Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-12-07
HEPRES|DENT'S MESSAGE
ROOSEVELT RECOMMENDS NEW
LEGISLATION TO CON-
GRESS.
REVISE THE JUDICIARY.
Wants Government to Have Right to APP
peal on Questions of Laws-In-
heritance and Income Tax

Theodore Roosevelt today sent his annual
message to the Senate and the House OF
Representatives. The President urges the
amendment Of laws 50 as to cffectually deal
with corporations and the passage Of in
heritance and income tax measures. He.
does not mention the tariff except to urge
free trade with the Philippines.
After complimenting Congress upon the
admirable legislation of the last session the
President Says this country Is enjoying
prosperity which only can be married by
reckless speculation and disregard Of Iegit-
innate business methods. lie urges law
prohibiting corporations from contributing
10 campaign funds, but says individuals
should be allowed to contribute what they
please.
Appeal in Criminal Cases.
The President recommends the passage Of
a law giving the government the right to
appeal In criminal cases Oh questions of
law; 1t Of course being understood that it is
not proposed that any verdict for the de-
PENDANT OIL the merits should be set aside.
A failure 10 pass such bill would seriously
hamper the government in It's efforts to oh
tain justice In trust prosecutions. 1t Is abb
surd to permit single judge, against what
may be the judgment OF the immense ma
j0rity Of his colleagues the bench, TO de-
clare law unconstitutional and then deny
to the government the right to have the
supreme court definitely decide the ques-
ton. The proposed law is important at this
time as the government has definitely begun
policy of resOrting to the criminal law In
those trust and interstate cases where such
a course offers a reasonable chance of sue
cess.
Setting Aside Judgments.
In connection with this matter the Presi-
dent calls attention to the unsatisfactory
state of our criminal law resulting in a
large part from the habit of setting aside
the Judgments of Inferior courts on techni-
calities absolutely unconnected with the
merits Of the case, and where there Is no
attempt to show that there has been any
failure of substantial justice. The President
asks for Il law providing that no judgment
shall be set aside or new trial granted in
any case, civil or criminal, on the ground of
msdirectiOn of the jury or the improper ad-
mission or rejection of evidence, or for error
as to any matter of pleading or procedure
unless, In the opinion Of the court to which
the application is made, after an examina-
ton Of the entire case, 1t shall afIirmatively
appear that the error complained of has re
suited IN miscarriage of justice.
Injunctions Are Necessary.
The President believes it would be wrong
and probably invalid to abolish the power
OF Injunction. But he thinks that far
as is possible some law should be passed
which would prohibit the abuse of the
power. He believes the power of injunc
ton is necessary, and that judge should
hesitate to use such power in dealing with
disorder. He does not think 1t proper to
forbid laboring men to strive for their own
betterment in lawful and peaceful ways,
nor does he approve of using the fnjunc-
tlonal power to aid some big corporation
in carrying out schemes for It's own ag
grandizement, but he believes judges should
WELD their power to prohibit any resort
to violence or intimidation, especially by
conspiracy, matter what their opinion
may be of the rights of the original quar-
rel.
THE best judges" says the President,
have ever been foremost to disclaim any
Immunity from criticism" Mr.. Roosevelt
says that the American people will not
subscribe TO the doctrine that any public
servant is to be above criticism just and
temperate criticism when necessary sup
plies n safeguard. The President scores
unworthy agItaCOrs as menace to the
republic.
Lynching a Growing Danger.
In connection with the delays of the law
the President calls the attention Of Con
gresS to the prevalence of lynching and
existing cause of lynching, especially of
black men, is the hideous crime of rape
1.-The most abominable in all the category
of crimes, even worse than murder" He
says that when mobs begin to lynch for
rape they speedily extend the sphere of
their operations and lynch for many other
kinds of crime, so that two-thfrds of the
lynchings are not for rape at all; while
considerable portion of the individuals
is but one safe rule In dealing with the
black men as with white men; it Is the
same rule that must be applied in dealing
with the rich and poor men; that is to
treat each man, whatever his color. his
creed or his social position, with even
handed justice on his real worth as
ity'' or NEGRO domination involved; only
the question of Furnishing bad men and
protecting the good. The President says
that every colored man should realize that
his worst enemy Is the negro criminal and
should help the officers of the law in pun
ishng the guilty.
Moreover, in my judgment" says the
President; 1.-The crime of rape should al
ways be punished with death. as in the
commit rape should be made capital
crime, at least at the discretion of the
court; and provision should be made by
which punishment may follow Immediately
upon the heels of the offenSe; while the
trial should be so conducted that the vic
tim need not be wantonly shamed while
giving testimony, and that the least pos
sibe publicity shall be given to the ue-
tails"
ed policy of one class trying to prevent
the education of another. He says that
tue poorer classes need 4ducat-on most
and urges the whites not 10 allow the ne
groes as n mass, to grow up in ignorance.
Most of the crimes which occasion lynch
ings are committed by people who have
education for the negro is as conferred by
such schools as Hampton and Tuskegee,
where the students are trained indus
trially.
individuals who indulge in infammatory
and incendiary speeches and writings which
tend to arouse mobs and bring about
lynchings, not only thus excite the mob,
but also tend by suggestion to greatly in
crease the likelihood of a repetition of the
Weighing" says the President
Capital and Labor.
The greatest danger, the President says
in dealing with capital and labor, is the
harm done by preachers of mere discomfort
who seek to incite q violent class hatred
against all men of wealth. The sinister
demagogues and foolish Missionaries who
are always eager to undertake campaign
of destruction, sometimes seek to as
sociate themselves with those working for
q genuine reform and masquerade as such
reformerS. They are the worst enemies of
the cause they profess to advocate, just as
the purveyorS of sensational SANDER in
newspaper or magazine are the worst enc
mics of all men who are engaged in an
honest effort TO better what is bad in our
social and governmental conditions. Such
preaching will undo the good the honest
reformer has achieved. The honest man,
whether rich or poor, who earns his own
living has much to fear from the dema-
gogue, promising much and doing little, or
else performing nothing but evil, as from
the crafty corruptioniSt. There are rich
reactionaries who regard the public servant
who prosecutes them when they violate the
law. who seeks to make them bear their
proper share of the public burdens as be-
ing even more objectionable than the violent
der the rich There is nothing to choose
between such. a reactionist and such an
agitator.
Eight-hour Law
The President calls for 4 law limiting the
hours of labor for railroad employees He
believes in eight-hour day. He points
out, however, that in some industries and
localities such restriction is impractical.
He says an eight hour day would be absurd
on the IsthmuS of Panama. just as absurd
as to bother as to whether the necessary
work is done by alien black alien yellow