The Grit-advocate., 1904-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
READ TO CONGRESS
Document Deals Vol,1minously with
Questions of State---Tariff Left for
Future Comm,lnication---Po of
the Government Toward Organized
Labor---Dealins with Illegal Combi-
nations.


Congress, read at the opening of the
short session of that body, deals vol
uminously with questions of state
The subject of tariff revision is left
for a further communication. Sub
stantially the message is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
The nation continues to enjoy note
rorthy prosperity. Such prosperity Is of
course primarily due to the high individ-
uni average of our citizenship. taken to-
Gcther with our great natural resources;
but an important factor therein is the
working of our ng-continued govern
mental policies The people have en-
phaticaliy expressed their approval OF the
principles underlying these policies, and
their desire that these principles be Kept
substantially unchanged. although of
course applied in a progressive spirit to
meet changing conditions.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement of scope of the func-
tiors OF the national government re-
CURED by our development as nation
involves. of course, increase of expense:
and the period of prosperity through
which the country is passing justifies ex-
pcnditures fo- permanent improvements
far greater than would be wise in hard
times. Battle ships and forts. public
buildings. and improved waterways are
investments which should be made when
we have the money: but abundant rev.
enues and large surplus always invite
extravaganza, and constant care should
be taken to guard against unnecessary
increase OF the ordinary expenses Of gov
ernment
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
OF our modern civilized life the dominant
note is the note OF industralism: and the
relations of capital and labor. and espe-
cially of organized capital and organized
labor. to each other and to the public at
large come second in importance only to
the intimate questions of family life.
As long as the states retain the prim
cry control of the police power the cir
EumstanccS must be altogether extreme
which require Interference by the federal
authorities. whether in the way of safe
guarding the rights of labor or in the
way Of seeing that wrong is not done by
rn-uiy persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name OF labor. If there is re-
sistance to the federal courts. interfer-
ence with the mails. interstate COM
mercc. or molestation Of federal property.
II the state authorities in some crisis
which they are unable to face call for
help, then the federal government may
interfere: but though such interference
may be caused by a condition of things
arising out of trouble connected with
some question of labor the interference
itself simply takes the form of restoring
order without regard to the questions
which have caused the breach of order
for to keep order Is a primary duty and
in a time Of disorder and violence all 9TH
er questions sink into abeyance until or
der has been restored. In the District
of Columbia and in the territories the
~ 10, 81 a
eminent; but the labor question 10 only
acute in populous centers of commerce
manufactures, or mining. Nevertheless
both In the enactment and in the en-
forccment of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere snould set an
exampi. to the state governments, espe-
cially in a matter so vital as this affect
ing labor. | believe that under modern
industrial conditions it is often necessary
and even where not necessary, it is yet
often wise. that there should be organ
ization of labor in order better to secure
the rights of the individual wage worker
All encouragement should be given to any
such organization. so long it is con-
Quoted with a due and decent regard for
country some labor unions which have
habitually. and other labor unions which
have often. been among the most effec-
tive agents in working for good citizen
ship and for uplifting the condition of
those whose welfare should be closest to
our hearts. But when any labor union
seeks improper ends. seeks to achieve
proper ends by improper means all good
citizens and more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the wrong
doing Us resolutely as they would oppose
the wronGdoing Of any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality, or cor
rupticn. should not for one moment be
nj cd hny
right to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to join with them in organ
izations They have a legal right which,
according to circumstances, may or may
not be moral right to refuse to work
in company with men who decline to Join
their organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
ience upon those, whether capitalists or
wage workers, who refuse to support
their organizations, who side with
those with whom they are at odds; for
mob rule is intolerable in any form
The amendment and Strengthening
of the employers liability law is rec.
commended, and the passage of law
requiring the adoption of block sig.
nal system, to prevent railroad acci
dents urged.
Unions Of Government Employees.
The message continues:
There is no objection to employees OF
the government forming or belonging tc
unions but the government can neither
discriminate for nor discriminate agains,
non-union men who are in its employ
ment or who seek to be employed under
It, Moreover, it is a very grave impro-
priety for government employees to bant
themselves together for the purpose OF
extort!ng improperly high salaries from
the government. Especially is this true
of those within the classified service Th,
letter carriers. both municipal and rural
are as a whole an excellent body of pub
lie servants They should be amply paid
But their payment must be obtained by
arguing their claims fairly and honorabl
before the Congress, and not by bandin.
together for the defeat of those congress
men who refuse to give promises which
they can not in conscience give. Th