Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-12-09

standard of personal judgment which treats
each man according to his merits. another
o. one class are favored and all men of an
irreparable damage to the body polite | be-
lieye that our people too sane, too self
respecting, too nit :or government. ever
is not and never shall be government by a
plutocracy;, This government is not and
never shall be government by a mob. 1t
shall continue to be in the future what it
has been in the past. government based on
treated simply and solely his worth as
man. that I'll his personal and property
rights are TO be safeguaTded and that he is
neither to wrong others to suffer wrong
from others
insurance.
The great insurance companies afford strik-
in@ examples OF corporations whose business
The states which created them as to nre
eInde strict enforcement of supervision and
regulation by the parent States. In my last
! Congress carefully consider whether the pow
or or the Bureau of Corporations cannot con-
sIitution Ii ne extended to- cover Interstate
have emphasized the Importance of an early
anu exhaustive CONSIDERATION or TINS QueS-
ton to see whether if is not possible to fur
nish better safeguards than the several
states nave peen able to furnish against cor
ruption OF the fragrant kind which has been
exposed
The Revenues.
Touching the question of tariff and
revenue the views of the President are
as follows:
There is more need OF stability than of
the attempt to attain ideal perfection in
the methods of raising revenue; and the
shock and strain to the business world
tain TO attend any serious change in these
methods render such change inadVisabie I'M
less for grave reason. 1t is not possible to
lay down any general rule by which to de-
ttrmlne the moment when the reasons for
| will outweigh the reasons against such
| cnange. Much must depend, not merely
| the needs, but on the desires. of the people
| as whole; for needs and desires not nee
essarily identical. OF course change
! be made on lines beneficial to, desired
| by. one section of one state only. There must
| be something like general agreement among
| the citizens of the several states, repre-
scented in the Congress. that the change is
needed and desired in the interest of the
| people whole; and there should then be
a sincere. intelligent. and disinterested effort
| to make it in such shape will combine.
| far possible. the maximum of good to the
people at large with the minimum of neces-
! sary disregard for the special interests of
| localities or classes. But in time of peace
the revenue must the average. taking
| series OF years together. equal the eXpendi
lures or else the revenues must be Increased.
Last year there was deficit Unless our ex-
| penditures can be kept within the revenues
then our revenue laws must be readjusted
| what shape such readiustment should take.
Tor 1t Is as yet yet too early to say whether
! sidered whether it is not desirable that the
tarin laws should provide for applying as
| mum and minimum tariff rates established by
the Congress so as to secure a certain reel
procty OF treatment between other nations
| and ourselves Having in view even larger
| considerations OF policy than those of a
! Judgment. be well TO endeavOr TO bring about
closer commercial connections with the other
| abe to announce to You that Russia
treats Us on the most-faVored- nation basis.
Economy in Expenditures.
The necessity for economy and a
rigid scrutiny OF appropriations is
made manifest, with this prOviso:
Yet in speaking OF economy. I must in no
wise be understood as advocating the false
economy which is in the end the worst
| travagance- TO cut down on the navy for
| instance. would be a crime against the ma
ton. To fail to push forward all work on
te Panama canal would be great folly.
Currency.
The currency question is dealt with
as follows:
Every consideration OF prudence demands
the addition of the element OF elasticity to
currency system. The evil does not con
the rightly of this volume. which does not
respond as it should to the varying needs OF
be avoided bat some provision should be
made that will insure Il larger volume OF
than in the less active seasons OF the year:
so that the currency will contract against
of legitimate business. At present the Treas
| cry department is at irregularty recurring in
ness world-that is. in the interests OF the
American pubie-to try to avert financial
crises ny prONiulng remedy which should
lie provided by Congressional action.
Federal Elections.
On the subject of federal elections.
the President says:
THE power of the government to protect
the integrity of the elections of its own Of
hrials is inherent and has been recognized
and affirmed by repeated declarations Of the
j.. Supreme court There is no enemy of free
government more dangerous and none in
sidious as the corruption OF the electorate
No defends COrFuDtiOl and
il would seem TO follow that none would OPP
pose vigorous measures to eradicate IT,
recommend the enactment OF a law directed
against bribery and corruption in federal
elections. The details of such law may be
safely left to the wise discretion OF the Con
grcss. but il should go far under the
constitution it is possible 10 go and should
include severe penalties against him who
gives or receives bride intended to infiu-
ence his act or opinion as an elector; and
provisions for the publication not only Of
the expenditures for nominations and cleo
tons OF all candidates. but also of all con
tributions received and expenditures made by
political committees.
l desire To repeat this recommendation. In
| political campaigns in country large
and Popufous ours it 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 matter
OF fact. in any big political contest such con
trIhutions are always made to both sides 1t
is entirely proper both to give and receive
them. unless there Improper motive
connected with either gift reception II
they extOrted by any kind of pressure
or promise. express implied direct or in
direct. in the way OF favor immunity. then
!, | the giving or receiving becomes not only i'm
/ | proper but criminal. 1t will undou btedly be
. | difficult matter of practical detail to
!, | shape act which shall guard with reason
, | able certainty against such misconduct: but
| if ii is possible 10 secure by law the full and
, ] verified publication in detail of all the sums
contributed to and expended by the cand-
dates committees of any political parties
I the result cannot but be wholesome. All con
! | tributions by corporations to political
committee for any political! purpose should
; | be forbidden by law directors should not
be permitted to stockholders money for
such purposes. and. moreover, prohibition
; | OF this kind would be. far it went. an
effective method Of stopping the evils aimed
at in 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 by the employment OF
counsel in public manner for distinctly legal
: services
. Celebrating on the many reasons ex-
, listing for the maintenance of the
! Monroe doctrine. the message points
| out how the interests of our southern
neighbors are identified with our own
, and the impossibility OF the United
/ States using the doctrine as a means
for aggrandizement- The help af-
, fOrded SaDtO Domingo in her eSca ne