The Orange Daily Tribune. (Orange, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 224, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 2, 1902 Page: 3 of 4
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To the Senate and House of Ref
We still continue in a period
bounded prosperity. This
not the creature of law, but undoubtedly
the laws under which we work have been
mental in creating the conditions
made it possible, and by unwise leg-
it would be easy enough to destroy
re will undoubtedly be periods of
ion. The war# will recede, but the
will advance. This nation IS seated
on a continent flanked by two great
oceans. It is composed of men the de-
scendants of pioneers or. In a sense,, pio-
neers themselves—of men winnowed out
from among the nations of the old world
by the eflergy, boldness and love of ad-
venture found In their own eager hearts.
■«eh a nation so placed will surely wsw*.
success from fortune.
As a people we have played a large part
in the world, and we are bent upon unit-
ing our future even larger than the past.
In particular the events of the last four
years have definitely declued tnat for woe
or tor weal our inace must be great among
the nations. He may either fall greatiy
or succeed greatly, but we cannot avoid
the endeavor from which eltner great
failure or great success must come, given
if we would we cannot play a small part,
if we should try, all tnat would follow
would be that we should play a large part
Ignobly and shamefully.
But our people, the sons of the men of
the civil war, the sons of the men who
had iron in their blOod. rejoice In the
present and face the future high of heart
and resolute of will. Ours Is not the
creed of the weakling and the coward;
ours la the gospel of hope and ofI tri-
umphant endeavor. We do not shrink
from the struggle before us. There era
many problems for us to face at the out-
set of the twentieth century—grave prob-
lems abroad and still graver at home—but
we know that we can solve them, and
solve them well, provided only that we
bring to the solution the qualities of head
and neart which were shown by the men
Kg
instrument
which mad
islatlon It i
It There
depresslo
tide will
gwctic^whjch
power of the congress to "regulate com-
the^several ttrh
tn® several iiaics mrougii rtguiAtioni
and requirements operating directly upon
such bommeree, .< the instrumentalities
thereof and those engaged therein.
I earnestly recommend this subject to the
consideration of the congress with a view
to the passage of a law reasonable tn its
provisions and effective In its operations,
upon which the questions can be finally
adjudicated that now raise doubts aa to
the necessity of constitutional amend-
power sought.
The congress hss not heretofore mide
any appropriation for the hatter enforce-
ment of the antitrust law as it now
stands. Vsry much has been dons by the
department of Justice In securing the en-
forcement of this law, but much more
could be done if congress would make a
special appropriation for this purpose, to
be expended under the direction of the
attorney general.
One proposition advocated has been the
reduction of the tariff as a means of
reaching tho evils of the trusts which fall
within tho category I have described.
uld this be wholly Ineffec-
Aversion of our efforts IH
such a direction would mean the aban-
donment of all intelligent attempt to do
Sway with theso evils. Many of the lar-
gest corporations, many of those which
should certainly be Included la any proper
scheme 6f regulation, would not be af-
fected tn the slightest degree by a change
In the tariff, save as such change Inter-
fered with the general prosperity of the
eouhtry. The only relation of the tariff
secure fair treatment alike for
J. fpr capital, how to hold In
e unscrupulous man, whether em-
employee, Without weakening
_____ initiative, without hampering
and cramping the Industrial development
of the country. Is a problem fraught with
great difficulties and ohe which It is of
the highest importance to solve oa lines
of sanity and farsighted common sense as
well as of devotion to the right. This is
an era of federation and combination.
Exactly aa business men find they must
often work through corporations, and aa
it is a constant tendency of these corpora-
tions to grow larger, so it is often neces-
sary for laboring men to work in federa-
tions. and these have become Important
ftetors of modern industrial life. Both
kinds of federation, capitalistic and labor,
Oj,
take the form of oddos!
bad in the conduct of any given corpora*
not of attacks upon cor-
ner upon unions aa
tion to e«
SToKasKsrts.'ts aAMSMss' ms
to maintain ordsr within ita own borders States should bq defined and that in place
of our present Obsolete laws a practical
and efficient system snould be adopted.
Provision should be mide to enable the
and to discharge Ita Just obligations to
When this Is done, they cat
rest assured that, be they strong or Weak,
foreigners.
they have nothing to dread from outside
Interference. More and piorc the increas-
ing Interdependence and complexity of
International political and economic rela-
tions render It Incumbent on all civilised
and orderly powers to Insist on ths proper
policing of the world.
During the fall of 1101 a communication
was addressed to the secretary of state
asking whether permission would bo
granted by tho president to a corporation
to lay a cable from a point on the Coll-
ation, capitalistic
good, and as a necessary
tin both do evil. Oppoaf-
ilnd of organization should
of opposition to w‘
» a point on
„ .— Philippine Islands by
way of Hawaii. A statement of condi-
fornla coast to the
to whatever Is
tion or union,
poratlons as such
Not merely wou
tlve, but the diversion of our efforts
to big corporations aa a whole is that tho
Iff makes manufactures profitable, a
tho tariff remedy proposed would be In
whs In the days of Washington founded
this- government and in the days of Lin-
coln preserved it.
No^t^ha. -^^cupleda^hjr
moment. Thla well being la
s, but
effect simply to make manufactures un-
profitable. To remove tho tariff as a
punitive measure directed against trusts
would Inevitably result In ruin to the
weaker competitors who are struggling
against them. Our aim should be not by
unwise tgriff changes to give foreign prod-
ucts the advantage over domestic prod-
ucts, but by proper regulation to give do-
mestic competition a fair chance, and
this end cannbt be reached by any tariff
changes which would affect unfavorably
all domestic competitors, good and bad
alike. The question of regulation of tho
trusts stands apart from The question of
tariff revision.
