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Te xt o f Paper Delivered to
S8th C i |PJ i A.\
CAUTIONS AGAINST EXTRAVAGANCE
Irrig * tion, Fe ra is , Public Lands, Alaska
Be-
aad Oar b lu tf
cove Dae Consideration.
The following ia the text of the mea-
aare of
ident Ko aevelt to tlie 58th
congress:
I
i
T o ths S c u t «
House of Wapressatatlvsa:
Tbs Nation continues to enjoy noteworthy
prosper it> Such prosperity Is. of course, pri-
martly due to the high Individual a v s r a «e o f
our citlseashlp. taken toaether with our «real
natural rsaourosa: but an Important factor
therein la the workla« of our lon«-<ontlnucd
«overnmental policies. The people have em
phatically expressed their approval of the Prin
ciples undertyln« these policies, and their
desire that these principles be kept substan-
ttally unchanced. althou«h. of course, applied
In n progressive spirit to meet cbancln« con-
Altioni.
The enlarcement of scope of the functions
o f the National Government required by our
development as a nation Involves, of course.
Increese of expense; and the period of Proe-
pert ty through which the eouetry Is pass Inc
justifies expenditures tor permanent Improve
ments far greater than
ra s tie a » — ■— ‘
would be srtse ia
_ ,
-
hard time*.
Battle.
Extravagance.
dilps and- forte, public
buildings and Improved
waterways ere Investments which should
mad# when we have the money; hut abundant
revenues end a large surplus always Invite
extravagance, end constant care should be
taken to guard against unnecessary increase of
the ordinary expenses ef government. The coat
o f doing Government business should be regu
lated with the seme rigid scrutiny as the cost
e f doing a private bustnem.
In the vast and complicated mechanism of
our modern civilised life, the dominant note
Is the note o f Industrialism; and the relations
of capital end labor.
Capital aad Inbar, and especially of or
ganised capital and or
ganised labor, to each other and to the public
at large come second In Importance only to
the Intimate quest lone of family Ufa
Our
peculiar form of government, with IU «harp
dlviatoo of authority between the Nation and
the several slates, has been ea the whole
tar mere advantageous to our development
than a more strongly centralised govern
ment. But ft Is undoubtedly responsible for
much at the difficulty of meeting with ade
quate legislation the new problems presented
by the total chaage la Industrial conditions
oa this coatlneht during the last half cen
tury. Ia actual practice It has proved ex-
caedlngly difficult, and In many cases Im
possible. to get unanimity o f wise action
among the various states on theae subjects
From the very nature of the case, this is
especially true o f the laws affecting the
employment o f capital In huge masses.
W ith regard to labor, the problem la no
lees Important, but It Is simpler. As long
as the states retain the primary control of
the police power, the circumstances must be
altogether extrema which require Interfer
ence by the Federal authorities whether In
the way o f safeguarding the rights of labor
or In the way of seeing that wrong Is not
done by unruly persons who shield them
selves behind the name of labor. I f there
la resilience to the Federal courts Interfer
ence with the m alls or Interstate commerce
o r molestation of Federal property, or If
the state authorities In soma crisis which
they are unable to face call for help, then
the Federal Government may Interfere: but
though such Interference may be caused
by a condition of things arising out o f trou
ble connected with some question of labor,
tho Interference Itself simply takes the form
o f restoring order without regard to the
questions which have caused the breach of
orrdor— for to keep order is a primary duty
and In a time of disorder aad violence all
other questions sink Into abeyance until
order has been restored.
Ia the District o f Columbia and la the
territories the Federal law covers the entire
field of government; but the labor question
is only acute tu populous centers o f com
merce. manufactures, or mining. Neverthe
less both In the enactment and In the en
forcement o f law the Federal Government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governm ents especially
In a m atter no vital aa this affecting labor.
I believe that under modern Industrial con
ditions It la often necessary, end even where
not necessary It Is yet often wise, that there
should be organisation o f labor In order
better to secure the righto of the Individual
wags-worker. A ll encouragement should be
given to any such organization, so long as
It la conducted with e due and decent regard
fo r the rights o f others. There are In this
country some labor unions which have habit
ually, and other labor unions which have
often, been among the most effective agents
In walking for good dtlsenshlp and for up
liftin g the condition o f those whose welfare
should be closest to our hearts. But when
any labor union seeks Improper ends or seeks
to achieve proper ends by Improper means,
all good citizens end more especially all hon
orable public servants, must oppose the
wrongdoing aa resolutely as they would op
pose the wrongdoing of any great corpora
tion.
There Is no objection to employee o f the
Government forming or belonging to unions;
but the Government can neither discrim
inate for nor discriminate against nonunion
men who are In Its employment, or who
seek to be employed under it. Moreover, It
is n very grave Impropriety for Government
employes to band themselves together for
the purpose o f extorting Improperly high sal
aries from the Government. Especially Is
this true of those within the classified serv
ice. The letter-carriers, both municipal and
rural, are as a whole an excellent body of
public servants. They should be amply paid
But tbelr payment must be obtained by ar
guing
their
claims
Tnloae o f
fa irly and honorably
.
before the Congress.
boTm nsm i
and not by banding
Employes.
together for the de
feat o f those Con
gressmen who refuse to give promises which
they cannot In conscience give. The Adratn-
Beration has already taken steps to prevent
and punish abuses of this nature; but It will
be wise for the Congress to supplement this
action by legislation.
When we come to deal with great corpo
rations. the need for the Government to net
directly 1« far greater than In the case e f
labor, because great corporations ran become
such only by engaging In Interstate com-
I
mere«, end Interstate
Corperatloaa.
commerce Is peculiar
ly the field of the
General Government. It le an absurdity to
expect to eliminate the abuses la great cor
porations by state action. I t Is difficu lt to
be patient with an argument that ouch m at
ters should be left to the states, beesuse
mors than ons state pursues the policy of
r r s i“ - g ok saey terms eorporatioae which
i n never oDerated within that stats at all.
hut la ether states wboas laws thay Ignore.
