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About The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19?? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1901)
THE NORFOLK NRWS : FRIDAY , DKOKMHKR 0 , 1001 , ? y Bis Recommendations to the Congress on Many I Subjects PROBLEM OF RECIPROCITY While Favoring the Principle , Ho , Opposes Any General Tariff Change. THE TREATMENT OF TRUSTS. lie Deems Publicity the Only Sure Rem edy That Can Now Be Evoked. Redaction of TnrlfT Duticn on Cnlinn Import * Into Thin Country tiniic- clallr Advocated Coniitriictloii of IrrlKiitlon Work * by the National Govcriiinciit Uriccd Iinportiinuc of 1 Dnlhlliifc the iKthmlan Cnnnl unil , the I'ficlflu Cable Monroe Doctrine Should Itf Cardinal Fcntnrc of All Amerlcn The Philippine I'rohlein. Itc-eiinctnieiit of ChlncMc KxcIiiMloii Act AdvlMfd Hcmeillnl Action Ur - ' cd For Onr Merchant Marine I'rcw- crviitlon of Forests. To tlio Senate nnd House of Representa tives : The congress assembles thla year under the shadow of n great calamity. On the Cth of September President McICInley was shot by an anarchist whllo attending the Pan-American exposition at Buffalo and died In that city on the 14th of that month. Of the last sovcn elected presidents he Is the third who has been murdered , and the bare- recital of this fact Is sufficient to justify grave alarm among all loyal American citizens. Moreover , the circum stances of this , the third assassination of an American president , have a peculiarly sinister significance. Both President Lin coln and President Garflcld were killed by assassins of types unfortunately not un common In history , President Lincoln falling a victim to the terrible passions aroused by four years of civil war and President Garfleld to the revengeful van ity of a disappointed ofHcesecker. Presi dent McKlnley was killed by an utterly Ucpravcd criminal belonging to that body lot criminals who object to all govern ments , good and bad alike , who are against any form of popular liberty if It is iruaranteed by even the most Just and llb- ral laws and who are as hostile to the Upright exponent of a free people's sober \vlll as to the tyrannical and Irresponsible ' It Is not too much to say that at the ( time of President McKlnley's death he iwas the most widely loved man In all the ( United States , whllo wo have never had any public man of his position who has l > een so wholly free from the bitter ani mosities incident to public life. His polit- flcal opponents were the first to bear the heartiest and most generous tribute to the proad kindliness of nature , the sweetness and gentleness of character which so en deared him to his close associates. To a standard of lofty integrity In public life ho united the tender affections and home virtues which are all Important in the makeup of national character. A gallant eoldler in the great war for the Union , ho also shone as an example to all our people because of his conduct In the most sacred and intimate of home relations. There oould be no personal hatred of him , for ho never acted with aught but consideration lor the welfare of others. No one could lall to respect him who know him in pub lic or private life. The defenders of those murderous criminals who seek to excuse their criminality by asserting that It la exercised for political ends Inveigh against wealth and irresponsible power. But for this assassination even this basa apology cannot bo urged. i The Object of the niovc. ' President McKlnley was a man of mod erate means , a man whose stock sprang from the sturdy tillers of the soil , who had himself belonged among the wage- fworkers , who had entered the army as a private soldier. Wealth was not struck at Kvhen the president was assassinated , but the honest toll which is content with mod- crate gains after a lifetime of unremitting labor largely in the service of the public. Still less was power struck at in the sense that power is irresponsible or centered in the hands of any one individual. The blow wa8 not aimed at tyranny or wealth. It was aimed at ono of the strongest cham pions the wagoworker has ever had , at one of the most faithful representatives of the system of public rights and represent ative government who has ever risen to public office. President McKlnley filled that political ofllco for which the entire people vote , and no president , not even Lincoln himself , was ever more earnestly anxious to represent the well thought out wishes of the people. Ills ono anxiety in every crisis was to keep In closest touch With the people , to nnd out what they thought and to endeavor to give expres- elon to their thought after having endeav ored to guide that thought aright. He had Just been re-elected to the presidency because the majority of our citizens , the majority of our farmers and wagework- era , believed that he had faithfully upheld their interests for four years. They felt themselves in close and Intimate touch with him. They felt that ho represented eo well and BO honorably all their Ideals and aspirations that they wished him to continue for another four years to repre sent them. And this was the man at whom the as- nassln struck ! That there might bo noth ing lacking to complete the Judas-liko in famy of his act he took advantage of an occasion when the president was meeting the people generally , and , advancing as if to take the hand outstretched to him In kindly and brotherly fellowship , he turned the noble and generous confidence of the victim Into an opportunity to strike the fatal blow. There Is no baser deed in all the annals of crime. A Glorlon * Death. The shock , the grief of the country , are bitter In the minds of all who saw the dark days whllo the