PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Text of Paper Delivered to
58th Congress.
CAUTIONS AGAINST EXTRAVAGANCE
Irrigation. Forests, Public Lands, Alaska
and Our Island Possessions Re-
ceive Due Consideration.
f
S
from the soil, will bs easily and rapidly ac
cessible.
Second— The reserves themselves, being
handled from the point of view of the man
In the field. Instead of the man In the office,
will bs more easily and more widely useful
to the people of the W est than has been the
case hitherto.
Third— W ithin a comparatively short time
the reserves will become self-supporting This
1* Important, because continually and rapid
ly Increasing appropriations w ill be neces
sary for the proper care of this exceedingly
Important Interest of the Nation, and they
can and should be offset by returns from the
National forests.
Under similar circum
stances the forest possessions of other great
nations form an important source of revenue
to their governments.
Every administrative officer concerned is
convinced of the necessity for the proposed
consolidation of forest work in the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and I myself have urged
It more than once in former messages. Again
I commend it to the early and favorable con
sideration of the Congress. The Interests of
the Nation at large and of the W est In pa r
ticular have suffered greatly because of the
delay.
I call the attention of the Cong res« again
to the report and recommendation of the Com
mission on the Public
Public Lands.
Lands, forwarded by
me to the second ses
sion of the present congress. The Commission
has prosecuted its Investigations actively dur
ing the past Beason, and a second report is
now in an advanced stage of preparation.
The progress of the Indians toward civiliza
tion, though not rapid, 1« perhaps all that
could be hoped for, In view of the circum
stances.
Within the past year many trioea
have shown, In a degree greater than ever
before, an appreciation
Indians.
of
the
necessity
of
work. This changed at
titude Is In part due to the policy recently
pursued of reducing the amount of subsist
ence to the Indians, and thus forcing them,
through sheer necessity, to work for a liveli
hood. The policy, th«>ugh severe, is a useful
one, but it is to be exercised only with judg
ment and with a full understanding of the
conditions which exist in each community f<»r
which it Is intended. On or near the Indian
reservations there Is usually very little de
mand for labor, and If the Indians die to
earn their living and when work cannot be
furnished from out«lde (which 1» always pref
erable) then It must be furnished by the Gov
ernment.
Practical Instruction of this kind
would In a few years result In the forming
of habits of regular Industry, which would
render the Indlun a producer and would c ff. t
a great reduction In the cost of his main
tenance.
In the Postoffice Department the service
has Increased In efficiency, and conditions
as to revenue and expenditure continue sat
isfactory.
The Inereuse of revenue during
the year was $9,358,181.10, or 0.9 per cent,
the total receipts amounting to $143,382.-
024.34. The expenditures were
$152,362,-
110.70, an increase of about 9 per cent over
the previous year, being thus $8,979,492.30
In excess of the current revenue. Included
In these expenditures was a total appropri
ation of $12,956,037.35 for the continuation
and extension of the rural free-dellv cry
service, which was an Increase of $4,902.-
237.35
over
the
amount
expended for
this purpose
in the
Postal Service.
preceding flrcal year.
Large as this expendi
ture has been the beneficent results attained
in extending the free distribution of mads
to the residents of rural districts have
justified the wisdom of the outlay. Statis
tics brought down to October 1, 1904. show
that on that date there were 27.138 rural
routes established, serving
approximately
12,000,000 of people In rural districts re
mote from postoffices, and that there were
pending at that time 3S59 petitions for the
establishment of new rural routes. Unques
tionably some part of the general Increase in
receipts Is due to the Increased postal f a
cilities which the rural service has afforded.
The revenues have also been aided greatly
by amendments in the classification of mail
matter, and the curtailment of abuses of
the second-class mailing privilege. The aver
age Increase In the volume of mall matter
for the period beginning with 1902 and end
ing June. 1905 (that portion for 1905 being
estimated). Is 40.47 ner cent, as compared
with 25.40 per cent for the period Immedi
ately preceding, and 15.92 for the four-year
period Immediately preceding that.
The growing importance of the Orient as a
field for American exxiorts drew from my
predecessor, President McKinley, an urgent
request for Its special
Oriental Markets,
consideration by the
Congress. In his mes
sage of 1898 he stated:
"In this relation, as showing the peculiar
volume and value of our trade with China
and the peculiarly
favorable
conditions
which exist for their expansion in the
normal course of trade, I refer to the
communication addressed to the Speaker of
the House of Representatives by the Secre
tary of the Treasury on the 14th of last
June, with Its accompanying letter of the
Secretary of State, recommending an appro
priation for a commission to study the in
dustrial and commercial conditions in the
Chinese Empire and to report as to the op
portunities for and the obstacles to the en
largement of markets in China for the raw-
products and manufactures of the United
States. Action was not taken thereon dur
ing the last «ession.
I cordially urge that
the recommendation receive at your hands
the consideration which its importance and
timeliness merit.”
In his annual message of 1899 he again
called attention to this recommendation,
quoting It. and stated further:
" I new renew this recommendation, as the
importance of the subject has steadily grown
since It was first submitted to you. and no
time should be lost In studying for ourselves
the resources of this great field for American
trade and enterprise."
The importance of securing proper In
formation and data with a view to the
enlargement of our trade with Asia is undi-
minlshed. Our Consular representatives in
China have strongly urged a place for per
manent display of American products in
some prominent trade center of that em
pire, under Government control and m an
agement, as an effective means of advanc
ing our export trade therein. I call the a t
tention of the Congress to the desirability
of carrying out these suggestions.
Alaska, Ilk# all our territorial acquisitions,
has proved resourceful beyond the expecta
tions of those who made the purchase. It
has become the home of many hardy, in
dustrious, and thrifty
A laska.
Am erican c 1 t 1 z e ns.
Towns of a permanent
character have been built. The extent of Its
wealth In minerals, timber, fisheries, and
agriculture, while great. Is probably not
comprehen<1e«l yet In any Just measure by
our people. W e do know, however, that from
a very small beginning its products have
grown until they are a steady and material
contribution to the wealth of the Nation.