T b s National Government alone can deal ad
equately with these great corporations
To
try to deal with them la an Intemperate,
destructive, or dem agogic spirit would. In all
probability, mean that nothing whatever
would be accomplished, and, with absolute
certainty, that If anything were accomplished
It would he o f n harmful nature. The Am er
icas people need to continue to show the
vary qualities that they have shown— that
Is. moderation, goad sense, tbs earnest de
sire to avoid doing any damage, and yst tbs
quiet determination to proceed, step by step,
without halt and without hurry. In sllmtnat-
lag or nt least In m inimising whatever o f
mischief er o f evil there la to interstate com
merce la the rood net o f grant corporations
They are acting In no spirit o f hostility to
• wealth, either Individual er corporate. They
are wet against the rich man any more than
s g s l m t - i k r peer g i r - f i « Mm « g w t f g f y
they are friendly alike toward rich man aad
toward poor man. provided oaly that each
arts la a spirit o f Jsptlrs aad decency toward
bis fellows
Orest corporatleas are acces
sary. and only men o f grant and singular
mental power can manage such corporatloas
successfully, and sock man must hava grant
rew ards
But them oornoratton# she»Id be
managed with dae regard to tho Interest of
the public as a whale
Where this sen bo
dope under the prem at laws It meet be dean.
W here them laws torn* ehert. oth er« Mtenld
factor Ip every hind a t work, o f head er
hand, must ha the man's own goad mam,
courage aad kindliness Mors Important than
any legislation la t M gradual growth at a
fasting o f responsibility aad forbsaraaos
amonff capitalists aad wagsworhsra alik e: a
reeling of respect oa tho part o f sack man
tor the rights o f others,- a feeling o f broad
community at Interest, not merely o f capital
ists among thsmmlvsa, and o f wageworkers
among thsm m lvsa hut o f cs pi m l lata and
wageworkers la thslr relations to sack other,
and o f both la thalr relatione to thsir fe l
lo w « who with them make up the body pol
itic. There are many captains of industry,
many labor leaders, who realise thin
A
recent q e M h by ths president o f one o f our
groat railroad systems to ths employes of
that system contains sound common mam.
It runs la part ns tallows:
" I t is my he list ws can better serve each
other, better understand ths man aa well ns
his business, when meeting face to face, ex
changing views, aad realising from personal
contact wa serve but ons Interest, that of
our mutual prosperity.
"Serious misunderstandings cannot occur
whore personal good w ill aglets and opportu
nity for personal explanation la prsmnt.
“ In my early business Ilfs I had experience
with men o f affairs o f a character to make
ms desire to avoid creating a like feeling of
resentment to myself and ths Interests la my
charge, should fortune ever place ms In au
thority. and I am solicitous of a measure of
confidence on ths part o f the public and our
employes that I shall hops may be warranted
byThe fairness aad good fellowship I Intend
shall prevail In our relationship.
“ But do not fm l I am disposed to grant
unreasonable requests, spend the money of
our company unnecessarily or without value
received, nor expect ths days o f mistakes are
disappearing, or that caum for complaint
will not continually occur, simply to correct
such abums aa may be discovered, to better
conditions aa fast as reasonably may ba ex
pected, constantly striving, with varying suc
cess. far that Improvement ws nil dsalrs. to
convince you thoro Is n fores nt work In ths
right direction, nil ths tim e making progress
— to ths disposition with which I have coma
among you. asking your good w ill aad en
couragement
“ Ths day has gone by when a corporation
can ha handled successfully In defiance o f ths
public will, avaa though that w ill ba unrea
sonable and wrong. A public may he led,
but not driven, and I prefer to go with It
and shape or modify la a measure IU opla
Ion, rathar than be swept rrom my bearings,
with loss to m yself and ths Interests In my
charge.
“ Violent prejudice exists toward corporate
activity and capital today, much of It found
ed in reason, mors In apprehension, and n
large measnre to due to the personal traits
of arbitrary, unreasonable. Incompetent and
offensive men la positions o f authority. Ths
accomplishment o f results by Indirection, ths
endeavor to thwart the Intention. If not the
expressed letter of the law (ths w ill o f ths
people), n disregard of the rights of others
n disposition to withhold what to dns. to
fores by main strength or Inactivity a result
not Justified, depending upon ths weakness
o f ths claimant and his Indisposition to be
come Involved In litigation, has created a
sentiment harmful In ths extreme and a die
position to consider anything fair that gives
gain to ths Individual at ths axpsaas o f ths
company.
“ I f corporations are to continue to do ths
world’s work, as they ars best fitted to,
tbsas qualities In thslr representatives that
have resulted In ths
present prejudice
against them must be relegated to ths back
ground.
Ths corporations must corns out
Into ths open and see and be seen. They
must take ths public Into their confidence
and ask for what they want, and no more,
and be prepared to explain satisfactorily
what advantage w ill accrue to the public
If they are given their desires; fo r-th e y
are permitted to exist not that they may
m ake money solely, but that they may e f
fectively serve those from whom they de
rive their power.
* "Publicity, and not secrecy, will win here
after, and laws be construed by their Intent
and not by their totter, otherwise public
utilities w ill be owned and operated by the
public which created them, even though
the servlcfe be less efficient and the result
less satisfactory from a financial stand
point.”
The Department of Agriculture has grown
into an educational Institution with a fac
ulty o f 2000 specialists making research Into
all the Sciences o f production. The Congress
appropriates, directly and Indirectly, $6,000.-
000 annually to carry
Agriculture.
on
this work.
It
reaches every
state
and territory In the Union and the islands
at ths saa lately coma under onr Bag. Co
operation to had with ths stmts experiment
stations, and with many other Institutions
and Individuals
Ths world to carefully
searched for new varieties of grains, fruits,
g rasses, vegetables, trees and shrubs, suit
able to various localities In our country;
and marked benefit to our producers has re
sulted.
The activities o f onr age In lines o f re
search have reached the tillers of tbs soil
and Inspired them with ambition to know
more o f the principles that govern the forces
o f Nature with which they have to deal.
N early h alf o f the people of this country
devote their energies to growing things from
ths soil. Until a recent date little has been
dons to prepare these millions for their life
work. In most lines of human activity col
lege-trained men are the leaders.