president yet hovered between Ufa and death. At last the light Btlllod in the kindly eyes , and the breath went fem the lips that nvon lit mortal agony uttered no words nnvu of forgiveness to hln murderer , of love for his friends nnd of unfaltering trust In the Will of the Most High. Such n donth crowning the glory of mirh n llfo leaves us with luflnlto Morrow , but with mich pride In what ho had nooompllnheil and In hln own personal character that wo feel Ihoiiov tint as nlrtlcic at tiim , lint ns ntruck at the tuition.Vo mourn u good and great president who la dead , but while wo mourn wo am lifted up by the splendid achievements of hln llfo and the grand heroism with which ho mut his death , When wo turn from the man to thn na tion , the Imrm done Is NO great n.i to excite - cite our gravest apprehensions and to de mand our wisest and most resolute action. Thin criminal was a professed anarchist , Inllnmed by the teachings of professed an archists nnd probably also by the reckless utterances of thono who on thn stump nnd In the public prens appeal to the dark and evil spirits of nuillco nnd greed , envy and sullen hatred. The wind Is sowed by the men who preach such doctrines , nnd they cannot escape their slmro of responsibil ity for the whirlwind that Is roapod. This applies alike to the deliberate domiigoguo , to the exploiter of sonsatlanullsm and to the crude and foolish visionary who for whatever reason apologises for crime or excites aimless discontent. The blow wan aimed not at thla presi dent , but at all presidents , at every sym bol of government. President McKlnloy was as emphatically the embodiment of the popular will of the nation expressed through the forms of law as a New ICng- land town meeting In In similar fashion the embodiment of the law abiding pur pose nnd practice of the people of the town. On no concelvablo theory could the murder of the president bo accepted as duo to protest against "Inequalities In the social order" imvo us the murder of all the freemen engaged In a town meeting could bo accepted us n protest against that so cial Itiuciiinllty which puts a malefactor In Jail. Anarchy IB no moro an expression of "social discontent" than picking pockets or wife beating. Anarchy nnd Aiinrnlil t * . - The anarchist , and especially the anarch ist In the United States , Is merely ono typo of criminal , more dangerous than any othur because he represents the Rumo do- pravlty In a greater degree. The man who advocates anarchy directly or Indirectly In any shape or fashion or the man who apologizes for anarchists nnd their deeds makes himself morally accessory to mur der before the fact. The anarchist Is a criminal whose perverted Instincts lead him to prefer confusion and chaos to the most beneficent form of social order. Ills protest of concern for worhlnfimen IH out rageous In It'i Impudent falsity , for If the political Institutions of this country do not afford opportunity to every honest and intelligent son of toll then the door of hope Is forever closed against him. The anarchist Is everywhere not merely the enemy of system nnd of progress , but the deadly foe of liberty If over anarchy Is triumphant , Its triumph will last for but one red moment , to bo succeeded for ages bv the cloomy night of despotism. For the anarchist himself , whether lie preaches or practices his doctrines , wo need not have ono particle moro concern than for any ordinary murderer. He Is not the victim of social or political Injus tice. There are no wrongs to remedy In his case. The cause of his criminality is to be found In his own evil passions and in the evil conduct of those who urge him on , not In any failure by others or by the state to do Justice to him or his. Ho is a malefactor and nothing else. Ho Is In no sense. In no shape or way , a "product of social conditions" save as a highwayman is "produced" by the fact that an unarm ed man happens to have a purse. It Is a travesty upon the great and holy names of liberty and freedom to permit them to bo Invoked In such a cause. No man or body of men preaching anarchistic doc trines should bo allowed at large anymore moro than if preaching the murder of some specified private individual. Anarch istic speeches , writings and meetings are essentially seditious and treasonable. Should Keep AnarchlntM Out. I earnestly recommend to the congress that in the exercise of its wlso discretion It should tnko Into consideration the com ing to this country of anarchists or per sons professing principles hostile to all government nnd Justifying the murder of those placed In authority. Such Individ uals as those who not long ago gathered in open meeting to glorify the murder of King Humbert of Italy perpetrate a crime , and the law should Insure their rigorous punishment. They and those like them should be kept out of this country , and If found here they should bo promptly de ported to the country whence they came , and fan-caching provision should bo made for the punishment of those who stay. No matter calls moro urgently for the wisest thought of the congress. The federal courts should bo given Juris diction over any man who kills or at tempts to kill the president or any man who by the constitution or by law is in line of succession for the presidency , whllo the punishment for an unsuccessful attempt should bo proportioned to the enormity of the oftense against our insti tutions. Anarchy is a crime against the whole human race , and all mankind should band against the anarchist. His crime should be made an offense against the law of na tions , like piracy and that form of man stealing known as the slave trade , for it is of far blacker Infamy than cither. It should be so declared by treaties among