Owing to the Immensity of A laska and Its
location in the fnr north. It is a difficult
matter to provide many things essential to
Its growth and to the happiness and com
fort of Its people by private enterprise alone.
It should, therefore, receive reasonable aid
from the Government. The Government has
already done excellent work for
Alaska
in laying cables and building telegraph lines.
This work has been done in the most eco
nomical and efficient way by the Signal
Corps of the Army.
In some respects It ha* outgrown Its pres
ent laws, while In others'- those laws have
been found to be Inadequate.
In order to
obtain information upon which I could rely
I caused an official of the Department of
Justice, in whose Judgment I have con
fid e n t. to visit A laska during the past Sum
mer for the purpose of ascertaining how
government 1# administered there and what
legislation Is actually needed at present. A
statement of the conditions found to exist,
together with some recommendations and the
reasons therefor. In which I strongly con
cur. w ill be found In the annual report of
the Attorney-General.
In some Instances I
feel that the legislation suggested is so
Imperatively needed that I am moved briefly
to emphasize ths Attorn ey-G en erals pro
posals.
Under the code of A laska as It now stands
many purely administrative
powers
and
duties. Including by far the most im
portant. devolve upon the District Judges or
upon the Clerks of the District Court acting
under the direction of the Judges, while the
Governor, upon whom these powers and d u
ties should logically fall, has nothing spr
clflc to do ex- opt to make annual report?.
tsaM T h a rk g lv ln g day proclamations, and
appoint Indian policemen and notaries pub
lic.
I believe It essential to good govern
ment In Alaska, and therefore recommend,
that the Congress divest the District Judges
and clerks of their courts of the adminis
trative or executive functions that they now
exercise and cast them upon th# Governor
This would not he an Innovation; It would
simply conform the government of Alaska
to fundamental principles, making the G ov
ernorship a real Instead of a merely nominal j
office, and leaving the Judges free to give j
their entire attention to their Judicial duties
and at the same time removing them from I
a great deal of the strife that now cm - 1
States or had invl’ ed f r - 1
npj.vsslon to
barrasses the judicial office In Alaska.
> of Am erl-
I also Kcommend that the salaries of the the detriment of th« entire »
it la a mare truism to say
District Judges and District Attorney.« In can nations
A laska to Increased so as to mak«- th* m that every nati r. wh • r in Am erica or
t** maintain
equal to those received by corn .< i.iinu o f ¡-I.. >vh*-i*- «•: e, \v
Ite Indei
nee, must ulti
ficers In the United States after «i•■ducting
the difference In the cost of living;. (hat the mately realize that the n r ** of such inde-
District Attorneys should be prohibited^ f nun peial.m v cannot l>** s« : n r * d from the re
engaging In private practice; that Unit* «1 sponsibility of making good u.--<» of It.
States Commissioners be appointed by the
The strong arm of the Government In en-
Governor of the territory Instead of by the forcing respect for its just rights In inter-
District Judges, and that a fixed salary l-e natlonal m atters 1» the Navy «■:’ the United
I m
«in
y* i
nend that
provided for them tof take the place of the
th* :e be n*> liait In the
discredited “fee system." which should be
I he Navy.
ling the
abolished In all offices; that a mounted c.:i-
In n 'll . n Navy. There
• tabulary be created to police the territory-
n* us as a
outside the limits of Incorporated t *\vii« a Is no more patriotic cin > <
n to 1
.ate to
vast section now wholly without police pro
j,.; s it tub«
1 Lion. W e have
tection; und that some provision be made x
en r.. i.uiid th.* I t m . n Canal. W e
to at least lessen the oppressive delays and : !... * j-d* i tak* m to se* on for ocr • Ives our
costs that now attend the prosecution of •!>-
I
lent. W e
peals from the District Court of Alaska.
i ( j : • I
* • *• i to protect our citizens from
There should be a division of the existing improper triutincnt In
*• • > u lands. W e
Judicial districts, and an Increase In the r ."n u le Hti idPy t<• lu.-i-: on the application
. • t ; * o : <*n: *.*••
I miti iu*'
« ** th* Western
number of judges.
!
in these
Alaska should have a Delegate In (he U..n-
¡d i l u i U a i M a t t e r s i
;<• Su* a mere
gress.
W here possible, the Congress should am i
aid In the construction «>f needed wagon h< hi • ul slu m we can not afford to aban-
0
( > . : ■ * • is now
reail«. Additional lighthouse* shou*d be pro
potent for peace, and ia
;
because w e
vided. In my Judgment, it t •
nr.' not afraid of war. 1
• ' r p*.
stations
portunt to aid In such manner ur* so-nis Ju«t
up ul behalf of peace \ >uId m It her i
*
and feasible In the construction of a trunk li. r «!- -• I % ! ! 11 sii -lit*-
ut: II !.*n if we
line of railway to connect th«* Gulf of Alaska were Impotent to make them good.
with the Yukon River through American f •-
the last three y- irs the United
rltory. This would be most beneficial to the
i set an exauip • in dt-armurnent
development of the resources of the terrlt«?ry.
sarmaio
propary.
By
and to the comfort an«l w elfare of Its people.
V» m y . is fixed i i a in ixiinum of
8almon hatch*-rb*s sb< old i • •
Wished m
100, non an«l a minl-
many diffr - nt streams, so as t«i *••* ure t! "
mut n «>f 00,000 men.
Arm y.
preservation of this valuable f*>* «1 fish. S al
W h * n there was In-
mon fisheries an«l canneries should be pro
In the PhUlpk • * wt* kept the
hibited on certain of the rivers vvh.-re the
.he maxi mum. Po < came In the
mass of those Indians dwell who live alm*..~t
now ou i Arm y has been
exclusively on fish.
flu* mililxnum ,at which It Is pos-
The Alaskun natives are kindly, Intelli
:> it \s 1th due r* ; ird to Its effl-
gent, anxious to learn, and willing t<» work.
lu* guns n«»\v in' i ru d require 28.-
Those who have come under the liiflu-'n •
f the co;ast f' rt i :i at i n - ure to be
of civilization, even for a limited period,
mannei 1. Rchitt\ • ly to the N a -
have proved their capability of b«-«-omli:g
not no W so li■ • , • is tlie police
self-supporting, self-respecting citizen-', ami
< nr Ch
lativsly to
ask only for the just enforcement of law
W e need more
tlon of clthor cl
and Intelligent Instruction and super\isi'Oi.
