The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-12-07
THURSDAY, DECEMBER :, 1915.
The Presidents Message.


The message Of President Wilson to
the new congress comes as keen disap-
pointment. 1t is a scholarly message
and the things which have been feat
ured in the humanitarian program of
the President in the four years gone,
are again featured. 1t reflects the idea
that the President has mistaken the
recognition of his personal popularity
In the recent election for an endorse
ment Of his policies. There is woe
fully lacking any consideration Of the
demands Of the great industrial centers
Of the nation which at the recent cleo
ton demanded in no uncertain words,
tariff which would protect the work
lngman and the factories Of the nation.
1t had not been expected that President
Wilson as a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat
would have advocated q protective
tariff, but there had been the hope that
his message would have outlined some
plan which would at least give assur-
ance to some protection of the nation
against the coming of peace which
might bring with it the wreeking
Of the prosperity which the country
now enjoys.
The President evidently believes
that the regulation of railways and
their employment of men for the opera
ton of trains is the paramount issue
before the people tdday. He blazes a
new and an uncertain trail when he
suggests legislation to prevent the tie
ing up Of the railway systems Of the
country. The great mass of the people
Of the nation would welcome an insur-
ance against a nationwide rail strike
There is something vague and uncer-
tain against the suggestion of the
President to hobble strikes. AS he says
cit is introducing new principal into
our system of Jurisprudence. The
right Of man to quit his job has been
held as q constitutional right. The
right of organized men to quit their
jobs may be another question.
The President in his wisdom has seen
fit to suggest that there must be a way
found to limit the movements of large
bodies Of men when the concerted
movements might stop industrial pro-
gress of the nation. His suggestion is
one devoutly to be wished and people
will watch with interest the working
out Of the problem. He makes excel
lent suggestions for the extension of
the powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission in handling great problems
of the railways and he goes farther
than any other president in suggesting
that greater power be granted to the
executive for action in cases of railway
troubles. 1t is pretty safe to say that
there will be considerable more consid-
Grafton of these suggestions of the
President, before they are enacted into
law, than was given the Adamson law
on the eve Of the general election.
The President suggests wider chance
of combination of capital for the i'm
provement of our export trade His
suggestion along these lines is rather
daring one to come from the head
of party which has SO long been the
foe of organized business. The sug-
gestion, however, is one that win meet
with great deal of favorable com
ment from men who have recognized
the lack of organization for handling
export trade and the impossibility Of
such organization under the existing
laws of the nation. Tt is possible that
such combinations can be segregated
from other and harmful combinations
of capital and if they can the sugges-
ton will undoubtedly work out for a
great benefit to the nation.
He strongly urges the regulation of
election expenses. Possibly there is a
personal note in this feature of the
message. Most people in the nation
believe in the regulation of such ex-
penses, but it is hard to see how the
men who are now in congress, many
of whom owe their presence there to
the existing laws regulating expendi-
lures, viii have any right to make any
strong fight against existing systems.
We agree with the President that if
there is to be regulation of such ex-
penses the sooner the bill is enacted
the better. An early enactment along
this line will facilitate remarkably the
organizations which are to be perfect
ed for future campaigns.
The latter part of the message has
Just touch Of the campaign orator
1t holds that "you have enriched the
legislative annals Of the country" and
it carries a dominant note of thanks ia
the members of congress for their CO.
operation with the administration
leaders
The message from the point of what
it says, is interesting and excellent
Its disappointment comes from what
it fails to say.