The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-12-06
Agriculture.

The only other persons whose wei
fare IS as vital to the welfare of the
whole country as is the welfare of
the wageworkers are the filters 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 1t
IS to pass a constitutional amendment.
Nevertheless in my Judgment the
whole question. of marriage and d.
vorce should be relocated to the au-
thority of the National Congress. Al
present the wide difference In the
laws of the different States on this
subject result In scandals and abuses:
and surely there is nothing so vitalll
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 Internationa,
morality Nj. Roosevelt comes out
strongly, advocating clean dealing be-
tween the nations of earth and also
strongly advocates international arbi- |
tration as a mean 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 / have frequently |
before communicated with them. On,
is the question of developing Ameri-
can shipping. / trust that a law en-
bodylng In substance the views, or 4
major part of, the views, exprest in
the report on this subject laid before
the House at its last session will be !
past. / am well aware that In former
years Objectionable measures have
been proposed in reference to the en-
enlargement of American shipping:
cut 1t seems to me that the proposed
Measure is as nearly unobjectionabIe
any can be.
Currency Reform.
l especially call your attention to
he second subject, the condition of
currency laws. The national
bank act has ably served a great pur-
bose in aiding the enormous business
development of the country; and
ten years there has been an I,
Increase In circulation per capita
rom $21.41 to $33.0S. For several !
ears evidence has been accommodating :
hat additional legislation is needed !
Our Island Possessions.
1t IS urged that these shall receive {
ne careful consideration of Congress !
nd that tariffs, etc., shall be upon a :
ust basis. y
Army and Navy. I
n message goes at length into the :
latter OF the efficiency Of our army !
nd navy. The President is much I
the progress we are max. .
ng In both branches of our common I
~ Al lnC mdIl6T Vi TlQ6 Qra0- y
ice the President says: :,
The Congress has most wisely pro. c
lded for a National Board for the q
romotion of rife practice. Excellent z
esults have already come from this a
Nv, but it does not go far enough.
'ur Regular Army is so small that in c
ny great war we should have to a
rust mainly to volunteers; and in e
leh event these volunteers should P
Iready know how to shoot; for if a 4
'ldler has the fighting edge, and I
bllIty to take care of himself in the n
pen his efficiency on the line of bat q q
e Is almost directly proportionate .
} excellence in Workmanship. We e
lould establish shooting galleries in c.
he large public and military schools, I,
1ould maintain national target q
lnges in different parts of the conn. o
y, and should in every way encour- 3
the formation of rifle clubs .,
lroughout all parts of the land. The 10
tile Republic of Switzerland offers r
an excellent example in all matters ;:
INJECTED with building up an effc- ?;
MT citizen soldiery. p
THEODORE ROOSEVELT u
The White House, Dec. 8, 1906. 4