Stability of economic policy must ad-
ways he the prime ec<
such, for some of ths moat farreachlng
beneficent work for Our people haul been
accomplished through both corporations
and unions. Each must refrain from ar-
bitrary or tyrannous interference with
the rights of others. Organized capital
and organized labor alike should remem-
ber that in the long run the Interest of
each must bo brought Into harmony with
the Interest of the general public, and the
conduct of each must conform to the
fundamental rules of obedience to the
law, of individual freedom and of Justice
and fair dealing toward all. Each should
‘remember that In addition to power it
must strive after the realisation of
healthy, lofty and generous Ideals. Every
employer, every wageworker, must be
guaranteed his liberty and his right to do
as he likes with his property or his labor
so long as he does not Infringe upon the
rights of others. It is of the highest Im-
portance that employer and employee
alike should endeavor to appreciate each
the viewpoint of the other and the sure
disaster that will come upon both In the
long run if either grows to take as habit-
sudden or accidental causes,
play of, the economic .farces In this
continuous policies;
a try for aver a century; to our laws,
sustained., and
Iff and that the country cannot prosper
>rt Inter-
SSv,
of our__________
been won by those who have taken the
lead in this phenomenal Industrial devel-
opment, and moat of these fortunes have
been won not by doing evil, but as an In-
cident to action which has benefited the
community as a whole. Never before has
material well being been so widely dif-
fused among our people. Great fortunes
have been accumulated, and yet In the
aggregate these fortunes are small in-
deed when compared to the wealth of the
people as a whole. The plain people are
better off than they have ever been be-
fore. The Insurance companies, which
are practically mutual benefit societies—
especially helpful to men of moderate
means—represent accumulations of capi-
tal which are among the lnrgest In this
country. There are more deposits In the
savings banks, more owners of farms,
more well paid wageworkers in this coun-
try now tnan ever before in our history.
Of course when the conditions have fa-
vored the growth of so much that was
good they nave also favored somewhat
the growth of what was evil. It Is emi-
nently necessary that we should endeavor
to cut out this evil, but let us keep a due
sense of proportion; let us not In fixing
ways be the prime economic need of this
country. This stability should not be fos-
■filiation. The country hss acquiesced
In the wisdom of the protective tariff
principle. It is exceedingly undesirable
that this system should be destroyed, or
that there should be violent, and radios 1
ual an attitude of sour hostility and dlsr
trust toward the other. lev people de-
serve better of the country than those rep-
resentatives both of capital and labor—
and there are many such—who work con-
tinually to bring about a good understand-
ing of this kind, based upon wisdom and
upon broad and kindly sympathy between
employers and employed. Above all, we
need to remember that any kind of class
animosity In the political world Is, if pos-
sible, even more wicked, even more de-
structive to national welfare, than sec-
tional, race or religious animosity. We
can get good government only upon condi-
tion that we keep true to the principles
tlons or terms upon which auch corpora'
tion would undertake to lay and operate
a cable was volunteered.
Inasmuch as the congress was shortly to
convene and Pacific cable legislation had
been the subject of consideration by the
congress for several years. It seemed to
me wise to defer action upon the applica-
tion until the congress had first an oppor-
tunity to act The oongraa* adjourned
without taking any action, leaving the
matter In exactly the same condition tn
which It stood when the congress con-
vened.
MsaqwhUe It appears that the Commer-
cial Pacific Cable company had promptly
proceeded with preparations for laying Its
cable. It also made application to the
president for access to and use ef sound-
ings token by the United States steamship
Nero for the purpose of discovering a
itlcable route for a transpacific cable,
company urging that with access to
these soundings it could complete Its cable
much sooner than if it were required to
take soundings upon Its own account.
Pending consideration of this subject It
appeared important and desirable to at-
tach oertaln conditions to the permission
to examine and use the soundings if it
should be granted.
In oonsequence of this solicitation of the
cable company certain conditions were
formulated, upon which the president was
willing to allow access to these sound-
pract:
the c
ingi and to coi
laying of the cal
tlons or additions
under fitful tariff changes at shoi
vals. Moreover, If the tariff lawa aa a
whole wdrR well and if business has pros-
Dl---J---J--**---C---* *--------*--U *“
D'
ered under theih and Is prospering. It la
tetter to endure for a time slight Incon-
veniences and Inequalities In some sched-
ules than to upset business by too quick
and too radical changes. It Is most ear-
nestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely of
our business needs. It Is, perhaps, too
much to hope that partisanship may bo
entirely excluded from consideration of
the subject, but at least It c»n be mado
upon which this nation was founded
judge each man not as a part o
upon his individual merits. All
we have a fight to ask of any man.
or poor, whatever his creed, his occupa-
tion. bis birthplace or his residence, is
that he shall act well and honorably by
his neighbor and by his country. We are
neither for the rich man aa such nor for
the poor man as such; we are for the up-
right man, rich or poor. So far as the
constitutional powers of the national gov-
ernment touch these matters of general
and vital moment to the nation, they
should be exercised In conformity with
the principles above set forth.
It Is earnestly hoped that a secretary of
commerce may be created, with a seat In
the cabinet. The rapid multiplication of
ina«nt to the landing and
ible, subject to any altera-
---------na thereto imposed by the
congress. Thla was deemed propar, espe-
cially as it was clear that a cable con-
nection of eome kind with China, a for-
eign country, was e part of the company's
plan. This course was, moreover, in ac-
cordance with a line of precedents, includ-
ing President Grant’s action In the case
of the first French cable, explained to the
congress In his annual message of De-
cember, 1876, and the Instance occurring
In 187* of the second French cable from
Brest to St. Pierre, with a branch to
Cape Cod.
These conditions prescribed, among oth-
er things, a maximum rate for commer-
cial messages and that the company
should construct a line from the Philip-
pine Islands to China, there being at pres-
ent, as is well known, a British line from
Manila to Hongkong.
The representatives of the cable comps
y kept these conditions long under con'
deration, continuing In the meantime to
the cable.
They have.
entirely excluded from consideration of
secondary to the business interest* of the
country—that Is, to the Interests of our
people as a whole. Unquestionably these
business interests will best be served If
together with fixity of principle as re-
gards the tariff we combine a system
which will permit us from time to time to
make the necessary reapplleatlon of the
principle to the shifting national needs.