all civilized powers. Such treaties would glvo to the federal government the power of dealing with the crime. A grim commentary upon the folly of the anarchist position was afforded by the attitude of the law toward this very crim inal who had Just taken the life of the president. The people would have torn him llrnb from limb If it had not been that the law he defied was at once invoked in his behalf. So far from his deed being committed on behalf of the people against the government , the government was obliged at once to exert its full police power to save him from Instant death at the hands of the people. Moreover , his deed worked not the slightest dislocation In our governmental system , and the dan ger of a recurrence of such deeds , no mat ter how great it might grow , would work only in the direction of strengthening and giving harshness to the forces of order. No man will ever bo restrained from be coming president by any fear as to his personal safety. If the risk to the presi dent's life btcame great , It would mean that the office would moro and more come to bo filled by men of a spirit which would make them resolute and merciless in deal ing with every friend of disorder. This great country will not fall into anarchy , nnd If anarchists should ever become a serious menace to its institutions they would not merely be stamped out , but would involve In their own ruin every active or pasulve sympathizer with their doctrines. The American people are slow to wroth , but when their wrath Is once kindled It burns like a consuming flame , Condition * During the last five years business con fidence has been restored , and the nation Is to be congratulated because of its pres ent abounding prosperity. Such prosper ity can never be created by law alone , al though it la easy enough to destroy it by mischievous laws. If the hand of the Lord Is heavy upon any country , if flooder or drought comes , human wisdom Is pow erless to avert the calamity. Moreover , no law can guard us against the consequen ces of our own folly. The men who nro Idle or credulous , the men who seek gains not by genuine work with head or hand , but by gambling In any form , are always a Bourca of menace not only to them- eelvea , but to others. If the business world teuton Us hrud , It lose * wlmt IcRlnln- ' II < t C r.i.iot wippl ) , , Kutiu.i . . al..y Cm welfare of ouch citizen ami therefore the welfare ( if the nuKrrK.ttp i.f . diluent ! which mnUi'H the nation intiMt lent upon Individ * unl I irlft and otieriy , n lolutlou and In- telll/cnco. / Nothing inn taUo the plncu of this Individual cnpncltv. lull wlso Icitlnla- tlon and honent and ItitelllKcnt ndtnlnlx- trillion can glvo It thn fullimt HCOPO , thn largest opportunlt ) to work to good effect The tremendous nnd highly complex In dustrial development which wont on with ever accelerated rnpldlt > during thn latter half of the nlnotfciith century bring" u face to faro at the beginning of thn twen tieth with very serious social prohlcmii. Tim old IIIWH and thn old customs which had almost the binding forcn of law wcro oncu qulltt mtlllclcMit to regulate the accu mulation nnd distribution Of wimlth. Hlncn the Industrial chiingcM which have so enormously Increased the productlvo pow er of mankind they tire no longer mini- clout. The growth of cities 1ms gone on beyond comparison ranter than thu growth of the country , and thn upbuilding of the great Industrial centers IIIIH meant a startling Increase not mutely In the iiKgrcKiitn of wealth , but In the number of very largo individual and especially of very largo corporate fortunes. The creation of UIOHO Breat corporate fortunes has not been dun to the tariff nor to any other govcrnmmi- till action , but to natural CHUHPH In thn business world , operating In other coun tries as they operate In our own. The process ha * aroused much nntngo- nlntn , n great part of which la wholly without warrant U Is not true that a * the rich have grown richer the poor Imvn grown poorer. On the contrary , iiuvcr be fore has the averngn man , the wa oworlc- cr , the farmer , the ntnnll trader , boon newell well off us In this country and at the pres ent time. There have been abuses con nected with the accumulation of wealth , ynt It roiimliiH true that a fortuuo accu mulated In legitimate buslnrHH can bo ac cumulated bv thn person specially benefit ed only on condition of conferring Ini- tncnso Incidental benullts upon others. SuccoHSful enterprise of the typo which benellts all imitiUliid can only exist If thn conditions urn such an to offer great prizes as the rewards of HUCCCHS. llfiiMOHN For Cniillon. The captaltiH of Industry who Imvo driv en the railway systems across this conti nent , who Imvo built up our cotnmorco , who have developed our manufactures , J j have on the whole done great good to our people. Without them the material devel opment of which wo are HO Justly proud could never have taken place. Moreover , wo should recognize thn ImmciiHo Impor tance to thin material development of leaving as unhampered as Is compntlblu with the public good the strong and forceful - ful niuii upr-i whom the BUCCCSH of busl- iii-HH operations Inevitably rests. The slightest study of business conditions will eatlBfy any ono capable of forming a ' . Judgment that the personal equation Is I the most Important factor In a business i operation ; that the business ability of the man at the hum ! of any business concern , big or little , Is usually the factor which fixes the gulf between striking success n.wl VintinlnNM fnllllrn. An additional reason for caution In deal ing with corporations In to bo found In tin international commercial conditions of to day. The same business conditions