The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-12-10


fectively punished at law. During
the lifetime of the older men now
alive the social relations have
changed far more rapidly than in the
preceding two centuries. The i'm
mense growth of corporations, of
business done by associations, and the
extreme strain and pressure of mod
ern life, have produced conditions
which render the public confused as
to who its really dangerous foes are;
and among the public servants who
have not only shared this confusion,
but by some of their acts have in
creased it, are certain judges. Marked
inefficiency has been shown in dealing
with corporations and in re-settling
the proper attitude to be taken by the
public not only toward corporations,
but toward labor. and toward the So
cial questions arising ont of the fac
toTy system, and the enormous
growth OF our great cities.
Real damage has been done by the
manifold and conflicting interpreted
lions of the interstate commerce law
Control over the great corporations
doing interstate business can he eff
fective only il it is vested with full
power in an administrative depart
ment, a branch of the Federal execu-
can never be effective if a divided re-
sponsibility is left in both the States
and the Nation; it can never be eff
fective If left in the hands of the
courts to be decided by lawsuits
In no other nation in the world do
the courts WELD such vast and far
reaching power as in the United
States. All that is necessary is that
the courts as a whole should exercise
this power with the far sighted wis
dom already shown by those judges
who scan the future while they act in
the present. Let them exercise this
great power not only honestly and
bravely, but with wise insight into
the needs and fixed purposes of the
people, so that they may do justice.
and work equity, so that they may
protect all persons i'm their rights.
and vet break down the barriers of
privilege, which is the foe of right
The President devotes 4 lone chap
ter to the subject Of forests. eclaring
that if there is one duty which more
than another we owe TO our children
and our children's children, il is to
save the forests Of this country. for
they constitute the first and most i'm
portant element in the conservation
of our natural resources.
The Message then turns TO inland
waterways and maintains that action
for their Improvement should begin
forthwith.
The President regrets that an
amendment was incorporated in the
measure providing for the Secret Ser
vice forbidding details and transfers
therefrom. He declares it is of ben
eft only to the criminal classes. He
renews his recommendations for pos
tai savings banks and urges an extern
ton of the parcel post on the rural
routes. He declares that the unfor-
tunate state of affairs as regards the
National educational office be reme-
died by adequate appropriations. He
strongly urges that the supervisors
and enumerators for the approaching
Census be not appointed under the
Civil Service law, but that appoint
ments to the force be done under that
law, geographical requirements be-
ing waived. The President main
tains that there should be intelligent
action on the question of preserving
the health of the country and sug-
gests a redistribution of the health
bureaus. He recommends the plac-
ing of the Government Printing Office
under the Department of Commerce
and Labor and the various Soldiers
Homes under the War Department
He advocates the immediate admis-
sion Of New Mexico and Arizona as
separate States. Mr.. Roosevelt then
writes of the interstate fisheries prob
lem, saying that those matters which
no particular State can control Con-
gress ought to control. The statute
regarding game should include fish,
and the fur-seal service should be
vested in the Bureau of Fisheries.
In regard to our foreign policy he
announces that it is based on the
theory that right must prevail be-
tween nations as between individuals
and then urges the special claims of
Latin-American Republics to our at
tentiOn. The Message states that the
Panama Canal is being dug with
speed and efficiency and then recon-
mends the extension of ocean mail
lines to South America, Asia, the
Philippines and Australasia Atten-
ton is called to the admirable condi-
ton of Hawaii, where. coolie labor
has practically ceased AMI Pearl Har-
Dor is being made a laval base with
the necessary military fortfications.
Mr.. Roosevelt urges the passage OF
the bill to promote army officers at
reasonable ages through a process of
selection and declares the cavalry arm
should be reorganized upon modern
lines. We have not enough infantry
and artillery and attention should be
centred on the machine gun. A gem
eral service corps should be estab- |
lished. 1t behooves the Government
to perfect the efficiency of the Ma
tional Guard as part of the National
forces and Congressional aid should
be extended to those who are pro-
noting rife practice-teaching our
men to shoot.
In regards to the navy, the Presi-
dent recommends the increase sug-
gested by the General Board and
thinks the General Board should be
turned into a General STAFF. He urges
that two hospital ships be provided
and then concludes his Message as
follows:
Nothing better for the Navy from