The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-12-07

The only other persons whose well
fare is as vital to the welfare of
the wageworkers are the tillers OF
the soil, the farmers. There must be
open to farmers the chance for tech
meal and scientific training, not
theoretical merely but of the most
severely practical type Organiza-
ton has become necessary in the
business world and it has accom-
plished much for good in the world
OF labor. 1t is no less necessary for
farmers. Such a movement as the
grange movement is good in Itself
and is capable of a well-nigh infinite
further extension for good so long O.:
1t is kept to its own legitimate basil
ness. The benefits to be derived by
the association of farmers for mu-
tual advantage are of farmers fer
mutual advantage are partly econo-
mic and partly sociological.
The President declares that in his
judgment the whole question of mar
riage and divorces should be rele-
gated to the authority of the Ma
tional Congress. At present the wide
difference in the laws Of the different
States on this subject result in sean
dals and abuses: and surely there i
nothing so vitality essential to the
welfare of the nation. nothing arOanl
which the nation should so benz Il
self to throw every safeguard, as the
home life of the average citizen. The
change would be good from every
standpoint. In particular it woui
be good because it would confer q
the Congress the power at once II
deal radically and efficiently with
polygamy; and this should be dol9
whether or not marriage and divorce
are dealt with. There are regions IL
our land, and classes of our poYula-
ton, where the birth rate has sunk
below the death rate. Surely t
should need no demonstration to
show that wilful steriity is. FROM
the standpoint of the nation, fIol
the standpoint of the human race,
the one sin for which the penalty il
national death. race death; a sin for
which there is no atonement; a sin
which is the more dreadful exactly
In proportion as the men and womol
thereof are in other respects. il
character. and bodily and mental
powers, those whom for the sake Of
the State it would be well to see the
fathers and mothers of many healthy
children, well brought up in homes
made happy by their presence.
Mr.. Roosevelt says on the question
of developing American shipping:
l trust that a law embodying in sub
stance the views, or a major part of
the views, eXprest in the report on
this subject laid before the House at
It's last session will be past. It is
discreditable to us that our business
people, for lack of direct commune
cation in the shape of lines of steam
ers with South America, should in
that great sister continent be at a
disadvantage compared to the bust
ness people of Europe
| especially call your attention,
dition of our currency laws. For sew
eral years evidence has been accumu-
lating that additional legislation is
needed. The recurrence of each crop
season emphasizes the defects of the
present laws, There must soon be
a revision of them, because to leave
them as they are means to incur liza
bility of business disaster.
In regard to our island possessions
1t is urged that these shall receive
the careful consideration of Con-
gress and that tariffs, etc, shall be
upon just basis.
The message discusses at some
length the matter of the efficiency of
our army and navy. The President Is
much pleased at the progress we
are making in both branches of our
common defense. On the subject of
rifle practice the message says:
Our regular army is so small that
in any great war we should have to
trust mainly to volunteers, and in
such event these volunteers should
already know how to shoot. We
should establish shooting galleries in
the large public and military
schools, should maintain national
target ranges in different parts of the
country, and should in every way
encourage the formation of rifle
clubs throughout all parts of the
land
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House Dec g 1q06