which have produced the great aggregations of corporate and Individual wealth have made them very potent factors In inter national commercial competition. Busi ness concerns which have the largest means at their disposal and nro managed by the ablest men are naturally those which take the lend In the strife for com mercial supremacy among the nations of the world. America has only just begun to assume that commanding position In the International business world which we believe will more and moro bo hers. It Is of the utmost Importance that this po sition bo not Jeoparded , especially at a tlino when the overflowing abundance of our own natural resources and the skill , buslI I ness energy and mechanical uptltudo of our people make foreign markets cssonI I tlnl. Under such conditions it would bo most unwlso to cramp or to fetter the youthful strength of our nation. Intcrcnt * of All KmlimKered. ' Moreover , It cannot too often bo pointed out that to strike with Ignorant violence at the Interests of ono set of men almost inevitably endangers the Interests of all. The fundamental rule In our national life , ' the rule which underlies all others , Is that on the whole and In the long run wo shall go up or down together. There are cxcopt t tlons , and In times of prosperity some will prosper far moro and In times of ndversli ty some will suffer far rnoru than others : but , speaking generally , a period of good times means that all share more or less in them , and in a period of hard times all feel the stress to a greater or less degree. It surely ought not to bo necessary to en ter Into any f roof of this statement. The memory of the lean years which began In 1893 Is still vivid , and wo can contrast them with the conditions In this very year which Is now closing. Disaster to great business enterprises can never have its ef fects limited to the men nt the top. It spreads throughout , and while It Is bad for everybody it is worst for those far thest down. The capitalist may be shorn of his luxuries , but the wageworker maybe bo deprived of oven barn necessities. The mechanism of modern business Is so delicate that extreme care must bo taken not to Interfere with It In a spirit of rash ness or Ignorance. Many of those who have made it their vocation to denounce the great Industrial combinations which are popularl' % although with technical In accuracy , known as "trusts" appeal espe cially to hatred arid fear. These are pre cisely the twr > emotions , particularly when combined with Ignorance , which unfit men for the exerc.so of cool and steady Judg ment. In facing now Industrial conditions the whole history of the world shows that legislation will generally bo both unwise and Ineffective unless undertaken after calm inquiry and with sober self restraint. Much of the legislation directed at the trusts would have been exceedingly mis chievous had It not also been entirely in effective. In accordance with a well known sociological law the Ignorant or reckless agitator has been the really ef fective friend of the evils which he has been nominally opposing. In dealing with business Interests for the government to undertake by crude and 111 considered leg islation to do what may turn out to bo bad would bo to Incur the risk of such fan-caching national disaster that It would bo preferable to undertake nothing at all. The rrcn who demand the Impossi ble or the undesirable servo as the allies of the forces with which they are nomi nally at war , for they hamper those who would endeavor to find out In rational fashion what the wrongs really are and to what extent and In what manner It is practicable to apply remedies. Evil * of Overcapitalization. All this Is true. And yet it Is also true that there are real and grave evils , ono of the chief being overcapitalization because of Ita many baleful consequences , and a resolute and practical effort must be made to correct these evils , There is a widespread conviction in the minds of the American people" that the great corporations known as trusts are In certain of their features and tendencies hurtful to the general welfare. This springs from no spirit of envy or uncharl- tablencss nor lack of pride In the great In dustrial achievements that have placed this country at the head of the nations struggling for commercial supremacy. It does not rest upon a lack of Intelligent appreciation of the necessity of meeting changing and changed conditions of trade with now methods nor upon Ignorance of the fact that combination of capital in the effort to accomplish great things Is neces sary when the world's progress demands that great things bo dono. It is based upon nlncnrc convict Ion tlmt fomhlnntlon II 111 Ol'.liVntlUllJII uholllll 1)0 ) IIOl plollll.lt ed. hut miprrvlm.il and within rnitmtimhln llmllH controlled , anil In my Judgment HUM conviction IH thtlil. It IH no lltnlliiilon upon property righto or freedom of conduct to ieiiilre | tlmt when men rccrlvn from liovornmcnt the prlvllrgo of dolnn btmlncHH under corpo rate form which flees them from Indlvld- unl rcHionntilllty | ! nnd oimblcN them to call Into their cnlcrprlm-M the cupltiil of thn liuhllo they Hlmll do HO upon itluinlutnly truthful rcprcxcntatloiiH IIH to thn vulim of the prop'Ttj In which thn capital In to b * Invented. Corporations tmitngcd In Inter- nliito. commerce nhould bn regulated If they are found to o\orclno a HceiiHn work ing to the publlit Injury. It nhould bn an much thn iilm of thorn ) who seek for social betterment to rid thn luiHlncmi world of crimes of cunning nn to rid the ontlrn body politic of urhnen of violence. Orcnt corporations nxlnt only bocaunn they nro crented and safeguarded by our hmtltu- tlon.i. nnd It IH therefore our