The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-12
CURRENT COM MENT.

Inc time Is rapidly drawing near,
if newspaper reports are reliable.
invade the north to protect the ne
gro from mob violence. Indiana and
Illinois seem to be doing their best TO
hasten the day.-Atlanta Journal.
An article by an expert Of the
United states government in Leslie's
Monthly declares that there are more
child laborers in the north than IN
the south. While this is nc cause for
the southern states TO pause in check
Ing the evil. it should leave them free
from q certain pharisaical sort of crit
icIsm which grows, preferably in New
England-Norfolk Landmark.
Lovers of democratic institutions
Will point with joy to the spectacle
presented by the president of the Unit
ed States, ~engulfed in a mad rush Of
citizens 10 the st. Louis lunch coun-
ter. holding his own in FASH
ion and triumphantly emerging with a
sandwich in hand, a cup of coffee
in the other and a custard pie plastered
across his Waistcoat. Where is the
effete despotism that can produce any
thing TO match this manifestation of
human equality.-Chlcago Chronicle.
If any ones presidential candidacy Is
ruined it is hat of Senator William
Joel Stone of Missouri. 1t has not been
shown hat Mr.. Stone has done van
thing positively unlawful as attorney
for the baking powder monopoly in
Missouri; it has not appeared that he
bribed anybody or knew of the brib-
ing of any one. Yet MI. Stone has not
been placed in a good light, while his
mere association with the scandal IS
enough to kill his presidential aspira-
lions beyond hope of revival.-Spring-
field Republican.
AT least one good thing can be saiu
for the Pennsylvania legislature-it
passed a law making it a crime to
sell cocaine except on u physicians
certificate. or to habitual users. The
new Pennsylvania law provides a
pealty of 500 or six months imprison-
nlel1t for each offense, and it also
provides against the sale of any pat
ent or proprietary remedy containing
cocaine. 1t is hardly necessary to say
this law Will be generally approved,
and that u similar law should be en-
acted by other states. The cocaine
habit has spread more rapidly
throughout the country than any 9TH
er evil, and it is time steps are being
taken to restrict the sale of this pois-
onoas and demoralizing drug-At-
lanta Constitution.
1t is cited from Washington as proof
that the president is keeping fully
alive with current vents" during his
swing Oun the circle that he re-
membered the anniversary of the bat
tie of Manila and sen his congratuld-
ions to Admiral Dewey upon the oc-
C sion. Now, isn't he Il wonderful
fellow. this Roosevelt? Is there any
other who could hav remembered the
anniversary of hat great day II
American history? Or is there not
some particular purpose in the nota-
ton of his congratulation to Admiral
Dewey? Lately it was given out that
he had rebuked the admiral for his
anti German ak and Dewey being
il popular hero this attitude of the
president might have lost Il vote to
Candidate Roosevelt. Perhaps it was
TO recover this one vote that the pres
ident sent his telegram.-Charles-
ton Post.
The tendency to interfere with the
relations of employer and emplOye has
been becoming more and more pro
nounced in his county. especially in
the New England states, for many
years past. There is pending in New
York, however. a proposed amendment
to the state constitution which seeks
to clothe the Legislature with power
to fix the length of the work day and
the rate of wages in Il very wide field
for the employment Of men and wo-
HEN 1HlS very TeIlldfhdD1t HlcdSuTe
provides hat the legislature may
regulate and fix salaries and wages,
the hours of work or labor, and make
provision for the protection. welfare.
and safety of persons employed by the
state or by any county, city, town,
village or other civil division Of the
| state, or by any contractor or sub
contractor performing work, labor Oh
| service for the state or for n cOun
| ty, city, town. village of other civil
| division thereof" The assertion OF
| socialism IS not new in the Empire
| State. Last year the advocates of such
potentialism managed to drum VI
enough votes in the Legislature of that
state to get the proposed amendment
through both branches of that body
| by rcurre resolution, for submits
sion to the people in 1905. This pro
| posed constitutions amendment was
undoubtedly urged at first because the
| courts had declared the prevailing
rate-Of-Wages law null and void. The
| agitators who have been working VI
| the feeling in favor OF this movement
will be moved to still greater activity
now hat the New York eight hour law
| has been annihilated by the courts
| Atlanta Journal.