The social well-being of our country requires our constant effort for the amelioration of race prejudice and the extension to all elements of equal opportunity and equal protection under the laws which are guaranteed by the.  Constitution.  The Federal Government especially is charged with this obligation in behalf of the colored people of the Nation.  Not only their remarkable progress, their devotion and their loyalty, but, our duty to ourselves under our claim that we are an enlightened people requires us to use all our power to protect them from the crime of lynching.  Although violence of this kind has very much decreased, while any of it remains we can not justify neglecting to make every effort to eradicate it by law.

The education of the colored race under Government encouragement is proceeding successfully and ought to have continuing support.  An increasing need exists for properly educated and trained medical skill to be devoted to the service of this race.

INSULAR POSSESSIONS

This Government holds in sacred trusteeship islands which it has acquired in the East and West Indies.  In all of them the people are more prosperous than at any previous time.  A system of good roads, education, and general development is in progress.  The people are better governed than ever before and generally content.

In the Philippine Islands Maj.  Gen. Leonard Wood has been Governor General for five years and has administered his office with tact and ability greatly to the success of the Filipino people.  These are a proud and sensitive race, who are making such progress with our cooperation that we can view the results of this experiment with great satisfaction.  As we are attempting to assist this race toward self-government, we should look upon their wishes with great respect, granting their requests immediately when they are right, yet maintaining a frank firmness in refusing when they are wrong.  We shall measure their progress in no small part by their acceptance of the terms of the organic law under which the islands are governed and their faithful observance of its provisions.  Need exists for clarifying the duties of the auditor and declaring them to be what everyone had supposed they were.  We have placed our own expenditures under the supervision of the Comptroller General.  It is not likely that the expenditures in the Philippine Islands need less supervision than our own.  The Governor General is hampered in his selection of subordinates by the necessity of securing a confirmation, which has oftentimes driven him to the expediency of using Army officers in work for which civilian experts would be much better fitted.  Means should be provided for this and such other purposes as he may require out of the revenue which this Government now turns back to the Philippine treasury.