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

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
nicai and scientific training. not
theoretical merely but of the most
severely practical type. Organiza-
ton has become necessary I'm thu
business world: and il has accom-
plished much for good in the world
OF Iaoor. II is no less necessary for
farmers. Such a movement as the
grange movement is good in Itself
and Is capable of a well-nigh inHrit.
further extension for good SO long az
II Is Kept 10 its own legitimate blsl-
ness. The benefits to be derived by
the association of farmers for ml-
tual advantage are Of farmers Ter
mutual advantage are partly econc-
mic and partly sociological.
The President declares that in his
Judgment the whole question of mar
riage and divorces should be lele-
gated to the authority of the Ma
tional Congress. At present the w.Ge
difference in the laws Of the different
States on this subject result in s.a.-
dals and abuses; and surely there =
nothing so vitally essential to tls
welfare Of the nation. nothing aroaRI
which the nation should so ben T.
self to throw every safeguard. as ts,
homo life pf tL, ,,.or,..,,. ..f, ;-.... ~.
change would be good from ever
standpoint. In particular it wou' /
be good because it would c0nf2y Cl
the Congress the power at once u
deal radically and eGlciently VIII
polygamy; and this should be dose
whether or not marriage and diyo.la
are dealt with. There are regions n
our land, and classes of our poaula-
ton, where the birth rate has sun,
below the death rate. Surely L
should need no demonstration ID
show that wilful sterility is. fro
the standpoint OF the nation. fo
the standpoint of the human raca.
the one sin for which the penalt, il
national death, race death: a sin for
which there is no atonement: sin
which is the more dreadful ezactiy
In proportion as the men and women
thereof are in other respects. il
character, and bodily and mental
powers, those whom for the sake OF
the State it would be we'll to see the
fathers and mothers Of many healthy
children, well brought up in homei
made happy by their presence.
Mr. Roosevelt says on the question
OF developing American shipping:
| trust that 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
its last session will be past II is
discreditable to us that our business
people, for lack of direct communi-
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 busl-
ness people of Europe
l especially call your attention.
continues the President, to the con-
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. 3, 1905.