;ii to peforin
here art
Others living In more remote regions, pilm -
i- Arm y \Voi U. I r i \ ry Im portant
itlve, simple hunters and fisher folk, who
iiny should be ac-
ifficers o;
know only the life of the woods and the
to handlie thel r n * ii in masses,
waters, are daily being confronted with 20th-
liso Imp orlan t that the National
century civilization, with all of Its complexi Guard of t the sev<piai sta trs should be ac-
ties.
Their country is being overrun by
to aetuini field m aiuuvcrlng, es-
strangers, the game slaughtered and driven
connect Ion will i tin- regulars. Fop
away, the streams deplete*! of fish, nml
» we are
i emulated upon
hitherto unknown and fatal diseases brought
s o f the
ivers at Man-
to them, all of which combine to profile *.* a
Fall, miimeuver s in which a la rg -
state of abject poverty and want which must
■ of reg\
¡1 '.’atl.mal Guard
result In their extinction.
Action tn their
a • mbl* d
than w
Interest Is demanded by every consideration
n time «*f l'*-ac(
No other civil-
◦ f justice and humanity.
i" i - population.
n hn*. r
nlnuti ve Army ;
; and while
The needs of these people are:
Is so srnail \ve : i n»*t to be ex
The abolition of the present fee system,
,«• fail to keep it at a very high
whereby the native is degraded, Imposed
of p iroficienc y. It a ;
be Incessantly
upon, and taught the Injustice of law.
the stunid ar«l fo r •'
• nllsted men
The establishment of hospitals at central
kept ver v high
at the same
points, so that contagious diseases that are
• nic.bs us attrac-
service
should
b*
brought to them continually by Incoming
isslble; ilini the - i .bard for tha
whites may be localised and not allowed to
cm ! « 1 be kept c*\ i i
i* r— which.
become epidemic, to spread death and desti
the upp er rank; can best be done
tution over great areas.
clng sonle nyste ni >•; *-I«*ctIon and
The development of the educational *>"'• m
mo the promoti *n . Wo should be
in the form of practical training In such
he even): of so;
. dden emerg-
industries as will assure the In .I.ms s.-lf-
L>ut Into the (1
first-class
support under the changed conditions in
•s, which should i . , - a whole, at
which they will- have to live.
qual of any bod1.»
tr-*o|*s of like
'cnglng to any oilier nation.
The duties of th# office of the Govern or
should be extended to Include the sup. ;\i-
■»hll’ppln • I ' m ;ds there lias been
slon of Indian affairs, with necessary
■ past >ear a ooutlnuath-n of tHa
ants In different districts.
lie should be
idy pror.ri-.-s whhdi has obtained ever
provided with the means und the power to
iur troops «¡»-finitely g.*t the upper
protect and advise the naii\c people, to fu r hand of the insurgents. The Philippine peo
nish medical treatment In time of epidem
ple, or, to speak more
ics. and to extend material relief in periods
The Philippines.
accurately, the many
of famine and extreme destitution.
even races,
u or less
The Alaskan natives should be given the sundered from one another r
people of
right to acquire, hold, and dispose of prop sharply, who go to make up
( many ele-
erty upon the same conditions as given other
inhabitants; and the privilege of citizenship mints of g >od, nml some el mints which we
should be given to have ;i right (•> hope stand for progress. A t
such as may be nfolo l i sent they are utterly incapable of exist
H aw aii and Torto
ing in l!i*icp«-inl«‘ncc at all or of building
to m* *-t *
*
Rico.
nlUe requirements. In t )> a civilization of tlicir <<wn. I firmly be
H a w a.1 I,
Congress lieve that we can help them to rise higher
• n and of
u tg h ig h er in th e s c a b î o f c iv iliz e
should give the Governor power to remove
•a p a c i t y
f c >r s c * l f - g o \ e r n m e n t .
all the officials appointed under him. The
a ind
i
I most
*arn e s tly h o p e t h a t in th e e n d tl
harbor of Honolulu should be dredged. The
y will be
t o 1d a n d , i f n o t e n t i r e l y
ah
Marine Hospital Service should bo empow
itde
alone,
yet In
Unite«:
ered to study leprosy In the Islands.
I ask
lon u ? sue h r e l a t i o n to th e
T l il s e n d
Is
special consideration for the report ami rec ^ U b s i n o ’¡V s t a n d s .
ommendations of the Governor of Porto Rico.
d g n l L, a n d i t m a y b e I n d e f i n i t e l y
In treating of our foreign policy and of the if *ur people ar«> foolidi enough to turn the
atl
ntton of the Filipinos away from the
attitude that this great Nation should as
mat e iia l
sume in the world at larg'e, It is absolutely
!
prosperity,
of w orkin g for a stable, orderly,
necessary to consider the Arm y and the
Itsh and
Navy, and the Congres*. through which the
thought of the Nation dangerous Intrigues for a complete inde
Foreign Tolley.
finds its express i n, pendence for which they arc' us yet totally
should keep ever viv I unfit.
idly in mind the fundamental fact that It Is | On the other hand, our people must keep
impossible to treat our foreign policy, wheth st* uliiy before their mind* tic- fact that the
er this policy takes shape In the effort to ! justifi atlon for our stay In ths Philippines
secure Justice for others or Justice for our ! must ultim ately r«-*t chh i'.y upon the good
selves, save as conditioned upon the attitude we are able to do in the Islands, i do not
we are willing to take toward our Army, ami
nent of
ur in ■ rests in th* Pa* die (_>• •■an and along
especially toward our Navy. It is not merely
Philippi
play ed and
unwise, It Is contemptible, for a Nation, us
for an Individual, to use high-sounding lan will play an important part, anil that our
guage to proclaim Its purposes, or to take
than <*ne
;
a Bui
positions which are ridiculous If unsupported
by potential force, and then to refuse to | our chief rca.-"n for continuing to hold them
provide this force. If there Is no intention
gefod faith to try to
of providing and of keeping the force nec do our share of th.* world's wm k, arid this
essary to back up a strong attitude, then It particular piece of work has been imposed
is fa r better not to assume such an attitude. 1 upon us by the results of the w ar with Spain.
