The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS SANNUAL
! MESSAGE 10 CONGRESS

session the annual message,of Rresf-
dent Roosevelt was submitted and
read in both branches. 1T is, in sub
stance. as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: =.
AS a nation we still continue to en-
joy a literally unprecedented pros
perity,Aand it is probable that only
reckless speculation and disregard of
legitimate business methods on the
part oh the business world can mate
rally mar this prosperity.
NO Congress in our time has done
more good work of, Importance than
tine present Congress. There were
several matters left unfinished sat
your last session, however which I
most earnestly hope ,yoh' will com
plete before Your adjournmeff.
l again recommend a law prohibit
ing all corporations from contribut-
ing to- the campaign expenses of any
party. Such, bill has.aIready passed
a one house of Congress. =, let indiyii.
uals contribute .a5 they desire. but
let us prohibit in effective fashion all
corporations from making. contribu-
tlons Tor any political purpose, di-
Another bill which has past one
house. of the Congress which II is
urgently necessary should be enacted
into law is that comforting upon the
government the right of appeal in
criminal cases, on questions of law
Ine''Rrestdent,says that the wheels
oot Justice are sometimes blocked. for
rack or this power and that failure
10 pass IT. will result in seriously
hampeTing the Government, in its ef-
tort to obtain justice. especialIv
against wealthy individuals or cor
poratlons who, do wrong. and NAV
also prevent the Government from
obtaining Justice for wageworkers
who are not, themselves able effect
lVely TO contest a case where the
II uqgipent ot.an. inferior. court has
been against them
iCiAfter' referring. to the absurdity of
permitting district Judge to declare
: 3sJaw passed by Congress +unconsti-
tutloRal. the message states that the
Importance of enacting into law the
particular bill in question is further
increased by the fact that the Gov
ernment has now definitely begun n
campaign in those .strnst and inter
state commerce cases where such a
course offers reasonable chance of
success. y-s s,a
The President believes it would be
well to enact a law providing some
thing to the effect that,
NO JudgmerSs$tall he set aside or
new trial grantSd'in any, case. civil
or criminal. ION the ground of n,isSli-
rection- of the. jury or the improper
admission or rejection Of evidence.
or Tor error as to any matter of
pleading or procedure unless. in the
opinion OF the court to which the an
phcation is made, after an examina-
tlon OF the entire cause, it shall af-
hrmatively appear that the error
complained of has resulted in a mis-
carriage of justice.
On the subject of inlunctions Mr.
roosevelt says, it is at least doubtful
whether law abolishing altogether
thelT use in labor cases would stand
the test OF the courts. 1t is criminal
10 perlilt sympathy for criminals to
weaken our hands in upholding the
law. and If men seek to DESTROY life
or property by mob violence there
should beno Impairment of the pow
er or the courts to deal with them. i'm
the; most, summary and effective way
posSlDle. Bat so far as possible -
continues the President, the abuse
Of the power should be provided
by some such law as I advo-
Gated last year"
The message then dev0tes consid-
cradle space to the prevalence of
crime among us, and above all to the
epidemic of lynching and mob vio-
fence that spEfh IS. np. noW in one
part OF our county now in another.
Each .sectionf NQpth. South, East or
west has its own faults; no section !
can with wisdom spend its time jeer- I!
ing at the faults oP aAesher-EsecIfon |
it should be busy trying 10 amend its !
own shortcomings. To deal with the |
crime OF corruption it is necessary to |
have an awakened public conscience. !
and to- supplement- this by whatever !
legislation will add Speed and Ger
tainty an the eXecatioA of the law
When we deal with lynching even |
more is, necessary. A great many
white men are lynched, but the crime
IS peculiarly frequent in respect 20
black men. The. greatest existing
'ause OF lynching is the perpetration,
by black men. of the hid
eous crime of rape-the most abom-
nable In all the category of crimes,
wen worse than murder. Mobs fire.
luentiyxF%sxge Sthe. commission of
his <FdaaA be III ehse selves etorEurfnS to
l.
Hengipg in Jbesttag; fashion a bestial
Iced, and reducing themselves to a
eyel with the CRIMINAL
Z" There is sbutSone' rule in dealing
With black men as with white men:
is the same rule, that must be aD-
'lied in. dealing. With rich men and
'oqr men, that isS~to treat each man.
whatever his color, his creed or his
oSeial position, with even handed JUS
ice on his real Wofth as a man.
cThere is 30 question rof social I
quality or 5s'negro- domination in
olved; only the question of reIent- I
essiy Furnishing Bad men ;,
Every. colored naah should realize /:
hat the worst enemy Of his race is
he negro criminal and above all the
Iegro criminal who commits the
readful crime of rape. and it should [
e felt as in the. highest; degree an Of
ence. against. the ,wAele country, and. {
gainst the coloTed race in pariicu- I
", for colored man, to fail to, help, I
he officers of the law i'm hunting , I