The
farm er had no opportunity fo r special train
ing until ths Congees mads provision for I f
40 years ago. During these years progress
has bean made and teachers have beyn pre
pared. Over 500# students are Iq attendance
at our State Agricultural colleges. The Fed
eral Government expends $10.000,000 annu
ally toward this education and for research
In Washington and In ths severn^.atates and
territories The Department of Agriculture
has given facilities for post-graduate work
to 500 young men daring the tost seven
years, preparing them for advanced lines
o f work In ths department and In ths stats
Institutions
Ths facts concerning m eteorology and Its
relations to plant and animal life are be
ing system atically Inquired Into. Tempera
ture and moisture are controlling factors In
nil agricultural operations The seasons of
the cyclones of ths Caribbean Spa and tbelr
paths are being forecasted with Irtcreaslng
accuracy. Ths cold winds that come from
the north are anticipated and tbelr times
and Intensity told to farmers, gardeners
and fruiterers In all southern localities.
W e sell $2.'>O.QOO.OOO worth of animals and
animal products to foreign countries every
year. In addition to supplying our own peo
ple more cheaply and abundantly than any
other nation Is able to provide for Its peo
ple. Successful manufacturing depends pri
m arily on cheap food, which accounts to a
considerable extent for our growth in this
direction.
The Department of Agriculture,
by careful Inspection o f meats, guards the
health of our people and gives clean bills
of health to deserving exports; It Is prepared
to deal promptly with Imported diseases of
animals, and maintain the excellanca of out
flocks and herds In this rsapect.
There
should be an annual census of ths Uvsstock
of the Nation.
W e eell abroad about $600.000.000 worth of
plants and their products every year, fitren-
uous efforts ars being made to Import from
foreign countries such gains as are suitable
to our varying localities
Seven years ago
we bought three-fourths of our rice; by help
ing the rlcegrowers on the Gulf coast to se
cure seeds from the Orient suited to their
conditions, and by givin g them adequate
protection, they now supply home demand
and export to the tolande o f ths Caribbean
Sea and to other rice-growing countries.
Wheat and other grains hava been Import
ed from llght-ralnfsll rountrlee to our lands
In the W est and Southwest that have not
grown crops because of light preclpltgtton.
resulting In an extensive addition to our
cropping area and onr home-making terri
tory that can not be Irlgated. Ten million
bushels o f first-class macaroni wheat were
grown from these experimental Importations
Inst year. Fruits suitable to our soils and
climates ars being Imported from nil the
countries o f the Old W orld— ths fig from
Turkey, the almond from Spain, the date
from Algeria, the Mango from India. W e
are helping our fruitgrowers to get (heir
crops Into European markets by studying
methods o f preservation through refrigera
tion. packing and handling, which hava been
quite successful. W s are helping our hop-
growers by Important varieties that ripen
earlier and later than the kinds they have
been raising, thereby lengthening the har
vesting season.
Ths cotton crop o f ths
country Is threatened with root rot. ths boll-
worm. and the boll weevil
Our pathologists
wtil find Immune varieties that w ill resist
the root disease, sad ths boll worm can he
dealt with, hut the bell weevil to a aertnue
menace to the «««to n crop. It to a Central
American Invert that has become acclimated
In Texne and has done great damage. A
seien’ let o f the Department o f Agriculture
has found ths weevil at home In Oualemala
being kept In check by an ant, which has
bean brought to our cotton fields f o r ’ ob
servation. It to hoped that It may serve a
good purpose
The solla o f ths country are getting atten
tion from the farmsr'e standpoint, and In
teresting results are following.
W s have
duplicates o f ths nolle that grow the wrap-
N jir J j
par toba cco la Fumatra aad ths filler to from ths soil, will ho soally and rapidly ae-
bacco la Cabs. It w ill ba only a question of ooaotbla
w
time whan ths largo amounts pi
Second— Tho roservso themsslvo« \ being
countries w ill ba paid to our awn psogm, The handled from ths point of view of ths man
reclamation o f alkali lauds to . ______
In tho field, thotond of ths man la tho offlco,
to give object-lessons to aur people la assth- will ho mors anally aad mors widely useful
ods by which worthless lands may ba mail* to the people of ths West than has been ths
productive.
caas hitherto.
Ths Insect M ead s and «am iss o f tho farm
■ Third— Within a comparatively short time
or ora getting attention. Ths saamy o f th* ths rsoorvoo will become sair-supportln«. This
Ban Joss seals was found near ths Great to Important, because continually aad rapid
W all o f China, aad to now classing up nil ly Insroaslng appropriations will he neces
our orchards T h e fig-fertlltolng Insect Im sary for the proper ears af this exceedingly
ported from Turkey has helped to establish important Intoront of tho Nation, ond thay
an Industry la California that amounts ts can and should bo offset by returns from ths
frosa 50 to 100 ton« o f drtod figs onaaalb
Notional forests
Under similar circum
ond to oxtoadlng ovor tho Poclflc Coast. A stances ths forest possessions of other groat
parasitic, fiy from South A fr ic a to keqgtn* notions form an Important source of revenue
la subjection tho black oealo. the worst poi-i to thslr government«
of the orange and lemon Industry la Can
Every administrative officer concerned to
fora la. .
Careful preliminary work to being don* convinced of tho necessity for ths proposed
towards producing our own silk. Ths mul consolidation of forest work In ths Depart
berry to being distributed In large number* ment of Agriculture, and I myaslf have urged
eggs are being Imported and distributed, tm It mors then ones In former messages. Again
proved reels wars Imported from Europe I commend It to the anrly ond fevorobto con
last year, and two
export
rasters wen sideration of tho Congress. Ths Interests of
brought to Washington to reel the crop of the Nation at largo and of t n West In par
cocoons aad teach the art to our own pao ticular have suffered greatly because of ths
delay.
pto.
I call ths attention of ths Congress again
The cro-reporting system o f the Depart
to
tho report and recommendation of ths Com
moot of Agricwlturs to being brought oloari
mission on tho Public
to accuracy every year. It has 230,000 re
Pub lie f ends
L a n d « forwarded by
porters selected from People In eight Toes
ms to tho second ses
Ilona In Ilfs.
It has arrangements with
sion
o
f
tbe
present
congress.