The steady aim of this Nation, as of all I The problem presented to us in the P hilip
enlightened nations, should be to strive to pine Islands Is al.in to. but not exactly like,
great
bring ever nearer the day when there shall
possessions In
prevail throughout the world the peace of <-iv iUsed i
justice. There are kinds of peace w hich are the Orient. There are p«dnts of resemblance
highly undesirable, which are In the long in our w rk te the work which Is I Ing done
run as destructive as any war. Tyrants and by th- British In India ami Egypt, by the
b In Algic;
m .lava, by
oppressors have many times made a w ilder
..'.* p a n e s #
ness and called It peace. Many times peo
dlsUiM tly than any of
ples who were slothful or timid or short
the.-.-
p**w:-.
.•
we
arc
endeavoring
to
develop
sighted, who had been enervated by ease or
natives I
«elves so that they shall
by luxury, or misled by false teachings, have
shrunk In unmanly fashion from doing duty take an c * r-lncr* a>ing share in their own
tent we are
that was stern and that needed self-sacrifice,
s to a
and have sought to hide from their own
minds their shortcomings, their ignoble mo | governmental equality with our own.
tives, by calling them love *,f peace.
The ; There ar<* Comml don« rs, Judges, and Gov-
peace of tyrannous terror, the pence of cra
*s and
ven weakness, the peace of Injustice, all who havs exactly the tame share la the
these should be shunned as we shun unright government of the islands as have their col-
eous war.
Alnei ;• a ns, while In the
league?s who
irse. the great majority of
W e are In every way endeavoring to help lower ranks, c
. V I bin two
on, with cordial good will, every movement the piibllc ser
t i . i ng the experiment of
which w ill
tend
to years we sha!
five 1
lower hoi
In the Philippine
Arbitration Treaties, bring
us
Into more an el ective
I > that the Filipinos
friendly relations with ! Leg ¡slat ur«t. It m .
the rest of mankind. In pursuance of this . will misuse this Leg', datura, and they cer-
e misled by
policy I shall shortly lay before the Sen
"ii* h* rc at home into starting
ate treaties of arbitration with all powers f " " ! 'Jh i
which are willing to enter into these treaties an ,1 - m itl**n for tlu-ir own independence or
In such
with us.
It is not possible at this period
Will
1 and
of the world’s development to agree to a r
w ill stop for the time being nil further ef-
bitrate all matters, but thore are many
matters of possible difference between us j f t to advance th* in and give them a
and other nations which can be thus a rb i greater share In their own government. But
trated.
Furthermore, at the request of- the if they act with w i-lotn and self-restraint.
Interparliam entary Union, an eminent body If they «¡how that they are < apahle of electing
( vpable
composed of practl* al
king a
ind
nt part ifl tha
StM'ond Hague
■taK-.m .n from
all
;• ;.;il work of government, they can rest
.
countries,
I
have
ing measure
Conference.
asked the powers to
Join with this Govern of recognition will t <• given them. Above all
ment In a second H ague conference, at w hich
U It la
It Is hoped that the work already so happily
• riment of glv-
begun at The Hague may be carried some
ing
them
a
1
rlslatur#;
It
Is
a
f
a r bet-
steps further toward completion. This car
ve them
" b*. g o o d roads.
ries out the desire expressed by the first ter thing to
j railroads whi
will e n a l
l - m to get their
Hague Conference itself.
j products to n ■ket, horn
'
an honest
It Is not true that the United States feels ; an.I efficient
istabular;
i 1 all that tends
any land hunger or entertains any j r <je ts
r. p e a c e , f u r d e a l i n g as be-
as regards the other nations of the W o t in
ind t* r. ;i
f intelll-
Hemisphere save such as are for their w e l
n «i U r I f 1
If they a re safe-
fare.
A ll that this gu
: oppres: i n. m i l if th e ir real
Policy Toward Other country de«i- - I* to
a n d splr u.i!. are studied In-
teliigently and in
friendly sym-
M alian , of I V n l n
11
__
. .
countries »table, or-
pathy, much more
be done them
H .u tU p h .rr,
d,.r ly. nml
j. , ,u».
than by an effori
them political
Any
country whose pov er, though thl
t !..
In its own
people conduct themselves well can count pro per tim e a nd p la c a be proper enough.
upon our hearty friendship.
If a nati n
M
'c
a
n
w
h
ile
o•
ur
ow
n
peopl*
\
d re m e m -
shows that It know# how to act with re a
sonable efficiency and decency In social art 1 ber th a t there Is need fo r tl ■ L i-b e s t sta n d -
a
rd
o
f
condii*rt
a
m
o
n
g
the
t
political matters, if It keeps ord«*r ami p i> s
y a m r.g tha
Its obligations, it need fear no interferen e to the P h liip p l ne Isla n d s, no
from the United Stale?.
Chronic wrongdo p u l• Me s e r v a ni • * but a m o n g the p riv a te In
i ’ Is 1 <v ause I
ing. or an Impotence which results In a gen di\ Id un Is w h o go to them .
