Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1907-12-12
COMMENT ON THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Development of Political ldeas--No Message Shows
So Much ProgressiVeness.

No less striking is the change that has
taken place in public opinion in respect to
the unrestricted issuance of the writ of in
| junction by our federal courts. Oar read
ers will recall that in 1906 the democratic
party denounced government by injunction
called the uncalled for interference blythe
courts in labor disputes by means of in
functions. For this he and his party were
tiercely assaiied as propogators OF anarchy
byques.oning the invioabili.y of the courts,
the very corner stone las was said) on
which the republic tests Bat the pres-
den, says in his message to congress that
there is no question but what the courts
have in numerous instances perverted the
uses to which the writ OF Injunction should
be put; and that to prevent further abuses
OF this kind the cases in which the writ
shall be granted must be restricted; by law
We have given this brief resume of the
recent and marked changes that have taken
place in political thot. not for the purpose
OF censuriug or commending any party but
merely to demonstrate how far we have
advanced
AS observed the presidents message
shows that there has come over us as ma
ton radical change in what we regard as
the true function of government. And for
this change in public sentiment we are in
debted to no one more than to our virile
minded and courageous president He has
not hesitated to take up an idea of govern
meut simply because it has been urged be-
fore even by those whose views on public
questions were more apt to meet with de-
rision than appreciation. The president
takes occasion to refute the charge of the
Wall street promoters that his policy in re-
gard to the trusts was the cause of the re-
cent financial furry: and gives the country
assurance that no backward steps will be
taken by the administration in its tstreatment
of unlawful combines. As might be ex-
pected he urges more effective army and
larger and more efficient navy and. unless
we greatly deceive ourselves. there will be
no popular quarrel with these recommen-
dations He also urges the eight hour law
for working men. more stringent federal
control of trusts and federal law doing
away with child labor; he also takes a |
strong stand for the prevention of land
frauds, and in favor of reforestration, and
for more liberal appropriations for our
great natural water ways.
There is but one feature with which a !
rational reformer can complain and that
is in respect to the tariff. The president
says that we must forego revision until after
the election. Perhaps he is wise in this.
but most of the people of the west are so
tired of paying tribute to the trusts
that they are anxious to see change in the
tariff Immediately. However the president
perhaps wisely feels that nothing would
suit the unlawful monopolies that are fight
ing SO fercely for continuance of the old
order of things better than to have attention
shifted from them to the titanic struggle
that always results from an attempt to
change the tariff The president no doubt
considers that one thing carried forward
to successful completion is worth more
than dozen undertakings indiaerently
DONE,
All in all it is a great message. sober in
tone but none the less vigorous and earnest
in its treatment of all the policies it pre-
sents. No message since the civil war
shows SO much progressivencss and con-
structive policya this. The only one that
in any way can compare with it is that of
Cleveand's message of 1883 when he cleo
trified the country by his memorable pro-
nouncement on tariff reform.
In this message the president shows him
self student of all forms of human en-
deavor, thoroly conversant with the best
tlot of the time and in full sympathy with
human progress. a firm believer that true
progress rests more fully on the humaniz-
ing and enlightenment of men than upon
! their material enrichment.
1t is but stating self evident truth to
say that we have grown more in political
ideas and virtues during the time since
Roosevelt was last inaugerated than in all
the remaining period since the civil war.
Since he became president there has been
built up national conscience that is chang
ing business and political ideals, and all
this is vigorously voiced in his message