Ths Commission
moat European countries for
T*lfihg
of estim ate« so that our people may know has prosecuted Its Investigations actively dur
as nearly as possible with what they m ux ing ths past season, and a second report Is
now la an advanced stags of preparation.
compete
During ths H i years that have elapse.1 Ths progress of ths Indiana toward civilian
sines ths passage o f ths reclamation act Hon. though not rapid, to parhnps all that
rapid progress has bean mads In th s sur could bo hoped for. In view of the circum
veys and examinations o f ths opportunities stance«
WUhln the past year many trlbsn
for reclamation In the IS states and thrsr have shown. In a degree greater than ever
territories o f the arid West.
Construction
before, an appreciation
has already boon be
In d ia n «
of tho necsesily of
Irrigation.
gun on tho largsaf ami
work. This changed at
most Important o f the titude to In part duo to tho policy recently
Irrigation w o rk « and plans are being com pursued of reducing the amount of subsist
pleted for works qgilch w ill utilise ths funds ence to the Indians, and thus forcing them,
now available.
The operations are being through sheer necessity, to work for a liveli
carried on by the Reclamation Service, s hood. Ths policy, though severs. Is a useful
corps of engineers selected through com peti ons. but It to to bo exercised only with Judg
tive civil-service exam ination« This corps ment and with a full understanding of ths
Includes experienced consulting
and con conditions which exist In each community for
structing engineers aa well as yartowg ex which It Is Intended. On or near ths Indian
perts In mechanical and legal m a tte r« aad reservations there to usually very little
to composed largely of man who have spent mand for labor, and tf ths Indians ars to
most of thslr lives In practical affairs con earn their living and when work cannot be
lected with Irrigation. The larger problems furntohed from outside (which to always prsf
hava been solved, and It now remains to ersble) then It must be furnished by ths Gov
Practical Instruction of this kind
exscuts with ears, economy, and thorough eminent.
ness ths work which has been told out. All would In a fow yean result In ths forming
Important details are being carefully eon of habits of regular Industry, which would
aldered by boards of consulting engineers render the Indian a producer and would effect
great reduction In the coot of hto main
selected for thslr thorough knowledge and s tenaace.
practical experience. Each project to taken
In the Poatolfico Deportment ths service
up on the ground by competent men and
viewed from the standpoint of ths creation has Increased In efficiency, and conditions
of prosperous hom e« and of promptly refund as to revenue and expenditure continue sat
Ths Increase o f revenue during
ing to the Treasury ths cost o f construction isfactory.
Ths reclamation net has been found to be ths year was $9.358,1S1.10. or fill per cent,
remarkably complete and effective, and to ths total receipts amounting to $143.1182.-
$132.302.-
broad In Its provisions that n wlda range of 624.34. Ths expenditures wars
undertakings has been possible under It. At 116.70, an Increase o f about • per cent over
ths
previous
year,
being
thus
$8.979.492.3«
ths same time, economy 1s guaranteed by
ths fact that funds must ultim ately ba re In excess of ths current revenue. Included
In those expenditures was a total appropri
turned to be used over again.
I t to the cardinal principle of the foroat- atlon o f $12.856,637.33 for the continuation
and
extension o f ths rural frss-dsllvsry
reserve policy o f this Administration that
tbs rvservei are for service, which was an Increase o f $4,902.
237.35
over 'the
amount
expended for
Forests.
usa. W hatever Inter
this purpose In the
fares with the usa of
Faatal fiee r ie«.
preceding fiscal year.
thslr resources to to bo avoided by ovary
L arge as this expendi
possible means.
But these resources mast
ture
haa
been
the
beneficent
results attained
be used In such a way as to tanks them
In extending ths free distribution of malls
permanent.
Ths foresf policy o f the Government to to ths residents o f rural districts have
Just now a subject o f vivid public Interest Justified the wisdom o f ths outlay. Statis
throughout ths West and to ths people of tics brought down to October 1, 1904. show
the United States In general. The forest re that on that data there were 27,138 rural
approximately
serves themaslvsa are of extrema value to routes established, serving
ths present ns well as to the future welfare 12.000,000 of people In rural districts re
of all the Western public-land states They mote from poatolfices, and that th*re wars
powerfully affect the use and disposal of pending nt that time 3859 petitions for ths
the public lan d « They are o f special Im establishment of new rural routes. Unques
portance because they preserve the water tionably some part of ths general Increase In
supply and the supply of timber fqi; domestic receipts to due to the Increased postal f a
purposes and so promote settlement under cilities which ths rural service has afforded
the reclamation act. Indeed, tbey are es The revenues have also been aided greatly
sential to the w elfare of every one o f the by amendments In the classification of mall
matter, and the curtailment o f abuses of
great Interest o f th e, West.
Forest reserves are’ created for two prin ths second-class mailing privilege. Ths aver
cipal purposes. Ths first to to preserve the age Increase In the volume of m oil matter
water supply. This to thslr most Important for the period beginning with 1902 and end
use. The principal users o f the water thus ing June. 1903 (th at portion for 1905 being
preserved are Irrigation ranchers and set estimated), to 40.47 ner cent, as compared
tlers, cities and towns to whom thslr mu with 23.$6 per cent for the period Immedi
nicipal water supplies ars of the very first ately preceding, and 13.92 for the four-year
Importance, users and furnishers o f water period Immediately preceding that.
The growing Importance o f the Orient as a
power, and ths users o f water for domaatle.
manufacturing, mining, and other purposes. field for Am erican exports drew from my
A ll these ora directly dependent upon ths predecessor. President McKinley, an urgent
request for Its special
forest reserve«
consideration by ths
Ths second reason for which forest re
Congress In hto msa-
serve. ore created to to preserve the llmbee
o f 1898 he stated:
supply for various classes o f wood users
"In this relation, ns showing the peculiar
Among tho more Important o f these are set
tlers under the reclamation act and other volume and value o f our trade with China
favorable
conditions
acto, for whom a cheap and acdeaalbl* sup and the peculiarly
ply of timber for domestic uses to absolutely which exist for thslr expansion In the
necessary; miners and prospector« who ors normal course o f trade. I refer to tho
In serious danger of loetng their timber sup communication addressed to the Speaker of
ply by firs or through export by lumber com the House of Representatives by ths Secre
panies when timber lands adjacent to their tary o f the Treasury on the 14th of Inst
mines pass Into private ownership; lumber June, with Its accompanying' letter of the
men. transportation companies, builder« end Secretary o f State, recommending an appro
priation fo r a commission to study the In
commercial Interests In general.