right and our duty to son that they work In hiinuo- ny with them * hiHtltutloiiH. I'uhllcUy Needed. The first c.smmtliil in determining how to deal with thn great Induntrlnl combina tions Is knowloilifo of the fnetH-pulilldty. In thu Interest of the. public the Kovern- tnnnt nhould Imvo the right to Innpcct nnd oxamlno thn workings of the grunt corpo- ratlonn c.ngiVKod in Intcrstatu bunlncnH. Publicity IH the only auru remedy which wo can now Invokn , What further rniun- ill en urn needed In the way of irovurn- mnntal regulation or taxation can only bn determined after publicity IIIIH been ob tained by process of law and In the counio of udmlnlHtratton. Thn IIrut rcqnlnlto IH knowledKo , full and complete- knowledge which may bn nmdo public to the world. Artificial bodies , mich IIH uorpornllonn and Joint Block or other iiHHocliitloiiH dn- pemlltiK upon any ntatntory law for their oxlHtencn or prlvllcKoH , Hhould bo mibjoet to proper governmental miprrvlulon. and full and accurate Information IIH to their opcrntloiiH Hhould bn inndo public icKUlnr- ly at rciiHOimhlu Intnrviils. Tht * hirgn corporatloiiH , commonly called tniHlH , though organized In onn Htatn , nl- waj-H do hUNlncsH In ninny Btat'-H , often doing very llttln hiiHlncHH In the Hlntn whom they are Incorporated. Thorn In utter lack of uniformity In thu ntuto IIIWH about thum. and IIH no Htiile IIIIH any nx- cluslvn Interest In or power over thnlr ncti It IIIIH In prnctlco proved ImpoHHlblo to gut adequate regulation through Hlntn action. Theri'foro In the Intel out of the wholn people Ihn nation Hhotlld , without Interfering with the power of thn Htates In thn mutter ItHnlf , aim ) IINHUIIIO power of nupervlHlon and regulation over all corpo rations doing an InlcrHtato huslncHH. Till * Is especially trno wheru the corporation derlveH n portion of IIH wealth from the existence of HOIUO monopolistic element or tendency In Us buslnesH. Thorn would ! > < no hardship In mich HiipcrvlHlnn. HanUii nro Htibjcct to It. anil In their case It IH now accepted us a simple matter < f courflo. Indeed It IH probable that mipor- vlnlon of corporation ) ! by thu national gov ernment nocd not ( to HO far UH IH now thn rns with thn Himcrvlnton oxurcliio.il over them by no conservative a stale IIH MIIH- ciichuHottu In order to produce excellent rusultn. Would Frame * a Fedcrnl Law. When the constitution was adopted , nt the end of the eighteenth century , no hu man wisdom could foretell the nwuoplng changes , allko In Industrial and political conditions , which were to tnko placn by the beginning of the twentieth century At that tlmo It was accepted as a mallei of course that the several states worn the proper authorities to regulate BO far UH was then necessary the comparatively in significant and Btrlctly localized corporate bodies of the day , The conditions nro now wholly different , and wholly different ac tion Is called for. I bcllovo that a law can be framed which will enable the na i tional ' government to exercise contrM along the lines above Indicated , profiting I by the experience gained through the PUH- Bago and administration of the Interstate commerce act. If , howovcr , the Judgment of the congress Is that It lucks the consti tutional power to pass such an act , then a ( constitutional amendment nhould be submitted , to confer the power. There nhould bo created a cabinet otll- cer < , to bo known as secretary of commerce merco i and Industries , ns provided In the bill ] Introduced at the Innt session of the congress. i It should bo his province to deal with commerce In Its broadest sensu , Including , nmong many other things , whatever concerns labor , and all matters affecting i the great business corporations und i our mer"hant marine. The course proposed Is one phnno of what nhould bo a comprehensive and far- reaching Hchemo of constructive states manship for the purpose of broadening our markets , Hecurlng our business Inter ests on a safe basis and making firm our new position In the International Indus trial world , whllo scrupulously safeguard ing the rights of wngoworker and capi talist , of Investor and private citizen , seas as to secure equity ns between man und man In this republic. Chinese Kxclrmlon. With the Bolo exception of the farming interest , no ono matter Is of such vital moment to o > ir whole people as the wel fare of the watjeworkcrs. If the farmer and the wagoworker are well off , It Is ab solutely certain that all others will bo well oft too. It Is therefore a matter for hearty congratulation that on the whole wnges are higher today In the United States than cvur before In our hlslory and far higher than In any other country. The standard of living Is also higher than ever before. Every effort of legislator and administrator should bo bent to se cure the permanency of this condition of things and Its Improvement wherever pos sible. Not only must our labor be protected - ed by the tar'ff ' , but It should also bo pro tected so fat as It Is possible from thn presence In this country of any laborers brought over by contract or of these who , coming freely , yet represent a standard of living BO depressed that they can un dersell our men In the labor market and drug them to a lower level. I regard It as necessary , with this end In vlow , to rc- enact Immediately the law excluding Chi- ncso laborers and to strengthen It wherever no' ssary In order to make its enforcement entirely effective. The national government should demand the highest quality of service from Its employees and In return It should bo a good employer. If possible , legislation should bo passed in connection with the interstate commerce law which will ren der effective he efforts of different states