The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-02

\ statute. hut rather to strengthen both by
| amendments in all particulars in which
they may seem 10 be weak.
/ would recommend an amendment "a
the title Of the. act entitled ian act 70
prevent pool-selling. and so forth, upon
the result OF any trials OF speed OF any
| animals or beasts taking place without
| the limits az the Commonwealth" ap-
proved january o. 1896. so IA to make
| clearer and more distinct the object OF
/ the law" I would further recommend
| that the act be amended so as to prohibit
| all telegraph and telephone companies
from receiving and transmitting at their
| offices or any other place messages lay
ing bets or wagers on the result OF any
trial OF speed or power OF endurance OF
| skill OF animals. beasts. or man whlch IS
TO take place beyond the limits OF TINS
! Commonwealth, and affxing severe penal
ties for violations. This amendment Is
needed TO exclude all doubt as to the
purpose and intent OF the act OF Feb
ruary 20. 1896.
NO LABOR DISTURBANCES.
II Is source of sincere congratulation
that while many sister States have han
serious contentious between employees
and employers. Virginia has been exempt.
| In no instance during my administration
has there been the slightest trouble. bu,
|
all of our industries have prevailed. This
is as IL should be, and is exceedingly
| gratifying. Capital and labor are mutual
| " dependent Labor cannot profit with
| out capital. nor can capital profit without
| labor. They should be banded together.
| recognizing their common interests and
melting ont equal and exact justice 10
| each other. Capital should never attempt
oppression nor 10 play the part of cormo-
rant. and labor should never make un-
reasonable demands nor seek undue adj
vantage. In a word. there are mutual
rights and mutual duties-the first should
he rgidlv respected and the latter faith
| fully performed. II Is my belief that al
most every strike that has ever occurred
! could have been avoided II calm and dis
| passionate Judgment had been exercised
| on both sides. Human passions. unfortu-
| nately. are too easily aroused. and when
| infamed. reason Is dethroned and natural
| conditions of mind become abormal. and
| instead OF friendly conferences. with
view 10 a reconciliation Of differences
owners and operatives are like foes in
hostile camps The result is loss TO both
| and then, after much damage Is done
! there is a compromise or a complete yield
| Ing OF one or the other The individuals
! suffer and the community suffers.
T would indeed be glad 10 see some leg
! islation by which differences that
! spring mp in all matters of wages
| IN our great works OF industry
could be speedily settled by an
impartial tribunal. If there could be
Board OF Arbitration established by
statute. to which all questions as 10 the
reduction or increase OF wages conld Sc
submitted. it seems 20 me the interests
and welfare OF all concerned would be
promoted. OF course there could be no
compulsory submission. nor could the
board be clotheT with power 10 enforce
It's award bit in my opinion its award
would be, accepted. In n vast number OF
cases, ard when not accepted they would
carry with them a force which would
PIP ce the parties declining in the attitude
Of making an unjust demand or adherng
10 an unrighteous position. and arouse
| moral sentiment against them. There
could be nothing radical I'm such legs-
lation: It would be IN the interest OF
| peace and harmony justice and right
dealing. From time immemorial there
| have been. I'm every civilized and enlight-
| ened land tribunals for the settlement Of
disputes and differences between man and
| man. Courts have been instituted TO ad-
Indicate property and personal rights and
matters OF contract. Why not have
boards 10 determine the rights and con-
| tentions Of employers and employees? The
experiment is worth a trial: IL can do no
| harm: in my judgment it will be fraught
/ with good. submit. the suggestion for
! your consideration.
CRIMINAL ASSAULTS.
! The rapidity with which the number
| Of criminal assaults has grown in the
| Southern States and in fact in the coun-
| try at large recently. should stimulate
! the LEGISLATURE OF every State 10 take
the most vigorous steps TO stamp out
| The horrible crime. Murder Is shocking
| indeed. and every murderer who goes un-
| punished lessons the security Of every
mans life. but the blacklist and iouiest
crime that can be perpetrated Is the
violation Of a woman's person. and the
perpetrator Is so vile as TO deserve 10
| Forfeit a hundred lives if he had them
and when. by hook or crook he es-
| capes the severest penalty. the gahows
| is cheated out Of its own, and the SAFETY
of woman is put in greater peril.
The attempt to commit the crime is as
| bad as the consummation, 50 far as the
! cuprit is concerned and he should END
| his miserable existence on the scaffold.
During the last four years. the 1uries
I'm Virginia have done their full duty and
| served society well. in eight cases. J.
! think. by condemnations to death. but l
regret TO find that in eghty-seven cases,
there were Verdicts consigning the cul-
prits to the penitentiary for various
| terms OF these, twenty-four were white
| and siXty-three were cOlOred. twenty
nine of them succeeded in their ilendish
| purpose and hfty-eight OF them failed.
assume that in all these eighty-seven
cases the juries were satisfied, beyond
a reasonable doubt of the guilt of the
accused then why did they not impose
then penalty which the Nervousness OF
the crime. the well-beng OF society, and
the sanctity OF woman demanded? Why
temper the offence? Why modify the
extreme penalty? Was death too much
in their opinion for the viest crime man
can commit?
In my judgment. the way to arrest thu
tendency 10 this crime which is growing
among certain classes daily ana most
alarmingly is for the law 20 follow swift
ly like a Nemesis. i'm the wake OF every
perpetrator and mete out 10 him the
retri3utlve justice OF hanging by the neck
until dead. Take away from juries all
discretion. fix one penalty ana let mat
penalty be death. remove the opportunity
Of any Juror TO shrk the duty he owes
20 his state. to society and TO woman.
and require him only to say guilty In
his verdict when under his oath, after
giving the accused the benefit of every
reasonable doubt. he believes him guilty
and let the court. under the law, do the
rest, and do 1t quickly.
COLORED REFORMATORY.
An effort is being made by some worthy
colorod citizens 10 found near the city
of Richmond a Reformatory for colored