River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-01-17

hlOlpaitits 10 reimburse those families to
whom sucn = destruction OF household goods
NAV be a calamity To compel them to sac
rince for the public welfare what they cannot
spare and cannot well replace seems like i'm
posing penalty upon misfortune
The National Guard.
The system instituted in our state militia a
number OF years ago has been productive OF
high state OF efficiency in the national guard
| OF the state The system has received the
compliment of being duplicated by other states.
/ The people OF Wisconsin have reason for con-
I graduation that their militia has been brought
to so high plane OF efficiency that, should its
! services be required by the national govern
ment' no state in the union could furnish
/ more efficient quota.
Aid for Sufferers.
You will be asked to make an appropriation
TO assist the fire sufferers. from the forest fires
OF last summer by providing for them seed for
their spring planting. Many of the people in
the fire district, / am isformed, while they
have been furnished with necessary food and
clothing to carry them through the winter,
through the generosity of the public, wisely
and promptly administered, have not the
means to secure the NECESSARY seed for the
planting Of their seasons crop.
Municipal GqVernment.
There may come before your honorable body
measures having ii. view 4 reform in the meth
cd OF managing municipal affairs. The revela-
several of the large cities recently serve to
emphasize the necessity for radical changes In
some Of the methods of municipal government
So|e cities will seek help by asking for laws
empowering them to apply and extend civil
service methods in their various departments.
There is evident u very general desire for inn
proved and more businesslike methods In con-
Quoting city affairs.
Soldier and student Vote.
There is located within this state. estab-
lished and maintained by the general govern
ment. home for disabled veteran soldiers.
This property is owned By the United States
and the right Of the inmates OF the home to
vote has sometimes been questioned. Men who
have been disabled in the service of this
public ought not to be DISTINGUISHED upon any
purely technical grounds
There is also grave question as to the right
OF students, otherwise qualified, 10 vote In the
community where the college seminary is
located at which they are prosecuting their
studies. There would seem to be no reason
founded in public policy why the law should
not be so changed as to authorize such students
to vote in the city, village or town wherein is
located the institution OF learning which they
attend.
The State Board of Control.
The state b GARD OF control as now organized
consists of six men bers. In case Of an equal
division upon any question there is no means
of reaching a decision 3 suggest to you tn.
WISDOM OF making the board TO consist or
-ither five or seven members, that there may
be majority decision on all questions. II a
reorganization OF the b1prd should be deemed
by you advisable I commend TO your attention
the wisdom of providing either for a woman
momber Of the board, or for a woman visitor TO
work in connection with the board In all the
charitable, reformatory and penal institutions
there are women whose needs could much bet
ter be learned by one OF their own sex.
An Apportionment Commission.
The present legislative apportionment is
very unsatisfactory in many respects What
the people demand is ar, apportonment based
fairly upon population and territory regard
less of partisan demands ] recommend there
fore. that the legislature provide fct the APP
pointment Of nonpaItisan commission to
prepare bill to submis TO the legislature at
the earliest possible day.
Jud .cIaI Reapportionment.
There is a growing demand among the
judges and others who are interested In the
administration of law fer a rearrangement of
the judicial circuits OF The state. Such a re-
adjustment should take into consideration
population and territory, which are little re-
garded In the present adjustment The
change should be effected. II at all, without
increasing the number OF circuits.
Forestry.
Measures may come before yor having in
view the preservation of the forests of our
state The danger which threatens not only
our own state but the entire country through
the denudation OF our Forest lands is claiming
the attention of people everywhere. There has
been organized in Wisconsin, forestry asSocia-
tion TO work In conjunction with the American
Forestry association in arousng a more act
i've public interest In III subject.
Road improvement.
The subject OF the Improvement Of country |
roads is one which should interest every citi-
zen Of the state. IT s9f special Importance. |
however. to farmers ancto those living in rural /
Labor ana Capital.
Not outstanding the widespread distress I
which has resulted from Industrial stagnation, /
our state has been singhlarly free from those !
manifestations Of lawlessness which have /
brought discredit upon several states. This |
fact bears witness TO the lawabiding eharac-
ter OF our citizens. 1t emphasizes also, the /
obligation which rests upon the lawnaking |
body of the state to wasch carefully and inn
partially the interests OF all classes of citizens,
and 10 enact laws as they may become neces- |
sary, TO meet the changing industrial condi- /
tions; laws which shall insure TO labor the /
just and fair recOmpense OF toll, and at the /
same time encourage capital in the Develop
ment Of our enormous resources.
II has been charged that there has come to
be among corporations employing large num-
bers OF men. system of blacklisting, so
called, under which 8n employer having a
grievance against q former tIlDiONe ADVISES OF
warns other employers not TO give employ
ment TO the person against whom the grew
ance exists. While there may be cases in
which incapacity or a reckless disregard Of
duty by an employe. leading to his discharge
on that ground, might Justify an employer in
warning other employers from taking such
person into their service: or, where an en-
ploye has betrayed in a dishonest manner a
trust, former employer might be justified in
protecting others bS proper notification;
nevertheless, 1t would seem to be true that
where an employe, entirely faithful and COM
petent quits service in a manner not to en-
danger public safety, because of grievance
real or supposed; or. because compelled TO do
so by the action of an association to which he
belongs, simply exercises his right to quit,
and neither commits nor incites violence. it is
without Justification.
This comedies the right of employers to
choose their employees gnd to discharge them
At will. unless restrained by contract. The !
right of employees, unless similarly restrained,
IS just as complete andJust as sacred The en-
ployer Is hot 10 be psnished by boycott or
for exercising his right to dis
charge, and the emplose is not to be punished
by boycott or blackllst'ng for simply exercise
ng his right to quit
1t is Of the highest importance that the best
possible relations should exist between capital
ind labor. Neither should be permitted TO in
rade the rights Of the other; each should
leal with the other in THE spirit OF concilia-
ion. and in the settlement of differences,
should, so far as possible, be made
10 take the place OF strikes and lockouts.
confess do not seemy way clear 20 any Ell
icient scheme OF compulsory arbitration, un-
Ter existing constitutional provisions; nor am
certain that such a scheme Is possible. with
put involving the surrender by both labor and
capital, Of rights which men hold to be very
sacred IL must be porne in mind that the
light of men to contract with each other Is
in our constitution. and that any
of this right must work serious
to all concerned. / am not will
ng to admit. however tthat the state may not
through the Investigation and conciliatory in
ervention of officials provided for by law. do
much toward bring about the adjustment OF
differences between labor and capital which
,hall be at once honorable and fair to both sides
The object is so important OF accomplishment
IS to justify experimental legislation upon the
natter
Conclusion.
In conclusion permit me to express the hope
hat the session now opening may be charac-
eriZed throughout by sincere regard Ior the
public interest. Economy may wen De the
gatchword OF the servants of commonwealth
o well endowed vita material resources as
,urs; but IL Is true economy when the peo-
Die desire: an economy which tends rather to
wise expenditure Of public funds than 10
liggardly provision for those purposes when
high conception OF the public welfare oe-
nands WILLIAM II. UPHAM
Want the whipping Post
NEW YORK, Jan. IL. - Commodore
. nlr.NE- h