Although tbe wisdom of creating forest re dustrial and Comlherclnh conditions In the
serves Is nearly everywhere heartily recog Chinese Empire u id to report ns to the op-
nised, yet In a few localities there have been portunltles for anti ths obstacles to the en-
misunderstanding and complaint. The fol iargement of markets In Chine f i r the rh%
products and manufactures "of the United
lowing statement to therefore desirable:
The forest-reeerve policy can be successful S ta te « Action was not taken thereon dur
only when It has the full support of the peo ing the lost session. I cordially urge that
ple of the West. It cannot safely and should the recommendation receive a t your hands
not In any case, be Imposed upon them the consideration which Its Importance and
,
against tbelr will. But neither can we ac timeliness m erit.”
In his annual message o f 1899 he again
cept the views o f those whose only Interest
in the forest is temporary; who are anxious called attention to this recommendation,
to reap what they have not sown end then quoting It, and stated further:
” 1 now renew this recommendation, ns the
move away, leaving desolation behind them.
On the contrary. It to everywhere and always Importance of the subject has steadily grown
the Interest of ths permanent settler end sines It was first submitted to you. and no
the permanent business man. ths msn with a time should be lost In studying for ourselves
stake In ths country, which must be con ths resources of this great field for American
trade and enterprlm.”
sidered. and which must decide.
Ths Importance o f securing proper In
The making of forest reserves within rail
formation
and data with a view to the
road and wagon-road land-grant limits will
hereafter, as for the past three years, be so enlargement o f our trade with Asia to undl-
managed as to prevent the issue, under the mlnlshed. Our Consular representatives Iq
act of June 4, 1897. o f base for exchange or China have strongly urged n place for per
lieu selection (usually called scrip). In all manent display of American products In
cases where forest reserves within areas sbme prominent trade center of that em
covered by land grants appear to be essea- pire. under Government control and man
tlal to the prosperity o f settlers, miners, or agement, as an effective means of advanc
others, the Government lands within such ing our export trade therein. I call the at
proposed forest reserves will, as In the recent tention o f the Congress to the desirability
past, be withdrawn from sale or tntry pend bf carrying out these suggestions.
ing the completion o f such negotiations with
Alaska, like «11 our territorial acquisitions,
the owners o f the land grants as will prevent has proved resourceful heyond the expecta
the creation o f so-called scrip.
tions of those who made the Durchaee. It
It was form erly the custom to make forest has become the home of many hardy. In
reserves without first getting definite and
dustrious, and thrifty
detailed Information an to the character of
Alaska.
American c i t i z e n *
land and timber within their boundaries. This
Towns of n permanent
method of action often resulted In badly character have been built. The extent o f It*
chosen boundaries and consequent Injustice wealth In m in era l« timber, fisheries, and
to settlers and others« Therefore this Ad agriculture, while great. Is probably not
ministration adopted the present method of comprehended yet In any Just measure by
first withdrawing the land from disposal, our people. W e do know, however, that from
followed by careful examination on the a very small beginning Ita products have
ground and the preparation o f detailed maps grown until they ars a steady and material
and descriptions, before any forest reservtf contribution to the wealth of the Nation.
to created.
Owing to the Immensity of Alaska and Its
I have repeatedly called attention to the location In the fa r north. It to a difficult
confusion which exists In Government forest m atter to provide many things essential to
matters because the work to scattered im on i Its growth and to the happlneea and com
three Independent organisations. Ths United fort of Ita people by private enterprise alone.
States Is ths only one o f the great nation* It should, therefore, receive reaeonable eld
In which the foreat work o f the Oovernmenh from ths Government. The Government has
Is not concentrated under one department. already done excellent work for
Alaska
In consonance with the plainest dictates of In laying cables end building telegraph tines.
good administration end common sense. The This work has been done In the most eco
present arrangement is bad from every point nomical and efficient way by ths 8lgnal
of view. Merely to mention It Is to prove Corps o f ths Army.
that It should be terminated at ones. As I
In some respects tt has outgrown Its pres
have repeatedly recommended, all ths forest ent la w « while In others those laws have
work of tbe Government should be concen been found to be Inadequate. In order to
trated In the Department of Agriculture, obtain Information upon which I could rely
where the larger part of that work to already I caused an official of the Department of
done, where practically all o f the trained Justice, In whose Judgment I have con
foresters o f the Government are employed, fidence. to vlelt Alaska during the past Bum-
where chiefly In Washington tbers is com
prehensive flrst-hand knowledge of Ihe prob mar for ths purpose o f ascertaining how
to administered there end what*
lems o f tho reserves acquired on the ground, government
legislation is actually needed at present. A
where nil problems relating to grostih from statement
of the conditions found to exist,
tho soil ora already gathered, and where all together with
some recommendations and ths
the sciences auxiliary to forestry are at hand reasons therefor. In which I strongly con
for prompt and effective co-operation. These cur w ill be fopnd In the annual report of
reasons are decisive In themselves, but It the' Attorney-Gensral. In some Instances I
should be added that the great organizations feel that the legislation suggested to so
of citizens whose Interests are affected by the im peratively needed that I am moved briefly
forest reserves, such as ths National Llve- lo emphasise the Attorney-General’s pro
itock Association, the National Woolgrowers-
Association, the American Mining Congress, posals.
Under the code of Alaska as It now stands
ths National Irrigation Congress, and the
powers
and
"National Board of Trade, have uniformly, m anr purely adm inistrative
emphatically,<»gnd most of them repeatedly, duties. Including by far ths most Ira-
portent.
devolve
upon
the
District
Judges
or
expressed themselves In favor of placing
all Government forest work In ths Depart, upon ths Clerks of the District Court acting
ment of Agriculture because of ths peculiar under the direction o f the Judge« while the
adaptation of that Department for It. It Qovarnor. upon whom these powers end du
to true. also, that the forest services of ties ahould logically fall, has nothing spe
nearly all ths great nations of ths world ars cific to do except to make annual rep ort«
under ths respective departments of agricul tosue Thankgiving d « r proclam ation« and
ture. while If»' hut two of the smaller na appoint Indian policemen and notaries pub
I believe It essential to good govern
tions and In one colony ars they under ths lic
department of the Interior.
