The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-06-19

ton by the United States, is another
much attacked act of the Roosevelt
administration. 1t has been claimed
that without his cogniZance and help
the revolution that resulted in the in
dependence of Panama could not have
feen engineered. IL is generally con-
ceded, however, that Roosevelt was
entirely innocent of this charge, and
suspicion has even been extended to-
ward the French Company who was
also bidding for the honor of construc-
ting the great ditch. as a possible In
stigator of the imbroglio.
Roosevelt's attention TO the army
and navy resulted in the establish
ment of a program that practically
doubled the strength of the water for
ces of the United States. He supple
lhented this achievement by an active
interest in the act that incorporated
the National Guard as a part of the
rational forces.
Though President Mckinley had
paved the way for the transfer of ad-
ministrative power in the Philippines
from the military TO civilians. il was
under the rule OF Roosevelt that this
change actually took place. In addition
10 this move, Porto Rico became a ter
ritcry of the United States, and the
government of Cuba was returned TO
the Cubans while he was in Office.
The presentation of the Nobel Peace
Prize to Theodore Roosevelt in 1906
uucovers another act of pre-eminent
and world wide Importance which
was performed during his administra-
ton. The peace prize was awarded him
because of his activities in bringing
together the representatives of Japan
and Russia at Portsmouth. This meet
ing between the warning factions re-
suited in the cessation of hostilities in
Manchuria.,
1t was also at the instigation of
Roosevelt that the European Powers
were goaded into action that led to
the resumption of the Hague Confer
ence in 1905. This body had fallen in
to disrepute through the Russo-Jap-
anese struggle, but interest was re-
newed through invitations issued by
the United States for another meeting.
These invitations were later recalled
and the conference convened at IN in
vitation of Russia. 1t was tn United
States tender, however, that set The
matter again because the Information
al public.
But if Roosevelt's activities in mat
tiers relating to foreign matters were
great his activities in regard to inter
nal problems were still greater The
Department of Commerce and Labor
came into being during his admins.
tration The activities of the Depart
ment of Agriculture were greatly
broadened. Conservation projects
were established. The pure food law
was enacted. The Bureau of Corpora
tions was born to the new depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. The
Post Office Department widened its
range of service through the extern
sion of the rural free delivery, and the
establishment of two-cent postage be-
tween the United States and several
foreign countries.
Beside these important matters, the
Interstate Commerce Commissions
scope was widened through the enact
ment of the Hepburn rate law. A uni
form system of accounting, with a
great measure of publicity was pro-
vided and imposed an interstate car
riers. He also established many i'm
portant commissions to investigate the
number of suits against large business
combinations for an alleged violation
of the Sherman antitrust law.
1t was following the announcement
of his reelection in 1904 that Colonel
Roosevelt made his famous statement
regarding the third term.
Il am deeply sensible to the honor
that has been done me-" he said, "and
/ shall try to show my qualification by
a wise and just administration. On
March 4th next ! shall have completed
three years and a half as President
of the United States and / shall re-
gard that three years and a half as
my first term. The wise custom which
limits the President to two terms re-
CARDS the substance and not the form;
and under no circumstances will / be
a candidate for or accept another nom-
nation
1t has been since said that Roose-
Welt has broken this pledge in seeking
the present nomination, though there
are others who maintain that as he
made no definite preference to the
time at which he would accept or seek
a third nomination, his declaration had
reference to a third consecutive term.