to do away "Ith the competition of con vict contract labor In the open labor mar ket. So far ns practicable under the con ditions of government "work provision should bo made to render the enforcement of the eight hour law easy and certain. In all industries carried on directly or In directly for the United States government women and children should bo protected from excessive hours of labor , from night work and from work under unsanitary conditions. The government should pro > vide In Its contracts that all work should be done under "fair" conditions and , In addition to setting a high standard , should uphold It by proper Inspection , extending If necessary o the subcontractors. The government should forbid all night work for women and children as well as excea- elve overtime , For the District of Colum bia a good factory law should ba passed , and , as a powerful Indirect aid to such laws , provision should be made to turn the Inhabited alleys , the existence of which Is a reproach to our Capital City , into minor streets , where the inhabitants can live under conditions favorable to health and morals. American wageworkers work with their heads ns well as ttiolr hands. Moreover. they take a keen pride In what they are doing , BO that , Independent of the reward , they wljh : to turn out a perfect Job , Thla the nroitt n'.crrl of our nucuowi In coin- I'tlllon with the liihor of foreign roun * rlen , l.nbor. The modi vltnl problem with which thlii ounlry , nnd fur lluil mutter thn whole Ivlllzcd world , Inir In deal IH thn proli- 'in which him for ono Hlilo Ihn betterment f fioelal condition * , moral nnd phyHleal , I liuun nlllcH nnd for another Kldn HID of- ort to deal with Hint Imwlo of fiirroneli- IK iiiii-HtloiiH which we iioup ; lo/telher / vhen wo HpenU of "Inline. " Thn chlnf actor In the HIICCOHM of eaeli man \VMKO- vorUer , fanner unil enpllallHt nllUo inunl vnr bo the Hunt total of hln own Indlvld- nl rimllllcM and abilities. Kccond only to hlH COIIIOH the power of noting In coin- Itmtlon or iiHNOcliitlon with othern. Very rout h'ood IIIIH been nnd will lie iiciom- ll.ihod by aHMorlatlonn or unloiiH of wngo- vorkern when maiiiiKed with forethought lid when ( buy combine liiHlHluncn upon linlr own rlghlH with law nhldlnir rrMpeel or thn rlghlH of otliern. Thn dlnplay of he.ie quiilltlcii In iittch hodlcx IH n duly o thn nation no ICHH tlinn to thu iiNHOchi- loiui tlieniMelveii. Finally ( here milHt nlHii tl limny CIIHCH bn ncllou by thn > ; overu- iicnt In older to mifcKUiird thn rluhln nnd ntcroHtn of all. Under our constitution horn IH much moro ncopn for mich iictlnn y thn Ntiite nnd thn municipality than by hn nation , lint on points such nn thorni ouchml on ubovu the national Kovnrn- ueiit can not. When all In nalil and done , thn ruin of rotherliood rrinnltm an the lndlHmiimihlu | irereiiuliilto to nucci > n In the kind of tin- lonal life for which wn Htrlvo. ICitch man miHt work for MliiiHcIf , mid tinh'sn hu no vorloi no oulHldn help cnn avail him Hut Nich mull milHt remrliilier nl o tlmt hn In nducd bin hiothnr'H keeper , nnd tlmt whlln to man who refiuie/i to walli can bn car- led with ndvimt.iun to liltiinelf or nny one Inc. yet Hint ouch at Union ntumlileii or mlltt. ( hut cich ( nt llnii-H nucdM In Imvn hn helping Imnd onliilroichcil to him. To 10 permiinently effective nlil iniiHt nlwnyn ukn the fiirm of lielpliu : n man In help iliiiHelf. and wo can nil best help iiur- HclvcH b.Jnliilnp together In Ihn work hat IH of cninmo'i Inteiest to all. I in in I u ; nit I < > n. Our prcHcnt Immlcnitlon lawn urn un- intlHfncloryVi > nc'd every hnnoHt unit illlclont lmmliraiit lilted to beeomn nn Ameilenn cltl/.en , every Immigrant who noH horn to Htny. who brhiKH hero a Htrong body , a Hloal heart , n good head Hid n retioluln purpose to do hln duty well n every way nnd to brhiK up bin children H luw iibldlng nnd < inil fearing inemberH if the community. Hut them tdinuld bn a comprolienslvn law enncted with the ob- ect of untiling a threefold Improvement ivrr our preMcnt nyHteni. KlrHt wo Hhould hn ID oxcludn iibHolntuly nut only all per- oiui who nre luiown to be believers In nn- irchlHtlc principle ) ! nr inomberH of nnnrch- Htlc Hiiclrtlen , but ulnii nil pel noun who ire of n lo.v moral tendency or of unsii- ory reputation. Thin meaiiH that wn Hhonld require n moro thorough Hj-Htein of nHpecllon abroad and a morn rigid HVH- om of examination at our Immigration lorts , the former lining especially IICCCH- Hiiry. The Hccond object of a proper lmnilira- lon law ought to bo to nccurn by a curn- ul and not mnrnly perfunctory education al tent Homo lntolllinnt capacity to appro bate American InntltutlonH nnd net Hiine- y an American rltlzcnn. ThlH would not corp out all annrchlHlH , for ninny of them inlong to thn Intelligent criminal clami , nit It would do wlmt IH also In point that s , tend to decrease the Hum of Ignorance HO potmit In producing thu nnvy , miHpl- clon , nmllKimnt pamilon and hatred of or- ler out of which anarchlHtlc suntlment In- ovltnbly HprlngH. Finally all puruonn should bn excluded who are below a ccr- atn ntnndnrd of economic ) fltnoHH to enter our Industiliil field an cninprtltnrn with American labor. Thorn should bo proper iroof of personal capacity to earn an American living and enough money to In Hiiro a decent Htnrt under American condi tions. This would stop thu Inllux of cheap abor and thn resulting competition which gives rlHo to BO much of blttuniess In American Industrial life , and It would dry up the springs of the pestilential uouhil condition In our great cities where an- irchlstlc organization ! ! have their great est possibility of growth. lloth the educational and economic tcstH .n a wlso