Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-08
The Message.

|derstanding of the problems now con-
fronting this nation; of his ability to
analyze those questions. to separate
the vital features from the great mass
of bewildering detail with which they
have been clothed by partisans; Of his
purpose as Chief Executive of the
whole nation to represent the cause OF
the people as a nation, and his deter
mination to do all in his power to re-
deem the pledges, made in his behalf,
during the campaign which resulted
in his election to the highest office
within the gift of the nation.
The message contains three sections
which merit popular favor. The
first. of paramount Importance be-
cause it has been debated wherever
workingman gather since Taft render
ed a decision as jurist which was
construed to be directly antagonistic to
labor. is his declaration that legisla-
ton should be enacted forbiddipg the
issuance of judicial injunctions in
labor disputes, without notice. The
second is his recommendation that
Congress enact laws providing for the
establishment of Postal Savings
Banks. The third is his f1at-footed
recommendation that some sort of ship
subsidies be provided for the encour-
agement of American shipping These
three subjects stand out alone because
they are closest to the people.
President Taft in his message is
emphatic in his statement concerning
the Nicaragua situation, declaring
that Cannon and Groce were officers Of
the insurgent army and entitled to
whatever protection as prisoners Of
war such position insures them
among civilized nations, and further
says that it may be necessary in the
immediate future to address to Con-
gress a special message on this sub
ject. His language in the crisis
presages vigorous action on the part
of the United States in demanding re-
dress from Zelaya indicates that the
worst fears of the State Department
have been realized and thereby throt-
ties further criticism Of Secretary
Knox for the vigorous language he
used in dismissing the representative
of the Nicaraguan government at
Washington. 1t is doubtful if Presi-
dent Taft in drafting that portion Of
his message. gave any thought to any
thing but a presentation of the facts,
yet it remains that what he has said
is of such nature that those persons
who have been criticizing Secretary
Knox so freely have little left upon
which to base their attacks
President Taft believes that there is
no reason for a Congressional in
of the sugar scandal in
the New York custom house, and we
are of the opinion that the majority
of the thinking people support that
view. Neither does he see any reason
for further revision Of the tariff at
the present time. He urges retrench-
ment in the conduct of the nations
affairs and not only deprecates the
enormous expenditures for inef-
ficient labor but suggests more rigid
and intelligent application of the civil
service rules; promotion for ability
and civil pensions for superannuated
He urges a higher rate of
postage on periodicals and MAGAZINES.
he advocates the publicity of political
contributions in elections of members
to Congress-; he recommends the ex-
penditure of $4,000 in suppressing the
white slave trade: he asks for the
of commission to draft
a plan for expediting legal procedure;
he puts the stamp of his approval
upon National Board of Public
Health and declares that the Republi-
can party should keep it's promise to
admit New Mexico and Arizona AS
separate states.
Maine is vitality interested in those
portions of the Presidents message
which treat of the relations between
this country and Great Britain and
concerning the Canadian boundary
and allied questions. The first re-
lates to the accurate determination of
the International boundary line be-
tween the United States and the Do
minion of Canada in the waters of the
Passamaquoddy Bay, which, he saws.
Will be determined by arbitration
provided for in the treaty of 1908. The
second is the adoption by Congress, if
that body sees fit so to do, of the In
ternational regulations for the protec-
ton and preservation of the food
hshes in International boundary
waters. The third is in the nature of
report Of progress on the work of
the Commission now investigating the
question OF distractions in the st.
H.