1 re p ly that In
U ltra*
eral loosening of the ties of civilized so fe,
tlO!1
O
f
th
e
««
isla
n
d
s
I
ha
•
•
p o sitiv ely re -
ciety. may in America, as elsewhere, u lti
mately require Intervention by some civil f u s rd to p e rn lit any dlscrl rnlnaton w h a ts o -
ized nation, and in the Western Hemisphere eve r fo r p o liti c a l re a s o n s , a 1 h av e insisted
the adherence of the United States to the thR t in choosl ng the p u b lic - - w a n t s con sld-
Monroe Doctrine may force the Unit* l era tlon shouldl be p a id soli v to the w o rth
the needs of the
States,
however
reluctantly. In flagrant o f the m en cl
■ Of • '« h wrongdoing or Impoten
to i.*la .nds. T h e r e H no hlgh ei l o.iy o f m en In
have in the
the exercise of an international police power. ou r r u b ile #« r .lc e th an \
r W rig h t
I f every country washed by the Caribbean T h l lip p ln e I s l an da u n i - r (
So f a r
p d ble these
Sea would show the progr* s in stable and nml 1 h is a s s o c i at«**
» giv e n a free
d. an d th eir
Just civilization which with the aid of th*»
IMNN jr b a c k -
Platt amendment Cuba has shown since our sug gestioni* sh m uM receive i
and
f the C on -
troops left the Island, and which so many ing bo th o f t
s.
T
h
e
re
g
r
r
Is
need
o
f
a
v
ig
ila
n t and d is -
o f the republics In both Americas are con-
lnt( crested sup
; t of o .r p*. ilo se rv a n ts In
stantly and brilliantly ^showing, ail
s by good citl ns here In the
tlon of interference by this Nation with
their affairs would be at an end.
Our In l ni te.l St*ntes.
very m easti r# ta k e n cone« : in j the {olanda
terests and those of our Southern neighb.-ws
are In reality Identical.
They have great sho uld be tal* • n p rim a rily with a view to
Ir ad vo n tn
W « shou ' * * (a irly giva
natural riches, and if within their bord**: «
the reign of law and justice obtain*, pr --- the m lo w e r tj* .lf f rates on t h r i r exports to
U niteti S'
perlty is sure to COOM to them
• •
it will
a w r o n g ; » extend our
; ing law# to
thus obey the prim ary laws of civilized *-• f-
m.
I earn tly hope fo
ety they may rest assured that they will be
>
• t m ent it* o la w o f the
. : d a ; Ion now
treated by us In a spirit of cordial and
d in g to *•: m u r f t f e A r *
* i c a p ita l ta
helpful sympathy. W e would interfere with
- 1*. « a i « in rallr* « d a
them only In the last resort, and then only «*»#! k in v e s tM *
if It became evident that their Inability or In factorl# -. i n p lan tation s. a n d In lu m b e r-
unwillingness to do justice at home and Ing a n d m in ii>g.
abroad had violated the rights of the United
T H E O D O R E R O O SE V E LT .
c
factor in every kind o f work, of head or per tobacco In fu m a tra and the filler to
hand, must be the m an’s own good sense, bacco In Cuba. It will be only a question of
courage and kindliness. More Important than tlms when the large amounts paid to these
any legislation Is the gradual growth of a countries w’lll be paid to our own people. Ths
feeling of responsibility and forbearance reclamation of alkali lands Is progressing,
am ong capitalists and Wageworkers alike; a to glvs object-lessons to our people In meth
feeling of respect on the part of each man ods by which worthless lands may bs made
for the rights of others; a feeling of broad productive.
The Insect friends and enmies of the fa rm
community of Interest, not merely of capital
ists am ong themselves, and of wageworkers er are getting attention. The enemy of the
am ong themselves, but of capitalists and Han lose scale wap found near the Great
—
wageworkers In their relations to each other, i W a ll of China, and Is now cleaning up all
and of both In their relations to their fe l j our orchards. The flg-fertilizing Insect Im
low«, who with them make up the body pol ported from Turkey has helped to establish
itic. There are many captains of Industry, an industry In California that amounts te
many labor leaders, who realize this.
A from 50 to 100 tons of dried figs annually,
recent speech by the president of one of our and Is extending over the Pacific Coast. A
great railroad systems to the employes of parasitic fly from South A fric a is keeping
that system contains sound common sense. j In subjection the black scale, the worst pest
of the orange and lemon Industry In Cali
It runs In part as follows:
•’It Is my belief we can better serve each fornia.
Caieful prelim inary work Is being done
other, better understand the man as well as
his business, when meeting face to face, ex towards producing our own silk. The mul-
changing view«, and realizing from personal I berry Is being distributed in large numbers,
contact we serve but one interest, that of eggs are being imported and distributed, Im
proved reels were imported from Europe
our mutual prosperity.
expert
reelera were
"Serious misunderstandings cannot occur last year, and two
where personal good will exists and opportu brought to Washington to reel the crop of
cocoons und teach the art to our own peo
nity for personal explanation is present.
"In my early business life I had experience ple.
with men of affairs of a character to make j The cro-reportlng system of the Depart-
The following ia the text of the mes me desire to avoid creating a like feeling of ; inent of Agriculture is being brought closer
It has 250.000 re-
to myself and the Interests In my I to accuracy every year.
sage of Proficient Ho sevolt to the 58th resentment
charge, should fortune ever place me in au ’ porters selected from people in eight voca-
It has arrangem ents with
thority. and I am solicitous of a measure of j tlons In life.
congreaa:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
confidence on the part of the public and our ! most European countries for Interchange
The Nation continue» to enjoy notewortny employes that I shall hope may be warranted ! of estimates, so that our people may know
prosperity. Such prosperity 1», of course, prl- by the fairness and good fellowship I intend j as nearly as possible with what they must
compete
marlly clue to the high Individual average or ; shall prevail In our relationship.
our cltlaenshlp, taken together with our great I
"B u t do not feel I am disposed to grant j During the 2 ’ fc years that have elapsed
natural reooureea; but an Important factor | unreasonable requests, spend the money of j since the passage of the reclamation act
therein 1» the working cjf our long-continued our company unnecessarily or without value rapid progress has been made In the sur
governmental policies.
The people have em received, nor expect the days of mistakes arc veys and examinations of the opportunities
phatically expressed their approval of the Prln- [ disappearing, or that cause for complaint for reclamation In the 13 states and three
clpies underlying these policies, and their will not continually occur, simply to correct territories of the arid West.
