The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-12-03
tBy Associated Press.)

Washington. Dec. 3.-Taft's frs; I
I,essage to the last session OF 'oh-
cress during his term received the
close attention OF both branches
when business was begun today. IN
the Senate William p. Jackson. OF
MARYLAND. successor to Senator Kay
nor. and Kirkman Perkins, OF ldaho'
successor to Senator Hepburn, were
sworn in.
A note of warning to European
powers which by indirect means con
tinue to discriminate against Amer
i.an trade; strong appeal to the
Congress to uplift the great foreign
nolicies of America above mere qIes-
tions OF partisanship; triumpha"'
,indication of the diplomacy OF III"
administration. which is character
lied as that of dollars VS.. bullets:
masterful pride in the enormOuseN-
mansion OF American trade as 4 re-
suit of the foreign policies OF MS al /
ministration; and an earnest appear ,
for joint action by Congress ana 'n'
cyccutiyc 10 opcn new markets Tor
American industries these are 'h'
more striking features OF president
Taft's fourth annual message sent
to Congress today.
The message Is the first Of a seric'
OF such communications which m
will make to Congress in the early
days of the session, and deals en-
tirclv with the foreign relations o.
the United States. Beginning with
the usual reference to the existing
good relations with foreign powers,
the president adds that these have
been strengthened by "a greater in
sistence upon justice to American
citizens, or interests, wherever II
; may have been denied, and a strong
er emphasis of the need OF muiual-
ity in commercial and other rela-
tiOns
For the first time in its history
G says the president, the State depart
mcnt has obtained substantially the
r,ost favored nation treatment from
All of the countries of the world
F.. Therefore. he says that il is only
!, natural that competitive countries
should view with some concern tn
% expansion of our commerce lienc'
!, the warning, "If in some in tahce
}. the measures taken by them 10 NEE
l. il are not entirely equitable, rem
cay should be found
To this end the president s'rongl
recommends the enactment OF TN
bill recommended by Secretary kno
last December, permitting the gov
N ernment, instead of imposing IN
full maximum rates of duty a@alns
~ discriminating countries. to apply
graduated scale of duties, up 20 tina
maximum of % per cent.
Id Flat tariffs are out of da'e. sa!
ge the president. Nations no l0ngt
NV accord equal tariff treatment to a
:. other nations, irrespective OF II
" treatment from them received. 1t
!" very necessary that the america
government should be equipped VIII
weapons of negotiation and adaptt
to modern economic conditions.
, The State department, an a
'' claic and inadequate machine,
the beginning of this adminisiratl0
~ the president says, has become ne
organization, with highly speclallz
bureaus and experts dealing with
cry phase of American trade ana
-" plomacy. Holding that the essen
~ OF this reorganized service is lou
in the merit system. which Preside
20 Cleveland is credited with havi
-" introduced, President Taft makes
'"' strong appeal to Congress TO ma
e this machine permanent. By glvl
'u the force of statutory law to the
'A ecutive orders governing admlssl
to and promotion in the diploma
and consular services.
To show that these appolntmel
are already largely non-partisan,
president points to the tact u
three of the present ambassadors
~. hold overs; that of the ten ne
VII appointed, five were by promot
|u from the rank of minister; tnat
the thirty ministers appointed, el
eE were promotions; and that IN
son consular service no less than 90
try cent of the consuls appointed by
ear were from the southern States.
lsed "The diplomacy of the present
rye. ministration has sought to resp