap- proval of the principles underlying long standing policies.
 He sounds note of caution against extravagance in the expenditure of public funds, at the same time sug- gesting that the country is able in this period of prosperity to make per manent improvements, while guarding against the increase of the ordinary expenses of government.
 The President dwells at length up on the subjects of capital and labor. He wants protection for both and at the same time regulation of both. re- garding them as equal factors in the commerce of the nation. He warns unions of government employees against banding together for the puf- pose of defeating those congressman who refuse to give promise as to sal aries which they cannot in all con science give. He would have congress deal adequately with corporations, but not in an incorporate, destructive or demagogic spirit. In words he urges an exercise of moderation and good sense and yet quiet determination to minimize whatever of mischief or evil exists.
 A peculiar feature of the message in this regard is that it quotes one and half pages from recent speech of a prominent railroad president, which the president says contains sound common sense
 The agricultural interests of the country receive emphatic attention at the hands of the President, and he cites the great work of the agricultural department as an aid to development, and expresses qualification at the growth in strength and wealth of the American farmer.
 In just four lines the President en- dorses the work of the pension bureau and reiterates his oft-repeated state. ment that the veterans of the civil war must be cared for by the nation.
 He asks the special attention of the congress in an effort to ascertain whether or not it is possible to se- cure better system than we now have. Every silver dollar" says the President, should be made by law re- demable in gold at the option of the holder"
 The President urges thoughtful con sideration of the subject of immigra- tion with view to lending encourage. ment to all measures that look to bringing among us of worthy men of all nations who seek homes, occupa- ton and real citizenship. For this end, and for the protection of our present citizenship, and to the newly invited ones as well, he urges a revi- sion of our naturalization laws.
 The Presidents reference to the Philippines is exactly in accord with the views expressed by himself and other republican party leaders during the recent campaign.
 One thought in the message is de- cidedly characteristic of the strenuous man who occupies the White House, and that is the one that treats of our foreign policy. We should first con sider the army and the navy, keeping ever vividly in mind the fundamental fact that 1t is impossible to treat our foreign policy or to take positive position if unsupported by potential force.
 , The postal service. the Indians. the