Construction
desire that these principle» be kept substan such abuses as may be discovered, to better
has already been be-
tially unchanged, although, of course, applied conditions as fast as reasonably may be ex
Irrlgution.
gun on the largest and
in a progressive spirit to meet changing con- j pected. constantly striving, with varying suc
most Important of the
dltlons.
cess. for that Improvement we all desire, to Irrigation works, and plans are being com
Tha enlargement of scope of the functions convince you there Is a force at work In the pleted for works which w ill utilize the funds
of the National Government required by °ur| right direction, all the time m aking progress now available.
The operations are being
development as a nation Involves, of course, , — is the disposition with which I have come carried on by the Reclamation Service, a
Increase of expense; and the period of pros among you, asking your good w ill and en corps of engineers selected through competi
perity through which the country la passing couragement.
tive civil-service examinations.
This corps
Justlfletf expenditures for permanent Improve
"The day has gone by when a corporation Includes experienced consulting
and con
ments far greater than can be handled successfully In defiance of the structing engineers as well as various ex
f nut Ion A
ru ln .t
WOUld
be
Wise
In public will, even though that will be unrea perts In mechanical and legal matters, and
Caution
Against
hjfcrd t|me-
Hattie.
sonable and wrong.
A public may be led, Is composed largely of men who have spent
Extravugunce.
„hlpo and forts, public
but not driven, and I prefer to go with It most of their lives In practical affairs con-
buildings and improved and shape or modify In a measure Its opin lected with Irrigation. The larger problems
waterways are Investments which should be ion, rather than be swept from my bearings, have been solved, and It now remains to
made when we have the money; but abundant with loss to myself and the Interests in my executo with care, economy, and thorough
revenues and a large surplus alwu>s invite charge.
ness the work which has been laid out. All
extravagance, and constant care should be
"Violent prejudice exists toward corporate Important details are being carefully con
taken to guard agalnrt unnecessary Increase of activity and capital today, much of it found sidered by boards of consulting engineers,
the ordinary expenses of government. The cost ed In reason, more In apprehension, and a
selected for their thorough knowledge and
of doing Government business should be regu
large measure is duo to the personal traits practical experience. Each project is taken
lated with the same rigid scrutiny a » the cost
of arbitrary, unreasonable. Incompetent and up on the ground by competent men
and
of doing a private business.
offensive men In positions of authority. The | viewed from the standpoint of the creation
In the vast and complicated mechanism of
our modern civilized life, the dominant note accomplishment of results by Indirection, the of prosperous homes, and of promptly refund
Is the note of Industrialism; and the relations endeavor to thwart the Intention, If not the ing to the Treasury the cost of construction.
of capital and labor, j expressed letter of the law (the w ill of the The reclamation act has been found to be
Capital and Iuibor. and especially of or people), a disregard of the rights of others, rem arkably complete and effective, and so
ganized capital and or a disposition to withhold what is due, to broad In its provisions that a wide range of
ganized labor, to each other and to the public force by main strength or Inactivity a result undertaklngs-has been possible under It. At
at large come second In importance only to not Justified, depending upon the weakness the same time, economy Is guaranteed by
the Intimate questions of family life.
Our of the claimant and his Indisposition to be the fact that funds must ultimately be re
peculiar form of government, with Its «harp come Involved In litigation, has created A turned to be used over again.
division of authority between the Nation and sentiment harm ful In the extreme and a dis
It Is the cardinal principle of the forest-
the several states, has been on the whc.b position to consider anything fair that gives reserve policy of this Adm inistration that
far more advantageous to our development gain to the Individual at the expense of the
the reserves are for
than a more strongly centralized govern company.
Forests.
use. W h atever Inter
" I f corporations are to continue to do the
ment. But It Is undoubtedly responsible for
feres with the use of
much of the difficulty of meeting with ade world's work, as they are best fitted to, their resources Is to be avoided by every
quate legislation the new problems presented these qualities In their representatives that possible means.
But these resources must
prejudice
by the total change In Industrial conditions have resulted In the present
be used In such a way as to make them
on this continent during the last h alf cen against them must be relegated to the back permanent.
The corporations must come out
The forest policy of the Government Is
tury.
In actual practice It has proved ex ground.
ceedingly difficult, and in many cqses Im Into the open and see and be seen. They Just now a subject of vivid public Interest
must
take
the public Into their confidence throughout the W est
possible, to get unanimity of wise action
and to the people of
among the various states on these subjects. and ask for what they want, and no more, the United States in general. The forest re
From the very nature of the case, this Is and be prepared to explain satisfactorily serves themselves are of extreme value to
especially true of the laws affecting the what advantage w ill accrue to the public the present as well as to the future welfare
If they are given their desires; for they of all the Western public-land states. They
employment of capital In huge masses.
W ith regard to labor, the problem Is no are permitted to exist not that they may pow erfully affect the use and disposal of
less Important, but It Is simpler.
As long make money solely, but that they may e f the public lands. They are of special Im
as the states retain the prim ary control of fectively serve those from whom they de portance because they preserve the water
supply and the supply of timber for domestic
the police power, the circumstances must be rive their power.
"Publicity, and not secrecy, w ill win here purposes and so promote settlement under
altogether extreme which require Interfer
Indeed, they are es
ence by the Federal authorities, whether In after, and laws be construed by their Intent the reclamation act.
the way of safeguarding the rights of labor and not by their letter, otherwise public sential to the w elfare of every one of the
or In the way of seeing that wrong is not utilities w ill be owned and operated by the great Interest of the West.
public which created them, even though
done by unruly persons who shield them
Forest reserves are created for two prin
selves behind the name of labor.
If there the «ervlcfe be less efficient and the result cipal purposes. The first is to preserve the
Is resistance to the Federal courts. Interfer lews satisfactory from a financial stand w ater supply. This Is their most Important
ence with the malls, or Interstate commerce, point.”
use. The principal users of the water thus
The Department of Agriculture has grown preserved are Irrigation ranchers and set
or molestation of Federal property, or If
the state authorities in some crisis which Into an educational institution with a fac tlers, cities and towns to whom their mu
they are unable to face call for help, then ulty of 2000 specialists m aking research into nicipal water supplies are of the very first
the Federal Government may Interfere; but all the sciences of production. The Congress imp«>rtance, users and furnishers of water
though such Interference may be caused appropriates, directly and Indirectly, $0,000,- power, and the users of water for domestic,
000 annuully to carry m anufacturing, mining, and other purposes.
by a condition of things arising out of trou
A g rl culture.
on
this
work.