We must take scrupulous care that the
reapplication shall be mads In such a way
that It will not amount to a dislocation of
our system, the mere threat of which, not
questions affecting labor and capital
iplexlty of the orgai
tlons through which both labor and cap!
our gaze upon the lesser evil forget the to speak of the performance, would pro-
greater good. The evi'S are leal, and buc< paralysis In the business energies
some of then art menacing, but they are of the community. The first cons dera-
the outgrowth not of nilEery or decadence. | tion in making these changes would, of
but of prosp erity, of the progress of our I course, be to preserve the principle which cone;
gigantic industrial development. This in- . underlies our whole tariff system—thnt is, with
dustrlal development must not be checked, the principle of putting American bust- creas
but side by side with It should go such ! ness interests at least on a full equality
progressive regulation as will diminish | with interests abroad and of always al-
the evils. We should fail in our duty If lowing a sufficient rate of duty to more
we did not try to remedy the evils, but we
shall succeed only if we proceed patient-
ly, with practical common sense as well
as resolution, separating the good from
the bad and holding on to the former
while endeavoring to get rid of the latter.
In my message to the present congress
•t its first session I discussed at length
the question of the regulation of those
big corporations commonly doing an in-
terstate business', often with some tenden-
cy to monopoly, which are popularly
known as trusts. Tho experience of the
past year has emphasized, In my opinion,
the desirability of the steps I then pro- .
posed. A fundamental requisite of social ! other hand to secure In practical Rhape
efficiency Is a high standard of Individual j the lowering of duties when they are no
energy and excellence, but this is In no- I longer needed for protection among our
wise inconsistent with power to act tn own people or when the minimum of dam-
- - - 1 *“ done m
than cover the difference between the
labor cost here and abroad. The well be-
ing of the wageworker, like the well be-
ta! now find expression, the steady tend-
ency toward the employment of capital In
huge corporations and the wonderful
strides of tins country toward leadership
In the International business world justify
an urgent demand for the creation of
such a position. Substantially all the
lending commercial bodies in this country
have united In requesting Its creation. It
la deslrablo that some such measure ns
that which has already passed the senate
be enacted into law. The creation of such
a department would In Itself be an ad-
vance toward dealing with and exercising
supervision over the whole subject of the
great corporations doing an Interstate
business, and with this end In view the
rcss should endow the department
large powers, which could be In-
creased as experience might show the
need
I hope soon to submit to the senate a
reciprocity treaty with Cuba. On May 20
last the united States kept Its promise to
the Island by formally vacating Cuban soil
ng of the wageworker like the we I De- j nnd turning Cuba over to those whom her
treated 'asf an ^ssinthU* iri° shupbig^our own people had chosen as the first officials
whole economic POMcy. 7J!le,re mu»t never Cuba lies at^our doors, and whatever at-
be any change which will Jeopardize tho , fect3 her for good or for 111 affects us also,
standard of comfort, the standard of , g„ much have our people felt this that In
wages, of the American wageworker. the Platt amendment we definitely took
One way In which the readjustment the ground that Cuba must hereafter have
sought can be reached Is by reciprocity 1 .....
treaties. It Is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. They ern
be used to widen our markets and to give
a greater field for the activities of our
producers on the one hand, and on the
combination for aims which cannot so
well be achieved by the individual acting
alone. A fundamental base of civilization
Is the Inviolability of property; but this la
. in nowise Inconsistent with the right of
society to regulate the exercise of the
artificial powers which It confers upon the
owners of property under the name of cor-
porate franchises in such a way as to
prevent the misuse of these powers. Cor-
porations. and especially combinations of
corporations, should be managed under
public regulation. Experience has shown
that under our system of government fhe
necessary supervision cannot be obtained
by state action. It must therefore be
achieved by national action. Our aim is
not to do away with corporations. On the
contrary, these big aggregations are an
Inevitable development of modern Indus-
trialism. and the effort to destroy them
would be futile unless accomplished In
ways that would work the utmost mis-
chief to the entire body politic. We can
do nothing of good in the way of regulat-
ing and supervising these corporations
until we fix clearly In our minds that we
are not attacking the corporations, but
endeavoring to do away with any evil In
them. We are not hostile to them. We
are merely determined that they shall be
so handled as to subserve the public good.
We draw the line against misconduct, not
against wealth. The capitalist who, alone
or In conjunction with his fellows, per-
forms some great industrial feat by which
he wins money Is a welldoer, not a wrong-
doer, provided only he works In proper
and legitimate lines. We wlah to favor
auch a man when he does well. We wish
ttf supervise and control his actions only
to prevent him from doing 111. Publicity
can do 90 harm to the honest corporation,
and we need not be overtender about
•paring the dishonest corporation.
In curbing and regulating the combina-
tions of Capital which are or may become
Injurious to the public we must be care-
ful not to stop the great enterprises which
have legitimately reduced the cost of pro-
duction, not to abandon the place which
our country has won In the leadership of
the International Industrial world, not to
•trike down wealth with the result of
closing factories and mines, of turning
the wageworker idle In the streets and
leaving the farmer without a market for
what he grows. Insistence upon the Im-
possible means delay in achieving the pos-
sible exactly as, on the other hand, the
stubborn defense alike of what Is good
and what Is bad In the existing system,
the resolute effort to obstruct any at-
tempt at betterment, betrays blindness to
the historic truth that wise evolution, la
the sure safeguard against revolution.
