The evening world., 1903-04-06
Roosevelt in a Speech at Sioux Falls
Tells Workingmen that Arbitration Is
the Way to Settle Labor Disputes and
Urges a Model Law.
Conditions Change Rapidly for the
Wage-Earners and Organization Is a
Good Thing for All Concerned, but
State and Nation Can Aid.

ence of the state or nation unleHA
IL In absolutely necessary; hut II
IL equally true that when confident
of It's necessity we should not on
academic grounds refuse u.
Strike Commissions Work.
when we deal with such a 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
pointed last fall at the time when the
coal strike in the anthracite regions
threatened our nation with a disaster
second to none which has befallen US
since the days OF the Civ War.
Their report was made just before
the Senate adjourned at the special ses-
sion. and no Government document OF
recent years marks q moro important
lone which teaches sounder social mo-
rality to our people. The Commission
consisted OF seven as good men as were
to be found IN the country, representing
professions. the employers and the EN-
ployed. They acted as a unit, and the
report which they unanimously signed
Ia a masterpiece Of sound common sense
and of sound doctrine on the very ques-
lions with which our people should most
deeply concern themselves.
the immediate effect OF this COMMITS
Vast q i%neaioaIaS sRu benefit TO the
nation: hiit the ultimate effect will be
even, better II capitalist, wage-worker
and aiawmaker alike win take to heart
the report they have made.
OF course The National Government
has but a small held In which II can
work In labur matters. Something Il
can do. however. and that something
ought to be done.
"AmonE other things I should
like to see the district of CoIum-
bia, which IL completely under the
control of h National Govern-
ment, receive q set OF model labor
laws. Washington is not a city of
very large industries, hut still Il
n some. Wise labor IeEfsIatfon
for the city of Washington would
be n good thing In itself, and II
would be n far better thing, he
cause n standard would thereby be
set for the country ms n whole.
In the deld Of general legislation re.
lung TO these subjects the action o.
Stlll there are certain ways in which
We can act, Thus the Secretary Of III
Mavy ma recommended, with my cor.
OF si'l a as stro nsRF.y mp pFdye s1i,s BIZ sii, sn"f it~ 4
b i1~avy-yards Of the nation, II sho,,ii
be extended to ;slmilar branches of IN,
Government work,
Substantial Advance.
Again. sometimes such laws can bt
enacted n an incident to the nations
control over Interstate commerce. In
my last annual message to Congress
advocated the passage of O law in ref
erence to car oouplingB-to strenEthe 81
the features OF the one already on In,
statute books SO as 20 minimize the ex
posture to death mt manning of raiiwa,
employees. Much opposition had TO b,
overcome. "
"In the end an admirable law wa
passed 10 promote the safety OF en-
ployees and travellers upon railroads b,
compelling common carriers engaged Il
Interstate commerce TO epuip their car
with automatic couplers and continuou
brakes and their locomotives with driv
ing-wheel brakes.
"This law received my signature
couple of days before Congress all
journed. II represents a real and sub
stantial advance in an admirable kind o
legislation"
Roosevelt arrived here at 1i;S A; NJ. an.
left at noon for Mitchell, where hi
special train IL due late his afternoon
He was accompanied from Sioux Fall
by Senators Kittredge and Gamble. TIL
President delivered a brief speech, largel
local and western In character.