It A ll these are directly dependent upon the
ble connected with some question of labor,
reaches
every
state forest reserves.
the Interference Itself simply takes the form
of restoring order without regard to the and territory In the Union and the Islands
The second reason for which forest re
questions which have caused the breach of of the sea lately come under «our flag. Co serves are created is to preserve the timber
orrder— for to keep order Is a prim ary duty operation Is had with the state experiment supply for various classes of wood users.
and In a time of disorder and violence all stations, and with many other Institutions Am ong the more Important of these are set
The world is carefully tlers under the reclamation act and other
other questions sink Into abeyance until and Individuals.
searched for new varieties of grains, fruits, acts, for whom a cheap and accessible sup
order has been restored
In the District of Columbia and In the grasses, vegetables, trees and shrubs, suit ply of timber for domestic uses Is absolutely
to various
localities in our country; necessary; miners and prospectors, who are
errltorles, the Federal law covers the entire able
field of government; but the labor question and marked benefit to our producers has re in serious danger of losing their timber sup
sulted.
Is only acute In populous centers of com
ply by fire or through export by lumber com
The activities of our age In lines of re panies when timber lands adjacent to their
mere«, manufactures, or mining. Neverthe
less. both In the enactment and In the en search have reached the tillers of the soil mines pass Into private ownership; lumber
forcement of law the Federal Government and Inspired them with ambition to know men. transportation companies, builders, and
within Its restricted sphere should set an more of the principles that govern the forces commercial Interests in general.
example to the state governments, especially of Nature with which they have to deal.
Although the wisdom of creating forest re
In a m atter so vital ns this affecting labor. Nearly half of the people of this country serves Is nearly everywhere heartily recog
devote their energies to growing things from nized. yet In a few localities there have been
X believe that under modern Industrial con
dltlons It Is often necessary, and even where the soli. Until a recent date little has been m isunderstanding and complaint.
The fol
not necessary It Is yet often wise, that there done to prepare these millions for their life lowing statement Is therefore desirable:
should be organization of labor In order work. In most lines of human activity col
The forest-reserve policy can be successful
The only when It has the full support of the peo
better to secure the rights of the Individual lege-trained men are the leaders.
w a g « worker. A ll encouragement should be farmer had no opportunity for special train ple of the Went. It cannot safely and should
flven to any such organization, so long as ing until the Congess made provision for It not in any case, be imposed upon them
During these years progress against their will. But neither can we ac
t Is condu« ted with a due and decent regard 40 years ago.
for the rights of others. There are In this has been made and teachers have been pre cept the views of those whose only Interest
country some labor unions which have habit pared. Over 5000 students are In attendance In the forest Is tem porary; who are anxious
ually, and other labor unions which have at our State Agricultural colleges. The F e d to reap what they have not sown and then
often, been am ong the most effective agents eral Government expends $10,000,000 annu move away, leaving desolation behind them.
In working for good citizenship and for up ally toward this education and for research On the contrary. It Is everywhere and always
lifting the condition of those whose welfare In Washington and in the several states and the Interest of the permanent settler and
The Department of Agriculture the permanent business man. the man with a
should be closest to our hearts
P u t when territories.
any labor union seeks Improper ends, or seeks has given facilities for post-graduate work stake In the country, which must be con
to achieve proper ends by Improper means, to 500 young men during the last seven sidered, and which must decide.
• II good citizens and more especially all hon years, preparing them for advanced lines
Th# m aking of forest reserves within ra il
orable public servants, must oppose the of work In the department and In the state road and wagon-road land-grant limits will
wrongdoing as resolutely as they would op Institutions.
hereafter, ns for the past three years, be 30
The facts concerning meteorology and Its m anaged as to prevent the Issue, under the
pose the wrongdoing of any great corpora
relations to plant and animal life are be net of June 4, 1807, of base for exchange or
tion
There Is no objection to employes of the ing systematically Inquired Into. Tem pera lieu selection (usually called scrip).
In all
Government form ing or belonging to unions; ture and moisture are controlling factors In east's where forest reserves within areas
but the Government can neither discrim all agricultural operations.
The seasons of covered by land gian ts appear to be essen
inate for nor discriminate against nonunion the cyclones of the ('arlbbean Sea and their tial to the prosperity of settlers, miners, or
men who are in Its employment, or who paths are being forecasted with increasing others, the Government lands wlfhln such
seek to be employed under It. Moreover, It accuracy. The cold winds that come from proposed forest reserves will, as In the recent
Is a very grave Impropriety for Government the north are anticipated and their times past, be withdrawn from sale or entry pend
employes to band themselves together for and Intensity told to farmers, gardeners ing the completion of such negotiations with
the purpose of extorting Improperly high sa l and fruiterers In all southern localities.
the owners of the land grants as w ill prevent
aries from the Government.
Especially Is
W e sell $250,000,000 worth of anim als and the creation of so-called scrip.
this true of those within the classified serv anim al products to foreign countries every
It was form erly the custom to mnke forest
ice. The letter-carriers, both municipal and year, In addition to supplying our own peo reserves without first getting definite and
rural, are a » a whole an excellent body of ple more cheaply and abundantly than any detailed Information as to the character of
ubllc servants. They should be ninply paid, other nation Is able to provide for Its peo land and timber within their boundaries. This
Successful manufacturing depends p ri method of action often resulted In badly
lut their payment must be obtained by a r ple.
guing
their
claims marily on cheap food, which accounts to a chosen boundaries and consequent Injustice
considerable extent for our growth In this to Mttiers and others.
Therefore this A d
I'nlons of
fairly * nd b < w a b l y
before the Congress. direction.
