Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-21

-NtN 1tlh, aug. Lu.-A ltlttr written
by Pres ident Roosevelt to Congressman
James +. Watson of Nashville, Ind, re-
viewing and approving of the work of
the present Congress and declaring
''To change the leadership and organ
iHation of the House at this time means
to bring confusion upon those who
have successfully engaged in the steady
working out of great and compre-
hensive scheme for the betterment of
cur social and civic conditions" was
made public today through the Repub-
liCan congressional campaign commit
tee. The President also declared that
such a change would result in u hurt
full oscillation between tho extreme rad
ical and the extreme rcactiOnary. The
President said also that he hopes the
present Congress will enact laws pro
hibiting political contributions by cor
rorations, lowering the duties on i'm
| ports from the Philippines and limit
ing the number of hours for railroad
employees.
The Presidents letter in full follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Watsun--1 hear
through Speaker Cannon and Repre-
sentative sherman that you have vol
untc"red To give your services To the
| COM reSSirnll committee for thu cnt'r"
| campaign, without regard to the elect
| it may have upon your canvisS in your
| own district: and feel like writing YOU
| a word of congratulation and Of earnest
hone for tho success of your efforts. II
| there were only partisan issues m
| volved in this contest | should hesitate
| to say anything publicly in reference
| thereto But | do rot feel that Sucn Is
the case on the contrary, ! feel that III
| good citizens who have the welfare ol
| America at heart should appreciate the
| immense amount that has boon accom-
| r,Ii.hod by the present Congress organ
| i2cI rs il is, ana the urgent need OF
| L.rnina this Organization ill power
| Win Mr Cannon as Speaker, tho
| IInus,. has accomplished Il literally
phenomenal amount Of Eo"d work. tt
hes shown Il good Cor'ra"" and patriot
ism surh as it would l." real and sart"u.
misrortun" for the country +" fan t'
recucujze. 10 chang" the leadership
| and organization Of Che House II thl'
i'm, means t. bring confusion upon
thns" win" have been successfully en-
cared in tic steady working "Ht Of Z
| great ana comprehensive semen" lo'
M, b,ttcrucnt of our social, in lu.,tria
ana civi,. conditions. such 4 change
| would substitute" purrnS"tc|S 'ohtn'
sion. !. violent and hurtful OSCILLATION
| between tn" positions q ~" cNir'"'
radicals and the cXtr"m" reactinharS
rn, present orderly pT"Gr"T.; along th'
Hines of Il carefully th"ught-"ut policy
..rhc interests Of this nation are a.
varied as they are vast. Congress
must take account, not of on" natl"hA
need hut Of many AMI widely dilercn'
rational needs: and ! speak with MS
ltoric accuracy when | say that not II
our time has any other Congress uoh'
81 wau in So many different fields :"
errlcavor as the present Congress ma
done No Congress can do everything
Still less can it in one session hi'.'
every need At its first session tn'
present Congress. in addition 70 me
many tasks which il actually compie-
ed. undertook several tasks when
firmly believe it will bring tn compile
ton in its second session next winter
Among these | hope and believe tila'
the hills to prohibit political cohtrlpu-
tions nv corporations and to lower th'
durine on imports from the Philippines
each IF which has been passed by one
uoIsc. will be enacted into law
hone. and I have reason 10 believe tha'
favorable action will be taken upon th'
bill limiting the number or hours OF
employment of railroad employees
lThes,,. and one or two other measures
the enactment of which l have reason
to hone for. are important But 1al
Imore important are the measures Whlcn
have actually been passed, and as I
the Sc measures / wish to reiterate thl'
they are not important in merely par
tisan sense. but are important pecauSt
they subserve the welfare of our people
as a whole. of our nation as an ehtlre'
tty. They are important because 'hose
who enacted them into law thereDA
showed themselves to be fit represent
tatirs Of all good Americans.
In affairs outside of our own coun
try our great work has been beginning
to dig the Panama canal. The acqul
sition OF the canal strip was due 10 th'
initiative of Congress, and the fact ma
1.-The work thereon is now being done II
the most thorough and saustactor!
fashion is due to the action of the pres
. ent Congress at the session closed
iOnly this action rendered the WORK pos