The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-12-05

Bre6aed TAR enough to warrant final cOnclu-
aons, they have already confirmed and en-
phasized the general Impression that the or
ganization Of the departments is often faulty
IN principle and wasteful In results, while
many OF their business methods are anti
quated and inefficient. There is every rea-
son why our executive governmental ma
chnery should be at least well planned,
economical. and efhcient as the best machln-
cry of-the great business organizations. which
at present . not the case. To make Il so
Is task OF complex detail and essentially
executive In it's nature probably no legls-
lative body, no matter how wise and able,
could undertake II with reasonable prospect
OF success. / recommend that the Congress
consider this subject with a view to provide
py legislation for the transfer, distribution.
consolidation, and assignment OF duties and
executive organizations or parts OF organlza-
TONS and for the changes Ia business meth
ods, within or between the several depart
ments that Will best promote the economy,
emcieney, and high character OF the govern
ment work
In my last annual message said:
Federal Elections.
THE power OF the government to protect
the Integrity Of the elections OF its own Of
hcials Is inheren and has been recognized
and affirmed by repeated declarations OF the
supreme court There Is no enemy OF free
government more dangerous and none so in
sldious as the corruption OF the electorate.
No one defends or excuses corruption. and
Il would seem to follow that none would op-
pose vigorous measures TO eradicate IL.
recomA end the enactment Of a law directed
aga'est bribery and corruption 10 federal
ele tions. The details OF such a law may be
safely left TO the wise discretion Of the Con-
gress, but II should 20 as far as under the
constitution II is possible 20 go, and should
include severe penalties against him who
gives or receives a brbe intended TO iniu-
ence his act or opinion elector; and
provisions for the publication not only Of
the expenditures for nominations and elee-
uons OF all candidates, but also OF all con-
received pVDpQ0itures made
political committees
desire TO repeat this recommendation. In
political campaigns in country as large
and populous as ours II Is inevitable that
there should be much expense OF an entirely
legitimate kind. This. OF course. means that
many contributions. and some OF them OF
large size, must be made, and, as a matter
Of fact, in any big political contest such con-
trlbut0ns are always made TO both sides II
Is entirely proper both TO give and receive
them. unless there Is an improper motive
connected with either gift or reception. II
they are extorted by any kind Of pressure
or promise. express or implied, direct or in
direct. in the way Of favor or immunity. then
the giving or receiving becomes not only Inn
proper but criminal II will undoubtedly be
difficult a matter Of practical detail to
shape an act which shall guard with reason
able certainty against such misconduct; but
II II is possible to secure by law the full and
verified publication III detail OF all the sums
contributed to and expended by the candi-
dates or committees Of any political parties
tributions by corporations to any political
committee or for any political purpose should
be forbidden by law; directors should not
be permitted TO use stockholders money for
such purposes; and. moreover, a prohibition
of this kind would be. as far as it went an
effective method OF stopping the evils aimed
at 10 corrupt practices acts. Not only should
both the national and the several state legis-
latures forbid any officer OF a corporation
from using the money OF the corporation In
or about any election. but they should also
forbid such use Of money in connections with
any legislation save by the employment OF
counsel in pehlic manner for distinctly legal
services.
The Hague Conference.
The nrst conference Of nations held at The
Hague IN 1893, being unable to dispose Of all
the business before H. recommended the con-
slderation and settlement Of a number Of i'm
portant questions bv another conference 10
be called subsequently and az an early date.
These questions were the following: (1l The
rights and duties Of neutrals f2) the limita-
tlon Of the armed forces on land and sea
aud Of military budgets go the use Of new
types and calibers OF military and naval
guns: (fl the inviolability OF private property
at sea IN times Of war; 60 the lombard
ment OF ports, cities, and villages by naval
forces. In October. 1904, at the instance OF
the interparliamentary union, which, at a
conferences held In the United States and at
tended by the lawmakers OF fifteen different
nations. had reiterated the demand for a
second conference Of nations, / issued inyi-
tations to all the powers signatory 10 The
Hague convention TO send delegates 10 such
a conference and suggested that 1t be- again
held AZ The hague. Ia It's note OF Dec. 49,
1904. the United States government communl-
Gated TO the representatives OF foreign gov
ernments its belief that the conference could
be best arranged under the provisions OF the
present Hague treaty.
From all the powers acceptance was re-
celyed. coupled in some cases with. the con-
dition that we should walt until the end OF
the war then waging between Russia and
Japan The Emperor Of Russia. Immediately
after the treaty OF peace which so happily
terminated this war, In note presented 10
the President on Sept -. through Ambas-
sador Kosen, took the Initiative in recon-
meuding that the conference be nov called.
The United States government IN response
expressed itH cordial acquleseence and stated
that il would, as a matter OF course. take
part In the new conference and endeavor to
further its aims. We assume that all civ
ilized governments will support the move
ment and that the conference is now an as
sured fact This government will do every
thing In It's power to secure the success OF
the conference to the end that substantial
progress may be made In the cause OF in
ternatlonal peace. justice and good will.
This renders Il proper at this time 10 say
something as to the general attitude Of this
government toward peace. More and more
war is coming 10 be looked upon as In IT.
self a lamentable and evil thing. A wanton
or useless war. or a war OF mere aggression
lin short. any war begun or carried on 10
n NpHAcltAItieh5 spirit II 10 Oe cOnuemne1
as a peculiarly atrocious crime against all |
humanity. We can. however, do nothing OF
permanent value for peace unless we keep
ever clearly IN mind the ethical element |
which lies at the root OF the problem. Our |
aim is righteousness. Peace Is normally the |
Of righteousness but when peace |
and righteousness conflict then a great and |
upright people can never for a moment hesl- |
tate to follow the path which leads toward |
righteousness even though that path also /
leads 10 war, There are persons who Advo- |
cate peace at any price. there are others |
who. following a false analogy. think that |
because Il is no longer necessary In civilized 1
countries for individuals TO protect their Il
rights with a strong hand II Is therefore |
for nations TO be ready "a de- |
fend their rights These persons would do /
lrreparable harm 10 any nation that adopted 1
their principles. aad even as Il Is they seri- /
0ualy hamper The cause which they advocate Il
by tending TO render II absurd in the eyes \
Of sensible aud patriotic men There can be
no worse Zoe OF mankind In general and OF /
his own country In particular. than the /
demagogue Of war. the man who ln mere folly /
or to serve his own selfish ends continually /
rails at and abuses other nations. who seeks /
to excite his countrymen against foreigners /
on insufficient pretexts. who excites and in
flames a peryerse and aggressive national
bring on conflict between his nation and
some other nation. But there are dema-
gogues OF peace just as there are demagogues
Of war. and In any such movement as this /
for The Hague conference u IA essential not
to be misled BY one set OF extremists any
more than by the other. Whenever II is
possible for a nation or an individual to
work for real peace. asEuredly Il is failure
Of duty not so to strive; but " war is neces-
a ntr fhan aaat. - I