The Department of Agriculture, ministration adopted the present method of
Government
and not by banding
by careful Inspection of meats, guards the first w ithdraw ing the land from disposal,
health of our people and gives «'lean bills followed by careful examination on the
Em ploye«.
together for the d e
feat of those Con of health to deserving exports; It Is prepared ground and the preparation of detailed maps
gressmen who refuse to give promises whirl» to deal promptly with Imported diseases of and descriptions, before any forest reserve
they cannot In conscience give. The Admln- anftuals, and maintain the excellence of out Is created.
There
|»t ration has already taken steps to prevent flocks and herds In this respect.
I have repeatedly called attention to the
and punish abuses of this nature; but It will should he an annual census of the livestock confusion which exists in Government forest
be wise for the Congress to supplement this of the Nation.
matter# because the work is scattered among
W e sell abroad about $(100,000,000 worth of three Independent organizations. The United
action- by legislation.
plants and their products every year. Stren States Is the only one of the great nation*
W hen we come to deal with great corpo
ration», the need for the Government to act uous efforts are being m ade to Import from in which the forest work of the Government
directly Is far greater than In the case of foreign countries such gains as are suitable Is not concentrated under one department.
Seven years ago In consonant*- with the plainest dictates of
labor, because great corporations can become to our varying localities.
such only by engaging In Interstate com we bought three-fourths of our rice; by help good a.Im m igration and common sense. The
merce, and Interstate ing the rlcegtowers on the G ulf coast to se present arrangement Is bad from every point
Merely to mention It Is to prove
Corporations.
commerce Is peculiar cure seeds from the Orient suited to their of view.
ly the field of the conditions, and by gt\ing them adequate that It should be terminated at once. As I
General Government.
It Is an absurdity to protection, they now supply home demand have repeatedly recommended, all the forest
expect to eliminate the abuses In great cor and export to the Islands of the Caribbean work of the Government should be concen
porations by state action
It Is difficult to Sen and to other rlce-grow lng countries. trated In the Department of Agriculture,
be patient with an argument that such m at W heat and other grains have been Import where the larger part of that work Is already
ters should be left to the states, because ed from ligh t-rain fall countries to our lands d( At, where practically all of the trained
more than one state pursues the policy of In the West an«l Southwest «hat have not foresters of the Government are employed,
creating on easy terms corporation* which grown crops becauss of light precipitation, where chiefly In W ashington there Is com
ere never operated within that state at all. resulting In an extensive addition to our prehensive first-hand knowledge of the prob
but In other states whose law » they Ignore. cropping area and our hom e-m aking terri lems of the reserves acquired on the ground,
Ten million where all problems relating to growth from
The National Government alone can deal a d tory that can not be Irlgated
equately with these great corporations
To bushels of first-class macaroni wheat were the soli are already gathered, and where all
try to deal with them In an Intemperate, grown from these experimental Importations the sciences auxiliary to forestry are at hand
destructive, or dem agogic spirit would. In all last year. Fruits suitable to our soils and for prompt and effective co-operation
These
probability, mean
that
nothing whatever climates are being Imported from all the reasons are decisive in themselves, but It
would be accomplished, and, with absolute countries of the Old W o rld — the ilg from should be added that the great organizations
certainty, that If anything were accomplished Turkey, the alm ond from Spain, the date of citizens whose Interests are affected by the
It would be of a harm ful nature. The Am er front Algeria, the ntango from India. W e forest reset ves. such a * the National L iv e
ican people need to continue to show the ars helping our fruitgrow ers to get their stock Association, the National Woolgrowers*
eery qualities that they have sh ow n —that crops Into European markets b y ' studying Association, the American Mining Congress,
Is. moderation, good sense, the earnest d e methods of preservation thr«>ugh refrig e ra the National Irrigation Congress, and the
sire to avoid doing any damage, and yet the tion, packing and handling, which have been National B*>ar«l of Trade, have uniformly,
W e are helping our hop- emphatically, and most of them repeatedly,
quiet determination to proceed, step by step, quite successful.
without halt and without hurry. In elim inat growers by Important varieties that ripen expressed themselves in favor of placing
ing or at least In minimising whatever of earlier and later than the kinds they have all Government f«»re*t work In the D epart
mischief or of evil there Is to Interstate com- | been raising, thereby lengthening the h ar ment of Agrh'ulture because of the peculiar
The cotton crop of the adaptation of that Department for It.
merce In the conduct of great corporations , vesting season
It
They are acting In no spirit of hostility to 1 country t* threatened with root rot. the b«ill« Is true, also, that the forest services of
Our pathologists nearly all the great nations of the world are
wealth, either Individual or corporate. They worm, an«l the boll weevil
are not against the rich man any more than w ill find Immune varieties that will resist un«1er the respective departments of agrlcql-
against the poor man.
On the contrary, j the root disease, and the hollworm can be ture, while In but two of the smaller n a
they are friendly alike toward rich man and dealt with, hut the boll weevil 1« a serious tion* and In one colony are they under the
It Is a Central department of the Interior.
This Is the
toward poor man. provided only that ca* h , menace to the cotton crop.
arts In a spirit of Justice and decency toward American Insect that has become acclimated result of long and varied experience and It
his fellows
Great corporations are neces In Texas and has «lone great damage. A agrees fully with the requirements of good
sary. and only men of great a n l singular scientist of the Department of Agriculture administration In our own case.
mental power can manage such corporations has found the weevil at home In Guatem ala
The creation of a forest service In the D e
successfully, end such men must have great being kept In check by an ant. which ha« partment of Agriculture w ill have for Its
rewards.
But these corporations should he been brought to our cotton fie Ms for o b Important results:
manage«! with due regard to the Interest Of servation.
It Is h><v«d that It may serve a
F irst— A better handling of all forest work,
the public as a whola.
W here this cen be good purpose.
because It will he under a single head, and
done under the present law s It must be done
The soils of the country are getting atten because the vast and ImllspenssMe expert-;
W here thee# laws c«»me short, other« should tion from the farm er’s standpoint, and In •nee of the Depart m ost In all matters per
he enacted to supplement them
teresting results are following
W e havs taintng to the forest reserves, to forestry In
Vet wo must never forget the determining duplicates of lb s soil* that grow the w rap general, and to other forme of production,