No more Important subject can come
• before the congress than this of the regu-
lation of Interstate bu»ln«< '•'*•*-*— -
Y- - -.—■ „ tu out BUpme on tne pi’ea
that under our peculiar system of govern-
ment we are helpless In the presence of
the new conditions and unable to grapple
with them or to cut out Whatever of evil
has arisen In connection with them. The
power of the congress to regulate Inter-
State commerce la an absolute and un*
qualified grant and without limitations
other than those prescribed by the consti-
tution. The congress has constitutional
authority to make all laws necessary and
closer political relations with us than with
any other power. Thus In a sense Cuba
has become a part of our International
political system. This makes it necessary
that In return she should be given some of
the benefits of becoming part of our eco-
nomic system. It Is, from our own stand-
point. a shortsighted and mischievous pol-
icy to fall to recognize this need. More-
over. It Is unworthy of a mighty and gen-
erous nation, Itself the greatest and most
____ may be disregarded for the sake
?r if,!!!!>x;I'l’.gT.,IhL ?^°rodf'J0»hS1nend' i successful republic In hiitory. to refuse to
?£ J1 Jm Vi, hf nn 1 stretch out a helping hand to a young and
ing treaties and ir there Bcem to be no w runuftifn ~nt«rinir mum
warren, for the endeavor to execute Oth- JSJXE&jSS We .houldVu
for executing this power, and I am
d that this power has not been ex-
by any legislation now on the
books. It Is evident, therefore.
1 po\._______ _____
legislation now on the
[t Is evident, therefore.
; evils restrictive of commercial free-
1 and gntelltnff restraint upon national
merce tell within the regulative pow-
and tha'
wise and
warrant for the endeavor to execute oth
ers or to amend the pending treaties so
that they can be ratified, then the same
end—to secure reciprocity—should be met
by direct legislation.
Wherever the turlff conditions are Buch
that a needed change cannot with advan-
tage be made by the application of the
reciprocity Idea, then It can be made out-
right by a lowering of duties on a given
product. If possible, such change should
be made only after the fullest considera-
tion by practical experts, who should ap-
proach the Bubject from a business stand-
point. having in view both the particular
Interests affected and the commercial well
being of the people as a whole. The ma-
chinery for providing such careful Inves-
tigation can readily be' supplied. The ex
ecutlve department has already at Its
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures, and If the congress desires addi-
tional consideration to that which will be
given the subject by its own committees,
then a commission of business experts can
be appointed whose duty It should be to
recommend action by the congress after
a deliberate and scientific examination of
the various schedules as they are affected
by the changed and changing conditions.
The unhurried and unbiased report of thla
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules
and how ter these changes could go with-
out also changing the great prosperity
which this country is now enjoying or
upsetting its fixed economic policy.
The cases In which the tariff can pro-
ty
option of reci-
because It Is
duos a monopoly are so few aa to consti-
tute an Inconsiderable factor In the ques-
tion; but, of course, if In any case It be
found that & given rate of duty does pro-
mote a monopoly which works til, no pro-
tectionist would object to such reduction
of the duty as would equalise competition.
In my Judgment, the tariff on anthracite
coal snould be removed and anthracite
put actually, where it now Is nominally,
on the free list. This would have no effect
at all save In crises; but In crises it might
be of service to the people.
Interest rates .are a potent factor In
business activity, and in order that these
rates may be equalised to meet the vary-
ing needs of the seasons and of widely
separated communities, and to prevent the
recurrence of financial stringencies which
Injuriously affect legitimate business, it
Is necessary that there should be an ele-
ment of elasticity In our monetary sys-
tem. Banks are the natural servants of
commerce, and upon them should be
placed, as ter as practicable the burden
of furnishing and maintaining a circula-
tion adequate to supply the needs of our
diversified industries and of our domestic
and foreign commerce, and the issue of
this should be so regulated that a suffi-
cient supply should be always available
for the business Interests of the country.
It would be both unwise and unneces-
sary at this time to attempt to recon-
struct our financial system, which has
been the growth of a century, but some
additional legislation Is, I think, desirable.
The mere outline of any plan sufficiently
comprehensive to meet these requirements
would transgress the appropriate limits
‘ ------ It Is eug
of this communication.
suggested.
however, that ell future legislation on the
subject should be with tne view of en-
couraging the use of such Instrumentali-
ties as will automatically supply every
legitimate demand of productive Indus-
tries and of commerce, not only In the
but In the character of clrcula-
all kinds of money
wi
gold standa
I
VS if. Zuss
don to the need
vatlon law. cov-
ways fearlessly frislst up >n our rights In
the face of the strong, and we should with
ungrudging luyul do our generous dut;
by the weak. I urge the ado;
procity with Cuba not only
emlnently for our own Interests to control
the Cuban market and by every means to
foster our supremacy In the tropical lands
and waters south of us, but also because
we of the giant republic of the north
should make all our sister nations of tho
American continent feel that whenever
they will permit it we deaire to Show our-
selves disinterestedly and effectively their
friend.
A convention with Great Britain has
been concluded, which will be at once laid
before the senate for ratification, provid-
ing for reciprocal trade arrangements be-
tween the United States and Newfound-
land on substantially the lines of the con-
vention formerly negotiated by the secre-
tary of stato, Mr. BTaine. I believe recip-
rocal trade relatione will be greatly to the
advantage of both countries.
As civilisation grows warfare becomes
less and less the normal condition of for-
eign relations. The last century has
seen a marked diminution of wars be-
tween civilised powers. Wars with un-
civilised powers are largely mere matters
of International police duty, essential for
the welfare of the world. Wherever pos-
sible arbitration or some similar method
should be employed In lieu of war to settle
difficulties between civilised nations, al-
though as yet the world has not pro-
gressed sufficiently to render It possible
or necessarily desirable to invoke arbitra-
tion In every case. The formation of the
International tribunal which alto at The
Hague Is an event of good omen from
which great consequenoes for the welfare
of all mankind may flow. It Is far better
where possible to invoke such a perma-
nent tribunal than to create special arbi-
other orientals by any foreign power and
greater than that enjoyed Dy any other
trators for a given purpose.
It Is a matter of sincere coni
It Is a matter of sincere congratulation
to our country that the United states end
Mexico should have been the first to use
_________aatts-
>rv results in the cflas of a claim at
Issue between us and our slater republic.
to be hoped that this first
factor
the good offices of The Hague court. This
was done last summer with moat
‘ ' iry results ‘ “ ~ -* 1
between 1
■Mi earnestly ■■■■. ■■■■■■■■■
case will serve as a precedent for others,
tn which not only the United States but
foreign nations may take advantage of
the machinery already in existence at
Tti« Htfui.
