The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-04-10

tion should be made in the earlier
wish on the part of both sides to try
to come to n common agreement
which each shall think in the inter-
ests Of the other as we'll as of itself.
When we deal with such subject
we are fortunate in having before us
an admirable object lesson In the work
that has just been closed by the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission.
This was the Commission which waB
appointed last fall at the time when
the coal strike in the anthracite re-
glons threatened our Nation with a
disaster second to none which has be-
fallen us since the days of the Civil
! War Their report was made just be-
fore the Senate adjourned at the
special session.; and no government
document Of recent years marks a
more important piece of work better
done, and there is none which teaches
soGnder social morality to our people.
The Commission consisted of seven as
good men as were to be found In the
country, representing the bench, the
church, the army, the professions, the
employers, and the employed. They
acted as a unit, and the report which
they unanimously signed Is master
piece of sound common sense and of
sound doctrine on the very question,
with which our people should most
deeply concern themselves. The i'm
mediate effect Of this Commissions ap.
pointment and action was of vast ard
incalculable benefit to the Nation; but
the ultimate effect will be even bet
ter, IL capitalist, wage-worker, ami
lawmaker alike will take to heart and
act upon the Lessons set forth in tn 4
report they have made.
or course the National Government
has but small field in which it can
work in labor matters. Something i.
can do however, and that something
ought to be done. Among other things
l SHOULD like TO see the District of c.
llumbia, which is completely under con-
troll OF the National Government, re-
ceive set of model labor laws. Wash
ington is not a city of very large in
dustries, but still 1t has some.- Wise
labor legislation for the city of Wash
ing would be good thing in itself
and IL would be far better thing, be-
cause a standard would thereby bt
set for the country as whole
In the field of general legislation
relating to these subjects the action
of Congress is necessarily very lim-
tied. Still there are certain ways in
which we can act. Thus the Secretary
of the Navy has recommended, with
my cordial and hearty approval, tho
enactment of strong employers Lila
bility law in the navy-yards of the
Nation II should be extended to sim
ilar branches Of the Government work
Again, sometimes such laws can be en-,
acted as an Incident to the Nations
control over interstate commerce. II
my last annual message to congress
advocated the passage of law In
reference to car couplings-to
strengthen the features of the one al.
ready on the statute books SO as tC
minimize the exposure to death and
manning OF railway employees. Much
opposition had to be overcome. In TIE
end an admirable law was passed "tc
promote the safety Of employees and
travellers upon railroads by compel
ing common carriers engaged in inter
state commerce to equip their car;
with automatic couplers and continu'
GUS brakes and their locomotives will
drlving-wheel brakes."- This law re-
cciyed my signature a couple OF days
before Congress adjourned. It repre-
sents a real and substantial advance
In an admirable kind OF legislation.
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