New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-06
PRESIDENT R00SEVELFS FIRST ADMINISTRATION.
prcORD OF ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE DEATH OF PRESI-
DENT MKINLEY A REMARKABLE ONE.
rysom THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

frsou THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
,..h 5-Au who have come
- ,-,5o snhere Of influence which en-
"''iii' ',-e ,u.a-,ca's Chief Executive have
t,-.s..n, effect of that spirit OF pre-
'eI ,bich has been the first inn
e-l.'i-e--, -. dominating motive of Theodore
US ,,-o.,seut OF the United States. En-
a. -, Office 81 the land as the result
'e'iiie '''' s-o,be which on September IA. 1901.
"a No - the nation IN deepest mourning.
Ia 1.s,,s,t instantly won the confidence and
~ . ,be American people by his prompt
resp ..--v out religiously the policies OF
p s.,o,,ed predecessor.
ii4s .,srsnt performance OF that pledge, his
ne che square deal" his immovable tnteg-
- his strong personality have combined
~ -.-,,eI from the people Of this great Repuo-
=. - o-lv confidence and respect, but love and
-sr,,rst,on. and joyfuly they testified their
~ and affection by electinS him TO succeed
.,-,s.f with the largest popular vote and by
,hs largest popular majority ever given to
. President Of this nation
a-.,5s,- Roosevelt's first act his press
,-,-i,ation to the members of his predeces-
-- -. cabinet 10 remain with him. II had been
..,,sd that he would prefer 70 surround HIM
=, ,,,,b men Of his own choosing. and this
eco elected praise on all sides.
TO. notable achievements stand conspicu-
,,,s IN the great record of the first administra-
.to- ~ Theodore Roosevelt First, the settle
-, ~ the terrible coal strike which threat
80 misery and suffering TO millions Of homes.
4, rot 70 shake the very foundations of the Re-
,,bli~- second the fulhlment Of McKinley's
hedge 20 Cuba by the accomplishment Of re-
,5r-oesl trade relations with the struggling
voyng republic. and, third, the acquisition of
,5e Panama zone and the actual beginning OF
,be great isthmiau canal enterprise.
CUB4N RECIPROCITY.
Having urged upon Congress. in his first
,Yal Message the necessity of establishing closer
,-s5e relations with Cuba by means Of a favor
sr1e direreutial IN the tariff, the President
awaited with full confidence the response TO his
accommodation. but none came. Nothing
5sun,sd. he sent to Congress 4 second Message,
and on Individual members OF both legislative
houses he urged. in season and out. the plain
6uty" Of the United States TO make good the
pe5ges given 20 cuba by President Mckinley
But Congress avoided the issue. and in his sec
End annual Message he urged this policy in even
more emphatic terms and still the national leg
iFature failed TO act. Here a less determined
man would have faltered Not so with President
Roosevelt No sooner did II become evident that
no tariff legislation favoring Cuban imports
would be passed than he called upon the Sec
retary Of State TO negotiate reciprocity treaty.
which was done But gain he had TO exert his
almost power 70 secure Congressional action.
and II was not until he had called the Senate IN
special session in March. 1903 that the conven-
ion was ratified. Even then II was so amended
as 20 render i ineffective until put in force by
Ict q ongress. The Senate had, however, at
Est reluctantly placed the stamp Of its approval
n the agreement Congress was called in spe-
:iaI session 10 pass the ena bling act in the fall
u 1893. and the desired end was practically at
aimed al that time, although the Senate, moved
Dy fear that Il was being subjected TO undue
Executive pressure. would not finally vote upon
he cnah,I1E at until the Congress met in reg
liar se,-.--. The fight TO fulfil Mckinley
,ledzz q .ssted from December, 1901, to De-
.e-n5e-. l.,L5. but complete victory crowned the
persistent efforts Ct the President in the end.
THE COAL STRIKE.
n tho summer OF 1902 the great anthracite
.osl strike occurred and autumn arrived without
he slightest prospect o. us abatement
throughout the country there existed DANGER
BUS scarcity OF fuel. Suffering humanity ap-
oealed to the President from all sides. but great
constitutional lawyers pondered well their tones
ooEed wise and solemnly advised the President
hat there was no conceivable provision under
he Constitution which could be stretched 70
warrant his interfering. Gradually the winter
approached. and 10 solution Of the problem was
,ound until there came down from the old Bay
state Governor Winthrop Murray Crane, long
he close friend Of Theodore Roosevelt. Gov
.rnor Crane himself q ca pt;alist and large en-
aloyer % labor, had conceived the means
Ehereby the strike could be brought TO end
de submitted his plan 70 the President, who I'm
nsdiately determined 10 put II into effect, and
he result was the solution OF a problem Of in
Ebitration Coal mine operators who had al
dong declared there was nothing TO arbitrate
TieIded 70 the persuasive influence Of the Presi-
!ent, Vho summoned them TO the White House
and John Mitchell. president OF the miners or.
Esnization from the outset intrusted the inter
rats he represented unreservedly 70 the energetic
chief Executive. Conservative capitalists
Ehose desire TO teach a stern lesson OF humble
Hberdlnation 10 their employees far outweighec
heir sympathy with suffering humanity quaket
II this revolutionary procedure. this recogni
1on by the President Of the United States of the
lights Of labor 10 form and speak through
.aion. and that section Of the press under theil
'ontrol predicted the direst results from thi:
EAich they claimed concerned only the owner.
THE TRICKS
Sam