I commend to the favorable considera-
tion of the congress the Hawaiian fire
claims, which were the subject of careful
investigation during the last session.
The congress -has wisely provided that
we shall build at once an Isthmian canal,
If possible at Panama. The attorney gen-
eral reports that we can undoubtedly ac-
quire good title from the FYench Panama
canal company. Negotiations are now
pending with Colombia to secure her as-
sent to our building the canal. This canal
will be one of the greatest engineering
feats of the twentieth century, a greater
engineering feat than has yet been ac-
complished during the history of mankind.
The work should be carried out as a con-
tinuing policy without regard to change
of administration, and It should be begun
under circumstances which will make It
a matter of pride for all administrations
to continue the policy.
The canal will be of great benefit to
America and of importance to all the
world. It will be of advantage to us In-
dustrially and alao as hsproving our mil-
itary position. It will be of afvsnt
tha countries of tropical America,
earnestly to be hoped that all of these
countries will do as some of them have
— ive their material oondli
that
;0 continue tne policy.
The canal will be ef grsat benefit
ntago to
a. It to
will
JR >m-
"’.jraE
mmm
jLjli ‘t
... .v
■
ny kept these conditions long under con-
sld
prepare ror laying ...» . ,.v,
however, at length acceded to them, and
an all American line between our Pacific
coast and the Chinese umpire by way of
Honolulu and the Philippine Islands Is
thus provided for and la expected within
a few months to be ready for business.
Among the conditions Is one reserving
the power of the congress to modify or re-
peal any or all of them. A copy of the
conditions Is herewith transmitted.
Of Porto Itlco It is only necessary to say
that the prosperity of the Island and the
wisdom with which it has been governed
have been such as to make It serve as an
example of all that la best In Insular ad-
ministration.
On July 4 last, on the one hundred and
twenty-sixth anniversary of the declara-
tion of our Independence, peace and am-
nesty were promulgated In the Philippine
Islands. Some trouble has since from
time to time threatened with the Moham-
medan Mores, but with the late Insurrec-
tionary Filipinos the war haB entirely
ceased. Civil government has now be'-n
Introduced, tfjt only does each Filipino
enjoy such rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness as he has never be-
fore known during the recorded history of
the Islunds, but the people, taken as a
whole, now enjoy a measure of self gov-
ernment greater than that granted to any
-
orientals under their own governments
save the Japanese alone. We have not
gone too far In granting these rights of
liberty and self government, but we have
certainly gone to the limit that In the In-
terests of the Philippine people themselves
it was wise or Just to go. To hurry rnnt-
ters, to go faster than we are now going,
would entail calamity on the people of
the islands. No policy ever entered Into
by tho American people has vindicated It-
self In more s.gnal manner than the poli-
cy of holding the Philippines. The tri-
umph of our arms, above all the triumph
of our laws and principles, has come soon-
er than we had any right to expect. Too
much praise cannot be given to tho army
for what It has done In the Philippines,
both In warfare and from nn administra-
tive standpoint, In preparing the way for
civil government, and similar credit be-
longs to the civil authorities for the way
In which they have planted the seeds of
self government In the ground thus made
ready for them. The courage, the un-
flinching en ranee, the high soldierly effi-
ciency nnd the gonernl kind heartedness
and humanltv of our troops have bean
strikingly manifested. There now remain
only some 16,000 troops In the Islands. All
told, over 100.000 have been sent there. Of
course there have been Individual In-
stances of wrongdoing among them. They
warred under fearful difficulties of cli-
mate and surroundings, and under the
strain of the terrible provocations which
they continually received from their foes
occasional instances of cruel retaliation
occurred. Every effort has been made to
prevent such cruelties, and finally these
efforts have been completely successful.
Every effort has also been made to de-
tect and punish the wrongdoers. After
making all allowance for these misdeeds
It remains true that few. Indeed have been
the Instances In which war has been
waged by a civilized power against seml-
clvillzed or barbarous forces where there
ha# been so little wrongdoing by the vic-
tors as In the Philippine islands. On the
other hand, the amount of difficult. Impor-
tant and beneficent work which has been
done Is well nigh Incalculable.
Taking the work of the army and the
civil authorities together, it may be ques-
tioned whether anywhere else in modern
secretary of war to keep cavalry and ar-
tillery horses warn out In ion* perform-
ance of duty. Such horses fetch but a
trifle when sold, and rather than turn
them out to the misery awaiting them
when thus disposed of it would be better
to employ them at light work around the
posts and when necessary to put them
painlessly to death.
For ths first time tn our history naval
maneuvers on a large scale are being held
under ths Immediate command of the ad-
miral of the navy. Constantly increasing
attention is being paid to the gunnery of
ths navy, but It Is yet ter from what It
should be. 1 earnestly urge that the In-
crease asked for by the secretary of the
navy in the appropriation for Improving
the marksmanship be granted. In battle
the only shots that count are the shots
that hit. It Is necessary to provide ample
funds for practice with the »reat guns In
time of peace. These funds must provide
not only for the purchase of projectiles,
but for allowances for prises to'encour-
»ge the gun crews, and especially the gun
pointers, and for perfecting an intelligent
system under which alone Tt is possible to
get good practice.
There should be no halt In ths work of
building up the navy, providing every
additional fighting craft. We
tors I commend them to the
knowledge ef the subject I recommend that prtr
vision be made for a commiaaioa of experts spe>
etally to investigate and report upon U* couv
plicated queetione Involved.
1 eepectelly urge upon the congress the need of
Wise legislation lor Alaska, it to not to «•*
credit aa a nation that Alaska, which haa bees
oura for thirty-flve yeara, should still have as poo«
s system of lawa aa Is the cate. No country has
S more valuable pcercaeion in mineral wealth, la
fisheries, tun lor. ■ and also in land available
tor oertaln kino. larming and stock growing.