This Is the ment In A ta s k « and therefor« recommend,
that
ths
Congress divest ths District Judges
result of long and varied experience and It
agrees fully with ths requirements of good and etorks of thalr courts of ths adminis
trative or sxsrullre functions that they now
administration In our own cnee
Ths creation o f n forest service 1« the De- exercise and cast them upon ths Oovsrnor.
psrtment o f Agriculture will have for Its This would n ot be an Innovation; It would
Am ply conform the government of Alaska
Important results;
First— A better handling of all forest work, to fundamental principles, making ths Gov
because It Will be under a single head, and ernorship a real Instead o f t merely nominal
because the vast and Indispensable experi o fllr « and leaving ths Judges free to « I ts
ence of the Deportment In all matters per thslr antlrs attention to thslr Judlalnl duties
taining to tho forest reserve« to forestry In and at the same time removing tbsm from
general, and to other forms o f production a great deal of ths strife that aaw sm - 1
States o f had Invttad foreign aggression to-
barrasses tho Judicial ofiles la A la sk a
I also recommend that ths salaries o f the ths detriment o f tho entire body of AmerU'
It to n mar* truism to say
District Judges and District Attorneys la can nation«
Alaska be Increased go Xs to^make them that ovary nation, whathar In Amortch or
equal la those received by corresponding of nnywhars a la « which desires t* maintain.
ficers tn thé United Staten after deducting t u freedom. Its Independent-« must ulti
ths difference In ths cost of living; that Iho m ately roallns that th* right o f suoh Inde
District Attorneys should bo prohibited from pendence oannot ba aaparated from tha re
engaging la private practice; that United sponsibility of making good use of U.
States Commissioners ba appointed by ths i Ths strong arm o f the Government In en
Governor of tho territory Instead o f by ths forcing respect for Its Just rights In Intar-
District Ju d gs« aad that a fixed salary bs national matters to ths Navy o f th* bolted
provided for thsiq to take the plaça of ths S ta te «
I moat ’ garnsatly recommend that
discredited ” ffs system." which ahould ba
thora be no halt In tha
abolished la all ofilcss; that a mounted con
Tha Navy.
work of upbulidlog tbo
American Navy. There
stabulary bs created to police ths territory
outside ths limits 6f Incorporated tew ne- - s to no more patriotic duty before ua aa a .
vast section now wholly without police pro people than to keep ths Navy adequate to
tection; aad that some provision ba mads tbs needs of this country’s position. W s have
to at least lessen the oppressive delays and undertaken to build the Isthmian Canal. Ws
costs that now attend ths prosecution of ap have undertaken to scour* for ourselves our
share In ths trada of tbs Orient. W s-
peals from ths Dlstrlot Court o f A laska Just
,iaVe undertaken to protoot our cilia*aa from
There should bs a division of ths existing Improper treatment In foreign lan d « W s
Judicial d is tric t« aad aa Increase In lhe continue steadily td Insist on tha application,
number o f Judge«
of ths Monroe Doctrlns to ths Western
Alaska should hava a Dslsgats In’,ths ■Con Hemisphere.
Unless our attitude 1« these
g re s « Where possible, the Congress should and ell similar matters to to bs n mara
old In ths construetlon of needed wagon boastful sham ws can not afford to aban
ro a d « Additional lighthouses should be pro don our naval programme. Onr votes to now
vided. Ia my judgment. It to especially Im potent for peace, and ts so potent because w e
portant to aid In such manner as seems just ars not afraid of war. But our protestations
behalf of peace would neither receive
and feaalbto In ths construction o f a trunk upon
nor desert* th* slightest attention If wa-
line o f railway to connect ths Oulf of Alaska wars
Impotent to mnks them good.
with ths Tukon R iver through American ter
W ithin ths last three years th* United*
ritory. This would bs most beneficial to ths
development o f ths resources of the territory, States has n t an example la disarmament
disarmament
was
propery.
By
and to ths comfort and wslfara o f Its people. whsra
' Salmon hatcheries should bs established In law our Arm y to fixed a t a maximum of
100,000
and
a
mlnl-
many différant strea m « so as to secure ths
The Arm y.
mum of 60.000 men.
preservation of this valuable food fish. Bal-
Whan there was In
on fisheries and canneries should bs pro-
surrection
In
tha
Philippines
wa kept tha-
blldd on certain of the rivers where ths
mass of those Indians dwell who live almost Arm y at the maximum. Peace came In the
th lllp p ln e« and now oun Arm y has been
exclusively on fish.
reduced to tpe minimum at which It to pos
Ths Alaskan natives ars kindly. Intelli sible to keep It with due regard to Its effi
gent. anxious to learn, and willing to work. ciency. Ths guns now mounted require 28.-
Those who have come under the Influence 000 men. If ths coast fortifications are to ba
of civilisation, even for n limited period, adequately manned. Relatively to ths Na
have proved thslr capability of becoming tion. it to not now so large as the police
self-supporting, self-respecting c ltls e n « and fores of New York or Chicago relatively to
nek only for the Just enforcement of law the population o f either elty. W s need mors
and Intelligent Instruction and supervision. officers , (bars nrs not enough to psform
Others living In mors remote reg io n « prim ths regular Army work. It Is very Important
itive. simple hunters and fisher folk, who that ths officers of ths Army should bs ac
know only ths Ilfs of tbs woods aad t t e customed to handle thslr msn In m esas«
w a te r« are dally being confronted with 20th- as It to also Important that tha National.
csnlury civilisation, with nil o f Its complexl- Guard o f tha several states should bs ac
tlsa
Thslr country to being overrun by customed to actual Bald maneuvering, es
stran ger« the gams slaughtered and driven pecially In connection with the regu lar« For
away, ths streams depleted o f fish, and this rs«aoa ws are to bs congratulated upon
hitherto unknown and fatal diseases brought tho success of ths field maneuvers at Man
to them, all of which combine to produce a assas last Fall, maneuvers In which n larg
stats o f abject poverty and wqqt which must er number of regulars and National Guard
result In thalr estlnctloa. Action In thslr took part than was ever before assembled
Interest to demanded by every considération together In tlms of peace. No other civil
, of Justice and humanity.
ised Nation h e « relatively to Its population,
such a diminutive Army as oqra; and whlla
Ths needs o f these people are:
Ths abolition o f (he prsssnt fsa system, th* Arm y to so small wa are not to bs ex
whereby ths «s tiv e Is degraded. Imposed cused If we fall to keep It nt a very high
grade o f proficiency. It must bs Incessantly
upon, and taught the Injustice of tow.