Immigration law should bn de signed to protect and eluvato the gunernl ! > ody , politic and social. A very close HU pcrvlHlon Hhonld bu exercised over the steamship companies which mainly bring over the Immigrants , and they should bu held to a Htnct accountability for any In fraction of thu law. The Tariff. There la general acquiescence In our [ iresent tariff system as a national policy. The first requisite to our prosperity In the continuity a1 1 stability of this econoniln policy. Nothing could be more unwise timn to disturb the business Interests of the country 'iy nny general tariff change at this tlmo. Doubt , apprehension , un certainty , are exactly what wo most wish to avoid In tl o Interest of our commercial und material well being. Our experience In the past IICM shown that swooping ruvl- slomi of the tariff lire apt to produce con ditions closely approaching panic In thn business world. Yet It IH not only possi ble , but eminently desirable , to combine with the stability of our economic sys tem a supplementary system of reciprocal benefit and obligation with other natloiiH. Such reciprocity Is nn incident nnd result of the firm establishment and preservation of our present economic policy. It was Bpoclally provided for In the present tariff law. Reciprocity munt bo treated IIH thn hand maiden of protection. Our first duty Is to sco that the protection granted by the tnr Iff in every case where It Is needed Is maintained and that reciprocity bo sought for so far as It can safely bn done without injury to our homo Industries. Just how fur this Is must be determined according to the Individual case , remembering al ways that every application of our tariff policy to meet our shifting national needs must bo conditioned upon the cardinal fact that the duties must never bo re duced below the point that will cover the difference between the labor cost hero and abroad. The well being of the wagework er Is u prime consideration of our entire policy of economic legislation. Subject to this proviso of the proper protection necessary to our industrial well being nt homo the principle of reci procity must command our hearty sup port. The phenomenal growth of our export trade emphasizes the urgency of the need for wider markets and for u lib eral policy In dealing with foreign na tions. Whatever Is merely petty and vex atious In the way of trade restrictions should be avoided. The customers to whom we dispose of our surplus products In the long run directly or Indirectly pur chase these surplus products by giving us something In return. Their ability to purchase - chase our products should as far as pos sible be secured by so arranging our tar iff as to enable us to take from them those products which we cnn use without harm to our own Industries and labor or the use of which will bo of marked bene fit to us. It la most Important that we should maintain the high level of our present prosperity. Wo Have now reached the point In the development of our Interest where wo nro not only able to supply our own markets , but to produce a constant ! ) growing surplus for which we must find markets abroad. To secure- these markets wo can utilize existing duties In any case where they are no longer needed for th * purpose of protection , or In any cast where the article Is not produced here and the duty Is no longer necessary for revenue , ns giving us something to offer in exchange for what we ask. The cor dial relations with other nations whlcl are so desirable will naturally bo pro mo ted by the coursu thu * required b ) ' our own Interests , Thn nntunil I'nn ' of ilovolopmnnt for a M > y nf K"ipr , , | ty will ho In connection vlih thomi of our iiroducllonn which no uiC'r require all of Ihn support cmcn eodod lo ewtabllnh tliem upon n HoiinJ and with UIOHO olliera wliero elllier of natural or of cconotnlo CUIIMOH vii arn bnyond thu roach of iiticciiMifiil iinpulltlon. I unit Ihn ultonlloii of thn nonnlo to ( hn eclproilly treat Ira laid heforu It by my ireilcooHHor 31 erob n n I Marine , Thn condition of Ihn American nr.rrchunt iiarlne IH mich an to cull for Immedliito emeillnl action by Ihn coimreHH. It IH dlH- reilKablu lo UH IIH n nation Unit our lorolmnl nmrlno Hhould lie utterly liiKli- Illeant In eoinpiiilnon with tlmt of oilier atloiiH which wn overtop In other forum f himliirHHVn nhould not hunter niibmlt 0 condllloMH under which only n trllllnt : ortloa of our great commerce In cnrrlmt 1 our own HhlpH To remedy thl/i / nliito of hlliK'i would not merely ncrvo to build IP our HlilppltiK IntereHtH , but It would Inn result in benefit to all who nrn Inter- fit ed In thn peinmnent oHlalillnhmont of a vldur market for American product ) ! and vould provide nn auxiliary force for ( hn aw Hhlpn work for thulr own coiinlrlrn tint IIH rnllroadH work for thnlr terminal olntH Hhlpplnir linen , If ontithllnhnd to hn principal countilon with which wn invo dunlliiKH , would bn of political 'UH well IIH commercial benefit. From nvnry tundpnlnt It In unwlno for thn Unllnil Iliiteii ( o continue to rely upon the Hlilpu if competing imtlonn for thu distribution if our goodii It Hhould bn nmdo udviin- aguotiM to carry American goodn In Amni-lrnn built HlilpH. At pretionl Amnrlcan iililpplmt In under erlaln ureal dlHadvantiiKoH when put In ompnlltion with Ihn iihlpiilmr of foreign onnlrle.H Many of the funt foruicn ileiiiiiHlilpii , nt u speed of fourteen IcnolH ) ir above , urn mihsldlzed , nnd nil our IMpH , tiallliiif voHsols and HturimerH allku , 'argn cairlorH of nlnw speed und mall iinleni of lilK'li up I , Imvo to meet the act that Ihu original cost of bulldliiK Ameilean ships IH irenter ; ( hail In ( hn line abroad , tlmt thu wagon paid Amerl- : nn olllcrni