It la a territory of great size and variad re*
sources, well fitted to support a large permanent
population. Alston needs a good land law and
.da and pre-emptions
settlement. Wg
----view not to the
exploiting and abandoning of the territory, bat
to the building up of homn therein. Die land
laws ihould be liberal in type, ao as to hold out
inducement! to the actual aattler whom wt most
deair* to we take possession «f the country. The
forests of Alaska should be protected, and, aa s
such provirlona for homesteads a
aa will encourage permanent 1
should ihape legislation with a
year
very rich country
are 1
------y, vast In extent of terri-
tory and great In population, a country,
moreover, which has an army diminutive
indeed when compared with that of any
other first class po\wer. We have deliber-
ately made our own certain foreign poli-
cies which demand the possession of a
first class navy. Ths Isthmian canal will
greatly increase the efficiency of our navy
if ths navy is of sufficient alse. but It we
have an Inadc
the cardinal feature of American foreign
policy, bi»t it would be worse than Idle
to assert It unless wo Intended to back It
up, aqd It can be backed up only by a
thoroughly good navy. A^good navy Is
not a provocative of war.
ths surest
guaranty of peace.
Each Individual unit of our navy should
be the most efficient of Its kind as* regards
1 that
Wi- m _i SrtHMP
attention to the need of providing for the
both mati
found
atejria
In the
on to I
1 and personnel that SThTbe
e world. I call your special
times the world has seen a better exam-
ple of real constructive statesmanship
than our peoplo have given In the Philip-
pine Islands. High praise should also be
given those Filipinos — In the aggregate
very numeroue-who have accepted the
new conditions and Joined with our repre-
sentatives to work with hearty good will
for the welfare of the Islands.
The army has been reduced to the mini-
mum allowed by law. It is very small for
the size of the nation and most certainly
should be kept at the highest point of effi-
ciency. The senior officers are given scant
chance under ordinary conditions to ex-
ercise commands commensurate with their
rank under circumstances which would fit
them to do their duty In time of actual
war. A system of maneuvering our army
in bodies of some little else has been Be-
gun and should be steadily continued.
Without such maneuvers It is folly to ex-
pect that In the event of hostilities with
any serious foe even a small army corps
could he handled to advantage. Both our
officers and enlisted men are such that
we can take hearty pride In them. No
better material can be found. But the
must be thoroughly trained, both as indi-
viduals and in the mass. Ths marksman-
ship of the men must receive special at-
tention. In the circumstances of modern
warfare the man must act far more on
hla own Individual reaponsiblllty than
ever before, and the high Individual effi-
ciency of the unit Is of the utmost im-
portance. Formerly this unit was the
regiment. It is now not the regiment, not
even the troop or company; it is the indi-
vidual soldier. Every effort must be mads
to develop every workmanlike and sol-
dierly quality in both the officer and the
enlisted man.
I urgently call your attention to ths
need of passing a bill providing for a gen-
eral staff amf for the reorganisation of
the supply departments on ths lines of the
bill proposed by tbs secretory of war last
stand above their compeers tn any other
military service. Every effort should be
made by training, by reward of merit, by
scrutiny Into their careers and capacity,
to keep them of the same high relative
excellence throughout their careers.
The measure providing for tbs reorgan-
isation of the militia syetem and for Bl-
earing the higheet efficiency in the nation-
al guard, w’llch ha* already pae-sed the
house, 'Should receive prompt attention
and action. It is of great Importance that
mannlng of ths ships. Serious trouble
threatens us if we cannot do better then
ws ere now doing as regards securing the
services of a sufficient number of the high-
est type of sallormen, of sea mechanics.
The veteran seamen of our warships are
of as high- a type aa can be found In any
navy which rides ths water* of ths world.
They are unsurpassed In daring. In reso-
lution. tn readiness. In thorough knowl-
edge of their profession. They deserve ev-
ery consideration that can be shown them.
But there are not enough of them. It is
no more possible to improvise a crew than
It la possible to Improvise a warship To
build the finest ship, with the deadliest
battery, and to send It afloat with a raw
crew, no mrtter how brave they were In-
dividually, would be to Insure disaster If a
foe of average capaslty were encountered.
Neither ships nor men can be Improvised
when war has begun.
We noed a thousand additional officers
In order to properly man the ships now
provided for and under construction. The
classes at the naval school at Annapolis
should be greatly enlarged. At the same
time that we thus add the officers where
we need them, wo should facilitate the re-
tirement of those at the head of the list
whose usefulness has become impaired.
Promotion must be fostered If tho service
is to be kept efficient.
The lamentable scarcity of officers and
the large number of recruits nnd of un-
skilled men necessarily put aboard the
new vessels as they have been commis-
sioned has thrown upon our officers, and
especially on ,the lieutenants nnd Junior
grades, unusual labor and fatigue and hog
gravely struined their powers of endur-
ance. Nor Is there sign of any Immediate
letup In thlB strain. It must continue for
some time longer until more officers are
graduated from Annapolis nnd until the
recruits become trained and skillful In
their duties. In these difficulties Incident
upon the development of our war fleet tha
conduct of all our officers has been cred-
itable to the service, nnd the lieutenants
and Junior grades In particular have dis-
played nn ability and a steadfast cheer-
fulness which entitle them tn the ungrudging
thanks of nil who realize the disheartening trials
and fatigues to which thoy arc of necessity sub-
jected.
There is not a cloud on the horizon at present.
There seems not the slightest chance of truubla
with a foreign power. We most earnestly hope
that this state of things may continue, and the
way to Insure its continuance Is to provide for a
thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal to main-
tain auch a navy would invite trouble, and If
trouble came would lnoure disaster. Fatuous loll
complacency or vanity or ahortsightednesa in re-
fusing to procure lor danger Is both foolisli and
wicked In such a nation aa ours, and past experi-
ence has shown that such fatuity in refusing to
recognize or prepare for any crisis in advance la
usually succeeded by a mod panic of hysterical
fear once the crisis has actually arrived.
The striking increase in the revenues of the
postotflee denari men t shows clearly the prosperity
of our people and the increasing activity of the
biisinesa of the country.