Ths establishment o f hospitals at central practlcsd; ths standard for tbs enlisted men.
p o in t« no that contagious diseases that are should bs kept very high, while at ths same
brought to them continually by Incoming ttma ths service ahould bo mads as attrac
whites may be localised and not allowed to tive as possible^ and ths standard fo r tha
become epidemic, to spread death and desti officers should ba kept even higher— which,
aa'regards tha upper ra n k « ean bast ba dona
tution over grant a re a «
by Introducing some system o f selection and
Ths davslopmsnt of ths educational system rejection Into tho prom otion« W s should ba-
In ths form of practical training In such ablo, la ths event of some suddaa emerg
Industries as w ill. assure ths Indians self- ency, to put Into ths field one first-class
support under the changed conditions In Arm y c o rp « which should bs. as a whole, at
which they w ill have to live.
least the equal of any body of troops of Ilka
Ths duties o f the office o f ths Governor number belonging to any bthsr nation.
ehould be extended to Include the supervi
In ths Philippine Islands there has been
sion of Indian affaira, with necessary assist during ths past year a continuation of tho
ants In different d is tric t«
Ha should be steady progress which has obtained aver
provided with ths means and the power to sines our troops definitely got ths upper
protect and advise ths native people, to fur hand of ths Insurgent« Ths Philippine peo
nish medical treatment tn tlms of epidem
ple. or, lo spank morn
i c « and to extend m ateriel relief In periods
n o Philippine«
accurately, ths many
of fnmlns and extrema destitution.
l.'.bes. and even r a c e «
T h * Alaskan natives should be given ths sundered from one another more or less
right to acquire, hold, and dispose of prop sharply, who go to make up the people o f
erty upon ths same conditions ns given other thb Philippine Isla n d « contain many ale-
inhabitants; and ths privilege of cltlaenshlp m ints of good, and some slamsnta which w a
should ba given to have a right to hope stand for progress. A t
» H r awaii
. _ . i i and I Porto
.,,,.,,
such
ns may
be d<n.
able present they are .utterly Incapable of extot-
to raM,
c, rtaln
Ing In Independence nt nil or o f building
nlte requirem ent« In up n civilisation of their own. I firmly be
Hawaii,
Congress lieve that we can help them to rise higher
should g iv e the Governor power to remove and higher In the scale of clvillsaton and o f
nil the officiale appointed under him. The capacity for self-government, and 1 moat
harbor o f Honolulu should be dredged. The earnestly hope that In th* end they will be
Marine Hoepltal Service ehould be empow able to stand. If not entirely alone, yet In
ered to study leprosy tn the Island« I a*k some such relation to the United States a*
spécial consideration for- the report and rec Cuba now stan d« This end to not yat In
ommendations of ths Governor of-Porto Rico. -sight, and It may b* indefinitely postponed
In treating o f our foreign policy and o f the If our people are foolish enough to turn tbo
attitude that this great Nation- should as attention o f the Filipinos away fr a ff th*
sume In ths world at large. It to absolutely problems of achieving moral and materia!
necessary to consider the Army and the prosperity, of working for a stable, orderly,
Navy, and ths Congres« through which ths and Just government, end toward foolish end
thought o f ths Nation dangerous Intrigues for a complete Inde
F «Volga Policy.
finds Its expression. pendence for which they are ns yet totally
should keep ever v iv unlit.
idly In mind the fundamental fact that It to
On th* other hand, our people must heap'
Impossible to treat our foreign policy, wheth steadily bafor* thslr minds ths fact that th*
er this policy takes shape In ths effort to .Justification for our stay In ths Philippines
secure Justice for others or Justice for our must ultimately rest chiefly upon th* good
selves, save as conditioned upon ths attitude w* nr* nbl* to do In the Island*. I do not
we nrs wilting to take toward our Army, and overlook ths tact that In the development o f
especially toward our Navy. It to not merely our Interests in the Pacific Ocean and along
unwise. It to contemptible, for a Nation, ns Its con st« th* Philippines have ployed and
for an Individual, to uss high-sounding lan will piny an Important part, end that our
guage to proclaim Its purposes, or to take Interests have been served In mors than on*
positions which nrs ridiculous If unsupported way by the possession of th* Islands. But
by potential force, and then to refuse to our chief reason for continuing to hold them
provide this fores. I f there Is no Intention must be that we ought In good faith to try to
of providing and o f keeping the force nec do our share of the world's work, end this
essary to back up a strong attitude, then It particular piece of work haa been Imposed
Is far better not to assume such an attitude. upon us by the results of th* war with Spain.
