The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-12-07

~ " 4SoS hCSltc llG pdH5dSS W lHN
pure food bill, and the provision foe
increasing and rendering more effec-
tive national control over tile beef
packing industry, mark an important
advace in the proper direction In
the short session il viii perhaps be
difficult to do much further along this
line; and it may be best to wait until
the laws have been in operation for
number Of months before endeavoring
to increase their scope, because only
operations will show with exactness
their merits and them shortcomings
and thus give opportunity to define
what further REMEDIAL Legislation is
needed. Yet in my judgment it will
in the end be advisable IN connection
with the packing house inspection law
to provide for putting a date on the
label and for the packers. All these
laws have already jutifed their en-
actment.
Agriculture.
The only other persons whose well
fare is as vital to the welfare of the
whole country as is the welfare Of
the wageworkers are the tillers Of the
soil, the farmers. 1t is a mere trusim
to say that no growth of cities, no
growth of wealth, no industrial de-
velopment can atone for any falling
off in the character and standing Of
the farming population. During the
last few decades this fact has been
recognized with ever-increasing clear
ness.
Marriage and Divorce.
| am well aware Of how difficult it
is to pass a constitutional amendment.
Nevertheless in my Judgment the
whole question Of marriage and di-
vorce should be relegated to the au-
thority of the National Congress. AT
present the wide difference in the
laws of the different States OH this
subject result in scandals and abuses;
and surely there is nothing so vitality
essential to the welfare Of the nation,
nothing around which the nation
should SO bend itself to throw every
safeguard, as the home life Of the
average citizen. The change would
be good from every standpoint
International Morality.
On the question of international
morality Mr., Roosevelt comes out
strongly, advocating clean dealing be-
tween the nations of earth and also
strongly advocates international arbi-
tration as a means Of settling all diff
iculties that may arise.
American Shipping.
Let me once again call the atten-
ton Of the Congress to two subjects
CONCERNING which I have frequently
before communicated with them. One
is the question Of developing Ameri-
can shipping. / trust that law EN-
bodying in substance the views, or
major part of the views; exprest in
the report on this subject laid before
the House at its last session will be
past / am we'll aware that in former
years Objectionable measures have
been proposed in reference to the en-
couragement of American shipping;
but it seems to me that the proposed
measure is as nearly unobjectionable
as any can be.
Currency Reform.
1 especially call your attention TO
the second subject, the condition Of
our currency laws. The national
bank act has ably served great pur-
pose in aiding the enormous business
development of the country; and
within ten years there has been an
increase in circulation per capita
from $21.41 to $33.O8. For several
years evidence has been accommodating
that additional legislation is needed.
Our Island Possessions.
It is urged that these shall receive
the careful consideration Of Congress
and that tariffs, etc, shall be upon a
just basis.
Army and Navy.
The message goes at length into the
matter Of the efficiency Of our army
and navy. The President is much
gratifed at the progress we are mak-
ing in both branches of our common
defense. In the matter Of rife prac.
tice the President says
The Congress has most wisely pro-
vided for a National Board for the
promotion of rife practice. Excellent
results have already come from thts
law, but it does not go far enough.
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; for if a
soldier has tho f0btino edoa ond