The recelpta ol the postofllee department for
the fiscal year ending June Hu last amounted to
im,*48,047.20, an lncreaas of 110,210,863.87 over
the preceding year, the largest increase known in
the history of the postal aervlce. The magnitude
of thla Increase will heat appear from the fact
that the entire postal reeelpta tor tbe year 1800
amounted to but *8,618.007.
Itural free delivery service la no longer in the
azperiinrntal stage. It baa become a fixed pulley.
The results following Its introduction have fully
Justified the congress tn the large appropriations
made lor its establishment and extension. The
average yearly increase In postoffles receipts In
the rural districts of the country is about 2 per
cent. Wo are now able, by actual retulta, to
show that where rural frse delivery eervlce has
been established to such an extent aa to enable
us to make comparisons the yeerly increaee lias
been upward of 10 per cent.
• On Nov. 1, 1802, 11,060 rural free delivery
routes had tieeu established and were In operation,
covering about one-third ol the territory ol the
United States available for rural free delivery
service. There are now swelling the action of
the department petitions and applications for the
establishment of 10,748 additional routes. This
shows conclusively (he want which the establish-
ment of the service has met and the need of fur-
ther extending it is rapidly aa possible, it Is
Justified both by the financial results end by tbe
practical benefits to our rural population; U
brings the men who live on the soli Into close
relatione with the active business world; it keeps
the farmer in dally touch wltH the markets; it Is
a potential educational force: it enhances the
value of farm property, makes farm Ufa far
pleasanter and leaa isolated, and will do much to
check the undesirable current from country to
city.
It ia to be hoped that the congress will make
liberal appropriations for the continuance of tbe
eervlce already established and for Ita further ex-
tension.
Few subjects of more Importance leave been
taken up by the congreee in recent year* than
the Inauguration of tha system of nationally aided
Irrigation for the arid regions of the far west.
A good beginning therein has been made. Now
that this policy of national Irrigation has been
' the need of thorough end scientific forest
will grow more rapidly than ever
the public land states.
lion should be provided foe tbe protec-
game and the wild creatures gener-
on the forest reserves. The senseless suugh-
tion of the
ally on the ______ _________ ..■■■■■Pi-
ter ol game, which can by Judicious protsetion be
permanently pieeerved on our national reserves
for the people as a whole, should be stopped at
race. It 1*. for instance, a serious count against
our national good as use to permit the present
practice of butchering off such a stately and
beautiful creature as the elk for Ita ontlera or
secondary but still important matter, the game
also, and at the mow lime It Is Imperative that
the pettier* should be allowed to cut timber, un-
der proper regulations, for their own use, Law*
should be enacted to protect tbe Alaskan salmon
fisheries against toe greed which would destroy
them. They should be preserved as a permanent
industry and food supply. Their management
nnd control ihould be turned over to the cocumia-
■ion of fish and fisheries. Alaska should have a
delegate in the congreea. It would be well if a
congressional committee could visit Alaska tad
investigate Its needs on tbe ground.
In deellng with the Indians our aim should ha
their ultimate absorption into the body 01 out
people, but la many caste this absorption must
and should be vary alow, in portions of toe In-
dian Territory the mixture of blood has gone on
at the same time with progress in wet tb end
education. 10 that there are plenty ol men with
varying degrees 01 purity of Indian blood Who
an aheolutaly indistinguishable in point of social,
political and economic ability irosn their whit#
associate*. Then are other tribes which have ad
yet made ao perceptible advance toward aqab
equality. Tb try to force such tribes too fast U
to prevent their going forward at all. Moreover,
the tribes live under widely different conditions.
When a tribe has made considerable advance sad
lives on fertile farming soil It la possible to allot
the members lands In severalty much is is toe
ease With white settler*. There are other tribes
where euch a course la not desirable. On tha
arid pralria lande tb* effort should be to taduoe
the Indisns to Iced pastoral rather than agricul-
tural live* and to permit them to settle ill vil-
lages rather than to force them Into taotatioa.
The large Indian schools situated remote from
any Indian reservation do a special and peculiar
work of grsat Importance; but, excellent though
these are, aa Immense amount of additional work
must be done on the reservations themselves
among ths old, and, above all, among the young
Indiana
The first and most Important step toward tha
absorption of the Indian Is lo teach him to earn
his living, ysl It la not neceemrily to be assumed
that In each community all Imllane must become
cither tillers of the soil or stock raisers. Their
industries may properly be diversified, and those
who show special dretre or silaptshi.ity for indus-
trial or e'en commercial purvulU sUv t.J he en-
couraged so far is practicable to follow out each
hla own bent.
Every effort should be made lo develop the In-
dian along the lines of natural nplltune and to
encourage the cxlating native Industrie* p-cu.iar
to certain trllica, such aa the various kind* of
basket weaving, canoe building, smith work and
blanket work. Above all, ths Indian boys and
girls should be given roiifldt M command of col-
loquial English and should ordinarily he prepared
for a vigorous struggle with the conditions under
which tlu-lr people live rather tha.t lor imr.udl-
■tc absorption Into some more highly developed
community.
The officials who represent the government in
dealing with the Indians v.-ork under hard condi-
tion* and also under conditions width render it
easy to do w,ong and vety dltficu.l to detect
wrong. Consequently they vliould be imply paid
on the one hand, and on the other hand a par-
ticularly high standard of conduct sIkiuu! t>e de-
manded from them, end where nusrr.ndtvt cen be
proved the punishment should be t-xctnp.ary.