The steady aim of this Nation, as o f nil The problem presented te ua In th* Philip
enlightened nations, should be to strive to pine Islands Is skin to, but not exactly like,
bring ever nearer the day when there shall the problems presented to the other great
prevail throughout ths world thq peace of civilised powers which have possessions In
Justice. There are kinds o f peace which nrs the Orient. There are points of resemblance
highly undesirable, which are In the long In our work to the work which to being done
run ns destructive ns any war. Tyrants and by the British In India and Egypt, by th*
oppressors hava many times mads s wilder French tn A lg le r« by tha Dutch In Java, by
ness and called It peace, i Many times peo Ihe Russians In Turkestan, by the Japan***
ples who w ere slothful or timid or short In Formosa; but more distinctly than any of
sighted, who had been enervated by ease or these powers we are endeavoring to develop
by luxury, or misled by false teachings, have ths natives themselves so that they shall
shrunk In unmanly fashion from doing duty tkke an ever-increasing share In their own
that was stern and that needed self-sacrifice, government, and as fa r as is prudent w* nr*
and have sought to hide from their own already admitting their representatives to •
mlnde their shortcomings, their Ignoble mo governmental equality with our own.
t iv e « by calling them love of peace. The
There are Commissioners, Judges, and Gov
pence o f tyrannous terror, I Be peace of cra ernors In the Islands who ars Filipinos and
ven weakness, the pence o f Injustice, all who have exactly th* same share In th*
these should bs shunned ns ws shun unright government of the lelgnds as have their col
eous war.
leagues who are A m erican « while In th*
W e ere In every way endeavoring to help lower ranks, of course, the great m ajority o f
the
public servants are Ftllplrme. Within (wo
on, with cordial good will, every movement
which will
tend
to years we shaft be trying th e’ experiment o f
Arbitration Treaties, bring us Into more an elective lower house In the Philippine
friendly relations with Legislature. 11v may b* that th* Filipinos
the rest of mankind. In pursuance of this will misuse this Legislature, and they cer
policy I shall shortly lay before ths Sen-, tainly w ill misuse It If they are misled by
ate treaties of arbitration with all powers foolish nersons here st home Into starting
which are willing to enter Into these treaties an agitation for their own Independence or
with us. It Is not possible at this period Into any factious or Improper action. In such
of the world's development to agree to ar rase they will do themselves no good and
bitrate nil m a tte r« but thore are many will atop for th* time being all further e f
matters of possible difference between us fort to advance them and give them a
and other nations which can be thus arbi greater share In their own government. But
trated. Furthermore, at the request o f the If they act with wisdom and aelf-reatraint.
Interparliamentary Union, an eminent body If they show that they are capable of electing
composed of practical a Legislature which In Its turn to capable
of taking a aan* and efficient part la ths
Second Hague
statesmen from
nil
actual work o f government, they can rest
countries. 1 h a v e
Conference.
»*k ed th* powers to assured that a full and Increasing measure
o
f recognition will be given them. Above all
Join with this Govern
ment In a second Hague conference, at which they should remember that their prime needs
It to hoped that the work already so happily ore moral and Industrial, not political. It Is
begun at The Hague may be carried some s good thing to try the experiment of g iv
steps further toward completion. This car ing them a Legislature; lej| It to n far bet
ries out the desire expressed by the first ter thing to give them schools, good ro a d «
railroads which w ill enable them to get their
Hague Conference itself.
products to market, honest cou rt« an honest
It to not true that the United States feels and efficient constabulary, and ell that tends
any land hunger or entertains any projects to produce order, peace, fair dealing as be
as regards the other nations of the Western tween man and man. and habits of Intelli
Hemisphere save such as ars for thslr wel- gent Industry and thrltt. I I they are safe
'
fare.
Alt that this guarded against oppression, and If their real
Policy Toward Other country desires Is to wants, material and spiritual. Or* studied In
—, , i
s
e
e
ths neighboring telligently and In a spirit of friendly sym
Nations o f Western countr|„
or.
pathy, much mors good will be done them
Hemisphere.
derly, and prosperous than by an effort to give them political
Any
country whose power, though this effort m ar In Its own
people conduct themselves wall can esunt proper tlms end place b* proper enough.
upon our hearty friendship.
I f a nation
Meanwhile our own people should remem
shows that It knows how to act with rea
sonable efficiency and decency In social and ber that there Is need for th* highest stand
ard
of conduct among th* Americans sent
political matters. If tt keeps order and pays
Its obligations. It need fear no Intsrfersncs to th* Philippine Island*, not only among th*
from ths United States. Chronic wrongdo public servants but among th* private In
ing. or an Impotence which results In a gen dividuals who go to them. It to because I
eral loosening of the tie* of civilised so feel this so deeply that In the administra
ciety. may In America, n* elsewhere, ulti tion of th*** Islands I hsvs positively re
mately requlr* Intervention by anm* c iv il fused to permit any dlscrlmlnaton whatso
ised nation, and In th# Western Hemisphere ever for political reasons, and have Insisted
the adherence of th* United States to ths that In choosing the public servants consid
Monroe . Doctrine may fores ths United eration ahould be paid solely to th* worth
lAtlaa, however
reluctantly. In flagrant of th* men chosen and to tha needs of the
cases o f et«’ h wrongdoing or Impotence, to Islands. There Is no higher body of men In
ths exercise of an International poltc* power. our public service than we have In tha
I f every country washed by th* Caribbean Philippine Islands under Oovsrnor W right
Sen would show ths progress In stabls and and hto associate«. So far as possible thee#
Just civilisation which with th* aid o f tho men should be given n fra# hand, end thslr
Platt amendment Cuba haa shown sine* our suggestions should receive ths hearty bask
troops toft th* Island, and which an many ing both of th* Exscutlvs and at ths Con
o f th* republics In both Americas ars con gress. There Is need of a vigilant and dis
stantly and brilliantly showing, all ques interested support of our public torrents la
th* Philippine* by good ottlssns her* In tha
tion of Interferenc* by this Nation with United
States.
thslr affairs would ba at an and. Our In
Every measure taken concerning th* Islands
ternats and those of our Southern neighbors
are In reality Identical. They hava great ahould b* takaji primarily with • view to
natural rich**, and If within thslr borders thslr ad ven ts««. W * should certainly give
ths ralgn of law and Juatlea obtain« proa- them lower tariff rates on tl|blr export* to
parity to sura to com* to them. Whll# they th* United States; If this to not don* It trill
thus obey th* primary laws of clvlllied soci be a wrong to extend our shipping tows to
ety they may raat assured that they will b* them. I earnestly hops for th# immediate
treated by ua In a spirit of cordial and enactment Into tow ,o f ths legislation aow
helpful eympathy. iW# would Interfere with pending to encourag* American capital Mo
them only In tha last resort, and then only seek Investment In tha Islands In ra ilro a d «
If It became evident that thslr Inability nr In f«stories. In plantations, and In lumber
unwillingness to do jdoilce at horns and ing and mining.
abroad bad violated ths rights of tho United
TH E O D O RE ROOSEVELT.
»