and iieamen arn very much iluhur Hum ( huso paid thn nlllccni anil union of foreign competing cmmtrlcH md that Ihu standard of living on our lilpii Is far Hopelor ) ( o ( ho slandard of Ivlim on thu Hhlpit of our commurcliil rl- 'iibi ' Our government nhould lalcn mich action H wlii remedy ( hose Inequalities. Thn Amnrlcan murclmiit marine nhould bu ru- itoieil to ( be ocean FlnniK'liil , The act of March II , IUOO , Inlendod tin- eqiilvoeully tu establish gold an thn iitand- inl moiiev and lo maintain at a parity hciovilth all foiniH of money medium In me with IIH , bus been Hliown to bo timely mil JinllcloiiH The price of our itovcrn- nent liondH In thn world's markut when ! ompiiied with thn prlco of nlmllar ohll- ; iitloiiH liiHiied by oilier nalloiiH In u llrit- crlni ? tillnilo to our public ciedlt. Thin ccmdlllon It la evidently iluHlrablo to muln- uln In niany reHpoclH thn national hanking aw furnishes loilllclnnt llbrrty for thn iroper exeiclHu of thn bunking function , ml there Hcnimi to bo nurd of butter mifo- Ktiards iiKiiltiHt thu deruimhiK Inlluenco of ommerclnl crlncH and financial panlcn. Moreover , Ihn currency of thn country ihould | > n madn I'espoimlvo to thn demandH if our domestic tradu und commurcn. Thu collecllonu from duties on Importn nnd Intnrnril ( UXOH rontlnuo to oxccod tint irdlnary uxpondlturcH of the government , thunkn mainly to thu reduced army ux- pnndlturoH. The utmost earn should bo akon not to reducn the rovonuoH BO tlmt thorn will bn any possibility of a deficit , nit after providing against nny fluch con- tlngrncy means Hhould bo adopted which will bring thn rovenucH more nearly wllh- n thu limit of our actual nerds. In hln ru- lort to thn congress the necrotnry of the : rcnnury conHldern all thcnu ( | tiestlons at eiiKth , und I link your attention to the rn- porl and reenmmondutlons. I call Hpeclul attention to the nocd of strict economy In expenditures , The fnrt tlmt our national noedn forbid us to bo nltfKardly In providing whntover In uetu- nlly noccsHiiry to our well bring should makn UH doubly careful to husband our national rL-Hourccu us each of us himhandn din prlvutn resoun.fi by HcnipulotiH iivolcl- uncn of anything llk < - wasteful or rockloHn expenditure. Only by nvoldiincu of upend ing money on what IH modlcss or unjustl- flaiiln cnn wo legitimately keep our In- comn to thn point required to meet our needs that urn genuine. TinInlrrMlnlo Commerce I.rnv. In 1887 a mouHiirn was enacted for tha regulation of Intorntnto rnllwuyH. com monly known us the Interstate cotnmorco act. The crrdlnal provisions of that act wcro that railway rates nhould bo Just and reiisonublo und that all shippers , lo calities und commodities should bo uc- coidcd equal treatment. A commission was created nnd endowed with what worn Biipposed to be the necessary powers lo execute thn provisions of this act. That luw wns largely an experiment. Kxporloiico hus shown thu wisdom of Its purposes , hut has also shown possibly that somu of Its requirements are wrong ; certainly tlmt the meanH devised for the enforcement of Its provisions are defec- tlvn. Thosn who complain of the inanngu- ment of the railways alii- * ; * ) tlmt estab lished rates am not maintained , tlmt re bates und similar devices are habitually resorted to , that these preferences are UHUally In favor of the large shipper , that they drlvo out of business thu smaller competitor , tlmt whllo many rates are too low many others arc oxccsslvo und that gross preferences are miido nffectlnft both localities and commodities. Upon the oth er hand , the railways assert that the law by its very tnrrns tends to produce many of these Illegal practices by depriving car riers of that right of concerted action which they claim Is necessary to estab lish and maintain nondlscrlmlnatlng rates. The act should be amended. The rail way Is a public servant. Its rates Hhoulil be Just to and open to all shppera | allko. Thn government should see to It that within Its Jurisdiction this Is so and should provide n Hpeedy , Inexpensive and effective remedy to that end. At the same tlmo It must not bo forgotten that our railways are the arteries through which the commercial Ilfeblood of this nation flows. Nothing could bo more foolish than the enactment of legislation which would unnecessarily Interfere with the develop ment and operation of these commercial agencies. The subject 1s ono of great Im portance nnd calls for the earnest atten tion of thu congress. ARrloulturr. The department of agriculture during the past fifteen years has steadily'broad ened Its work on economic lines and has accomplished results of real value In upbuilding domestic and foreign trade. It has gone Into new fields until it is now In touch with all sections of our country and with two of the Island groups that have lately come under our Jurisdiction , whose people must look to agriculture a * a livelihood. It Is searching the world for grains , grasses , fruits nnd vegetables spe cially fitted for Introduction Into locali ties In the several states and territories where they may add materially to our re sources. Iy scientific attention to soil sur vey and possible now crops , to breeding of new varieties of plants , to experimental shipments , to animal Industry and applied chemistry , very practical aid has been given our farming and stock growing In terests. The products of the farm have taken an unprecedented place In our expert - port trade during the year that hus Just closed. Protection of Forest Henerve . Public opinion throughout the United States has moved steadily toward a Juat appreciation of tha value of forests , whether planted or o'f natural growth. The great part played fey them la the cr -