Arizona republican., 1904-12-07
rlr. RooseveIt's Third rIessage.


 President Roosevelt's third annual message. published in full this morn ing. is like all his state papers that have appeared in the past-it is inter esting from beginning to end. Former ly, presidential messages were general ly dull and always ponderous, and few people except proof-readers read them through. MT. Roosevelt not only has something to say, but he says it in en- gazing phraseology. It is true that the business of this government is now so vast and complex that many of the facts for the presidents annual mes sage must be prepared by the heads of the departments. but to all the matter is given the peculiar touch of the pres ident's own literary style.
 It was not to be expected that there would be any startling recoinmenda- tions in the message laid before con- gress yesterday; although, somehow, many people are always on the lookout for something startling from MT. Roosevelt. Tine fact is, that his bold
 
 times is frequently mistaken for rad realism, whereas he is a very conser- vative president. Moreover, in his for mer messag ges he had set forth his ideas on the great question before the American people. and there was no would be a departure from his now well-known attitude on the leading is- sues.
 it is notable that he refrains from making any recommendations looking to a revision of the tariff, and if he is in favor of early legislation along that lire 1t remains for him to advise con- gress to that effect hereafter.
 Perhaps the greatest public interest has attached to his probable sugges- tions concerning trust legislation. He is clearly of the opinion that the law have a thorough trial It is his belief that publicity is enc of the greatest factors for good government in the United States, and that the informa- tion which is being gathered by the department of commerce and labor concerning the operations of the trusts will enable the government te deal with them in a manner satisfactory to the people. The dominant note in his expressions on this subject Is his de- termination to give everybody square deal" And that, indeed, is  nize that in dealing with the trust problem he will neither run amuck" against capital nor, On the other hand, will be, if he can prevent it, permit oppressive and illegal combinations to exist.
 A recommendation which will com mand popular approval is that the in- terstate commerce commission be giv- en larger powers by congress. He does not go to the length demanded by the professional enemies of the railroads; he does not recommend that the com mission be given autocratic power to fix rates. But he does recommend that congress clothe the commission with power to establish rates, in certain cases, pending a decision by the courts as to whether such rates are fair. Es- pecially commendable is his urgent re- quest for legislation which will put an end to the inquitious system of rebates which still prevails on some railroads. The far-seeing railroad managers rec ognize the full import of the rebate evil, and they will welcome legislation which will destroy the practice.
 His remarks on the Philippine ques- tion will be approved by everybody ex- in this country who would have the United States run away from it's moral obligations and leave the Filipinos to enjoy all the pleasures of civil war until some European ma tion should step in to exploit the is- that he wishes to see the Filipinos in- dependent and self-governing as soon as they are capable of governing them selves, and that as soon as they man ifest the requisite capacity he would have the Philippines stand in a rela- tion to the United States similar 70 the status of Cuba. But he makes it clear also, that in his opinion the F'ilipinos are still far from ready for the exper- iment. And he warns them that the more they listen to their foolish friends in this country, and the more they insist upon cutting loose from 1 American sovereignty instead of pre- pairing themselves for the duties of cit ! izenship, the further will they post 1 pone the day of their independence.
 In his discussion of the adininistra- 1 tons foreign policy there is no evi- dence of the "big stick" of which we