In no depar ment of governmental work In re-
cent years has there been greater eueeesa than
In that ol ghing sclrntlffc aid to the fanning
population, thereby showing them how meet effi-
ciently to help themselves. There 1* no need ol
Insisting upon ita importance, lor the welfare oi
the farmer la fundamentally necessary to tha
welfare of the republic as a whole. In addition
to such work as quarantine against animal and
vegetable plague*, and warring against them when
here introduced, much efficient help ha* been ren-
dered to the farmer by the introduce!™ of new
plants specially fitted tor cultivation under the
peculiar condition* existing In different portions
of the country. New cereals have Iwn established
In the scmlarid west. For instance, the practi-
cability ol producing the best types of macaroni
wheats in regions ol an annual rainfall of billy
ten Inches or thereabout has lieeti conclusively
demonstrated. Through the Introduction of new
rices In boulslana and Texas the production of
rice In this country has been made to about equal
the home demand. In the southwest the possibil-
ity of regressing overstocked ran. lands has been
demonstrated; in the north many new forage
crops have been introduced, while In the east 11
hss been shown that some ol our choicest fruits
can tie stored and shipped in such a way as to
find a profitable market abroad.
1 again recommend to the favorable considera-
tion of the congress the plans of the Smithsonian
Institution I or making the museum umler ill
charge worthy of the nation and fur preserving
at the national capital not only rrcorla of tha
vanishing rare* of men, hut of the animal* of this
continent which, like the buffalo, will soon be-
come extinct unless specimens from which theis
representative* may he renewed are sought tn
their native regions and maintained there in
safety.
The District of Columbia is tbe only part oi
our territory in whfch the national government
exercises local or municipal functions and where
In consequence the government ha* a free hand
In reference to certain type* of social and eco-
nomic legislation which must be essentially local
or municipal In their character. Tbe government
should see to It, for Instance, that the hygienle
and sanitary legislation affecting Washington Is
of a high character. The evils of alum dwelling*,
whether in the shape of crowded and congested
shape
tenement bouse districts or
congest*
the back alley
ripe, should never be permitted to grow up in
Washington. Tbe city should be a model In every
charitable end correctional erst
trtet should receive eoneiderttioi
the congreve to the end that t
value, and the congress could with advantage cut
down very materially <
It has now become customary to pro
m
m
/J!
- *
M
respect for ell the cities of the country. Tb*
rstfjns of the 0U-
Ion at the hands ol
igret* to the end that they may embody
the results of the moet advanced thought In these
fields. Moreover, while Washington is not a great
industrial city, there 1* some industrialism ben,
end our lalior legislation, while It would not be
important In Iteel' might be made a model tot
the rest ol the n.,..on. W* should pas# tor la-
stance, a wise employer's liability set for tb* Bis*
trlct of Columbia, and we need auch an act la
our navy yards. Railroad coffipsnteo In the Dis-
trict ought to be required by law to block thell
frogs.
The safety appliance law, for tha better pro-
tection of the lives end limb* of railway eat- .
ployera, which woe passed in IMfi, wool Into full
effect on Aug. 1, 1V01. It has requited in avert-
ing thousands of casualties. Experience shows,
however, the necessity of additional IsgiaUtloa
to perfect this law. A bill to provide for this
passed the senate at the last session. It 1* to be
hoped that some such measure may now be en-
acted into law.
There 1* a growing tendency to provide for tho
publication of masse* of documents for which ’
there 1* no public demand and for tb* printing of
which there is no reel necessity. Large number*
of volumes are turned out by the government -
printing praters for which there 1* no Juatlflcetioa.
Nothing should be printed by any of the depart-
ment* unless It contain* something of permanent
1 could with advantage cut
on all tbe printing Which
to provide. Tht
80 far as they are available (or agriculture and
to whatever extent they may be-reclaimed under
the national Irrigation low, the remaining public
lands should be held rigidly for tb* homebuilder,
the settler who live* on bU lead, end for no one
else. In their actual ass the desert land law.
the timber and atone law end the commutation
cl*nee of toe homestead law have been to per-
verted from the Intention with which thmr were
enacted ts to permit the acquisition of large
areas of the public domain for other than actual
settlers end the consequent prevention of settle-
ment. Moreover, the approaching exhaustion of
the public range* hat of late lea to much dt*-
eueeion es to the beet manner of using tbe** pub-
lic Unde In the weat which are suitable chiefly or
only for grazing. Tbe sound end etcedy develop-
weat depend* upon the building up
Much
- - '>Part"'®nt* °b tne „ home* therein. Much of our prosperity aa a
if_tc^,f^>*ifficMwf«rurr lth! “tion baa been due to th* operetionXth# bome-
anny tr%°
__ _ Every effort .
made by training, by reward of merit, by
' 'r career* and
who corresponds to tha homesteader may be un-
able to settle permanently tt only allowed to u**
the asm* amount of pasture land that hi* brother,
the homesteader. Is allowed to two of arablo land.
One hundred and Maty acre* of fairly rich sad
well watered Ml or • much smaller amount of
Irrigated bud mey keep a family in plenty, whora-
aa no on* could get a living from lflO acraa ol
dry pasture land capahla of
outside only one heed of cattle
sj“vjr,^-w“, *
K from 1*0 *cr«» of
r support in? tt the
•JI'SSJTSS
00* having no title
excessive cost of government printing is 1 _
argument against tho position of those who arc .
Inclined on atwtract ground* to advocate the gov- 6
ernment'a doing any work which can with paw-
prtety It* left in 'private band*.
Gratifying progress boa bea^mte during the
veer in the extension of the «ffiHny*tem of mak-
ing appointment* In the government service. It
should be extended by lew to tb* District of Co-
lumbia. It la much to be desired that our con-
sular system be established by law ‘ “
providing for appointment and prwnot
consequence of proved fit nee*.
Torough a wise provialoh of tha Oongvaas at It*
last session Ibc White House, which bod become
J 't
m
utmost cart
r as powlble to the early plana and to 1
these i' '
ngs av I
........ was bu... ,, --------
Is the property of the nation,
compatible with living therein I
as it orlgiffhlly was, for the a
we keep Mount Vernon aa It
stately simplicity of It* “
h wa* b
it was
which keep ali
nation'* pint.
Imp
w •-> ■■■ •
3tL
ill®
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The Orange Daily Tribune. (Orange, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 224, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 2, 1902, newspaper, December 2, 1902; Orange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth644288/m1/3/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lamar State College – Orange.