The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-09
Official Message of the Chief Executive That
Deals Fully With the Important Matters that
Will Confront the Senate and the
House of Representatives.

order is a primary duty and in a time
of disorder and violence all other ques-
lions sink into allegiance until order has
been restored. In the District of Co
iumbia and in the Territories the Fed
eral law covers the entire field of gov
eminent; but the labor question is only
acute in populous centers of commerce,
manufactures, or mining. Neverthe-
less, both in the enactment and in the
enforcement of law the Federal Gov
eminent within it's restricted sphere
should set an example to the State gov
ernments especially in a matter so vi
tai as this affecting Dor. 1 believe
that under modern industrial condi-
ions it is often necessary, and even
where not necessary it is yet often wise,
that there should be organization 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 as it is
conducted with a due and decent re-
gard for the rights of others. There
are in this country some labor unions
which nave habitually, and other labor
unions which nav often, been among
~ "SNANo IL @
good citizenship and for uplifting the
condition of those whose welfare should
be closest to our hearts. But when any
labor MO seeks improper ends, or
seeks to achieve proper ends by i'm
proper means, all good citizens and
more especially all honorable public
servant must oppose the ~wrongdoing
as resolutely as they would oppose the
wrongdoing of any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality, or
corruption, should not for one moment
be tolerated. Wage-workers have an
entire right to organize and by all
peaceful and honorable means to en-
deavor to persuade their fellows to
Join with them in organizations. They
have a legal right, which, according to
circumstances, may or may not be a
moral right, to refuse to work in COM
pany with men who decline to join their
organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
lence upon those, whether capitalists
or wage-workers, who refuse to support
their organizations, or who side with
those with whom they are at odds;
for mob rule is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
The wage-workers are peculiarly emit
tied to the protection and the encour-
agement of the law. From the very
atu of their occupation railroad men,
for instance, are liable to be MANNED
in doing the legitimate work of their
profession, unless the railroad compa-
MES are required by law to make ample
provision for their safety. The Admin
iS-- +ipn hos hpan zpa1n1IS in anfnrninO
the existing law for this purpose. That
law should be amended and strengthen
ed. Wherever the National Govern
ment has power there shout be a strin-
gent employers liability law. which
should apply to the Government itself
where the Government is an employer
of labor.
IN my Message to the Fifty-seventh
Congress, at its second session, 1 urg-
ed the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia. 1 now
renew that recommendation, n fur
Their recommend that the Congress APP
| point a commission to make a compre-
hensive study of employers liability
with the view of extending the provis-
ons of a great and constitutional law
to all emp,nyments within the scope of
Federal pc xer.
| Medals + Honor.
The Government has recognized hero
ism upon the water, n bestows medal
OF honor upon those persons who by ex-
IRENE and heroic daring have endanger-
ed their lives in saving, or endeavoring
to save, lives from the perils of the sea
in the waters over which the United
States has jurisdiction. or pom an
American vessel. This recognition
should be extended to cover cases of
conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice
in the saving Of life in private employ
ments under the jurisdiction of the
United states. and particularly in the
land commerce of the Nation.
Prevention of Railroad Accidents.
The e~ver-increasing casualty list upon
our railroads is a matter Of grave pub
lie concern, and urgently calls for &C
ton by the Congress. In the matter OF
speed and comfort of railway travel
our railroads give at least as good ser
vice as those of any other nation, and
there is no reason why this service
should not also be as safe as human
ingenuity can make it. Many of our
leading roads have been foremost III
the adoption of the most approved safe
guards for the protection of travellers
and employees. yet the list Of clearly
avoidable accidents continues unduly
large. The passage of a law requiring
the adoption of a block-signal system
has been proposed to the Congress. ]
earnestly concur in that recommends
ton, and would also point out to the
Congress the urgent need Of legislation
In the interest of the public safety linn
iting the hours Of labor for railroad en-
ployees Of train service upon railroads
engaged in Interstate commerce, and
providing that only trained and expe-
rienced persons be employed in positions
Of responsibility connected with the
operation Of trains. OF cours nothing
can Eel prevent accidents caused BY
human weakness or misconduct; and