Washington State journal. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1907-1911, 1907-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Roosevelt has positive
and vigorous personality, and his
messages to congress are marked by
those qualities. He does rot evade
or temporize, but comes out squarely
and frankly with whatever he has to
say. There is no excuse for misun-
derstending him. He goes right to
the point, and the nation knows ex-
actly where he stands. Most of the
subjects discussed in his annual
message to the present congress
have been discussed py him heretofore,
either in former messages or in public
addresses. The president has way
of taking the people into his confid-
ence before he sends an official docu-
ment to congress. He knows, too, the
Importance of repeating and urging
again and again ideas on public ques-
tions. An idea once presented may
be thought excellent, but before it
results in action it must usually be
presented and urged time and again.
The president keeps at it, and for
this reason he generally wins. So
those who read his>message will re-
call former messages and recent speech
es, in which he treated the same ques
tions, and in many Instances the
phraseology will differ but slightly.
Naturally, he first gives attention
to the financial situation. He finds
that in no nation are the fundamental
business conditions sounder than ours
at this moment, and SO it is foolish
for the people, with such conditions
to hoard their money instead of keep
ing it in sound banks. He gives this
thought first place in his message,
and it may be inferred that he attach
es first Importance to it. The causes
of the conditions, out of which the
country is now passing, the president
does not discuss at lenght. He says
that in the punishment of the success
fully dishonest it is often unavoidable
that the honest also suffer, and he
quotes from recommendations in his
message of 1905 in regard to federal
supervision of corporations engaged in
interstate commerce. He likewise
quotes his message of year ago on
the need of more flexible currency to
meet the demands during the crop
moving period. Comment on the state
or credit currency plan is favorable
although the president is of the
opinion that no legislation can guar.
antee against the danger of speculative
folly. He asks congress to give the
subject "immdiate attention." keep
ing in mind that safety is not to be
traded for elasticity.
He would have the Sherman anti
trust law so amended as not to prohibit
combinations that do not harm the
public, and he would have the federal
government increase its activity in
dealing with interstate commerce.
1t is not new power that should be
exercised, but one which has always
existed. The supervision of large cor
porations engaged in interstate COM
merce he would make similar to that
of the supervision of national banks.
He advised that the tariff be not
revised at this time for the reason
that it is question that should be
approached from business standpoint
and at time when 1t will arouse the
least disturbance in the business
world. The time to deal with the tariff
as he sees it, is after, and not just be.
fore, an election; but he advises the
repeal of the duty on wood pulp, t.
be accompanied by an agreement with
Canada that there shall be no export
duty on pulp wood. He would d.
away with the tariff on all forest pro
ducts, but he specially asks for &C
ton in the case of wood pulp.
The income and inheritance taxes
he would make part of the system O.
federal taxation. The recommends
tions in regard to the injunction
accidents, employers liability ant
eight-hour laws are very friendly t.
labor. Special comment is made OF
the telegraphers' strike and the neet