The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-14

most useful part, and unarmed cruisers, IL
swift enough, are very useful as scouts.
Abuses In Standardization.
During the past year evidence has accu-
mulated to confirm the expressions con-
tanned in my last two annual messages as
to the Importance OF revising by appropri-
ate legislation our system Of naturalizing
aliens. / appointed last March a commits
sion to. make a careful examination Of
our naturalization laws, and to sug-
gest appropriate measures to avoid the
notorious abuses resulting from the
lmprovident or unlawful granting
has discharged the duty imposed upon it,
and has submitted a report, which will be
transmitted to the Congress for it's con-
sideration, and, l hope, for its favorable
action.
Breaches of Trust i'm Public Service.
There seems to be no statute of the Uni
ted States which provides for the punish
ment OF a United States attorney or other
officer or the government who corruptly
agrees to wrongfully do or wrongfully re-
frain from doing any act when the consid-
Grafton for such corrupt agreement Is 9th
er than one possessing money value. This
ought to be remedied by appropriate legis-
lation. Legislatin shuld also be enacted
to cover, explicitly, unequivocally and be-
yond question, breach of trust in the shape
Of prematurely diyulging official secrets by
an officer or empioye of the United States,
and to provide a suitable penalty therefor.
Condition of Public Land Laws.
Once again l call your attention to the
condition Of the public land laws. Recent
developments nave given new urgency to
the need for such changes as will fit these
laws to actual present conditions. The
honest disposal and right use of the re-
naming public lands is of fundamental i'm
portance. The Ubiquitous methods by which
the monopolizing of the public lands Is be-
ing brought about under the present laws
are becoming more generally known, but
the existing law do not furnish effective
remedies. The recommendation OF the pub
lie lands commission upon this subject are
wise and should be given effect.
The creation of small irrigated farms I'M
der the act is a powerful Offset
to the tendency of certain other laws to
foster or permit monopoly Of the land.
The greater part Of the remaining public
lands cannot be irrigated. They are at
present and will probably always be Of
greater value for grazing than for any
other purpose. This fact has led TO the
grazing homestead Of $40 acres In Nebras-
ka and to the proposed extension Of 1t to
other States. 1t is argued that a family
grazing land. This is obviously true; but
neither can a family be supported on $40
acres of much Of the land to which it is
proposed to apply the grazing homestead.
To establish universally any such arbitrary
limit would be unwise at the present time.
Merchant Marine Indispensable.
To the spread Of our trade In peace and
the defense of our flag in war a great and
prosperous merchant marine Is indispensa-
bic. We should have ships OF our own and
seamen OF our W to convey our goods to
neutral markets, and in case OF need to re-
inforce our battle line.
Pensions for Civil War Soldiers.
1t Is a matter Of unmixed satisfaction
once more to call attention to the excellent
work of the pension bureau: for the yeter-
ans of the Civil War have a greater claim
upon US than any other class Of our citi-
zens.. To them, first of all among our Deo-
pie, honor is due. Seven years ago my Ia
mented predecessor, President Mckinley,
stated that the time had come for the ma
ton to care for the graves Of the Confed-
crate dead. / recommend that the Con-
gress take action toward this end.
The Immigration Question.
The question Of immigration Is of vital
interest to this country. In the year end
ing June 80, 1905, there came to the United
States 1,026,O00 alien immigrants. 1t is
clearly shown in the report Of the COM
missioner general Of immigration that
while much of this enormous immigration
Is undoubtedly healthy and natural, a con-
siderable proportion is undesirable from
one reason or another; moreover, q consid-
cradle proportion of 1t, probably a very
large proportion, including most of the IN
desirable class, does not come here of its
own Initiative, but because of the activity
Of the agents Of the great transportation
companies.
We cannot have too much immigration
of the right sort, and we should have none
whatever Of the wrong sort. OF course it
Is desirable that even the right kind of inn
this country. We need more Of such immi-
grafton for the South; and special effort
should be made to secure it. In actual
practice 1t has proved so difficult to en-
force the immigration laws where long
stretches of frontier marked by an imagin-
airy line alone intervene between us and
our ~neighbors that l recommend that no
immigrants be allowed 20 come In from
~ nnl on1 ATnxian coun ofU fh4
two countries themselves. As much as pos
sible should be done to distribute the immi-
grants upon the land and keep them away
from the congested tenement-house dis
is q palliative, not a cure. The prime
need Is to keep out all immigrants who
will not make good American citizens.
The laws now existing for the exclusion
Of undesirable immigrants should be
strengthened. Adequate means should be
adopted, and enforced by sufficient penal
ties, to compel steamship companies en-
gagged in the passenger business to observe
in good faith the law which forbids them
to encourage or solicit immigration to the
United States. Provision should be made
for the surer punishment of those who in
duce aliens to come TO this country under
promise or assurance Of employment. 1t
should be made possible to infict a sufi-
GENTLY heavy penalty on any employer vio-
lating this law to deter him from taking
the risk. 1t seems to me wise that there
should be an international conference held
to deal with this question of immigration,
which has more than a merely national
significance.
The questions arising in connection with
Chinese immigration stand by themselves.
The conditions in China are such that the
entire Chinese coolie class, that is, the
class Of Chinese laborers, skilled and I'M
skilled. legitimately. come under the head
Of undesirable immigrants to this country,
because of their numbers, the low wages
for which they work. and their low stand
ard Of living. Not only Is 1t to the
Interest of this country to keep them
not desire that they should be ad-
mitted. At present their entrance is
prohibited by laws amply adequate to
to carry out the policy Ct excluding Chi
nese laborers, Chinese coolies, grave injus-
tice ana wrong have been. done by this
patton to the people OF Cnina' and there
nese students, business and professional
men of all kinds-not only merchants, but
bankers, doctors, manufacturers, professors,
travellers and the like-should be encour-
aged to come here and treated on precisely
the same footing that We treat students,
business men, travellers and the like Of
other nations Our laws and treaties should
be framed, not so as to put these people
In the excepted classes, but to state that
we will admit all Chinese, except Chinese
of the coolie class, Chinese skilled or un-
skilled laborers.
Much trouble has come during the past
suINmer from the organized boycott against
American goods which has been started in
China. The main factor in producing this
boycott has been the resentment felt by
| the students and business people of China,
by all the Chinese leaders, against the
| harshness of our law toward educated
Cinnamon of the professional and business
classes. This government has the friendli-
est feeling for China and desires China's
well-being. We cordially sympathize with
| the announced purpose of Japan to stand
for the Integrity of China. Such an atti-
fnde tends to the peace of the world.