The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-07

which have often, been among the
most effective agents in working for
good citizenship and for uplifting the
condition of those whose welfare
should be closest to our hearts. But
when any labor union seeks improper
ends. or seeks 10 achieve proper ends
by improper means, all good citizens
and more especially all honorable pub
lie servants must oppose the wrong
doing as resolutely as they would OPP
pose the Wrongdoing Of any great cor
coration. OF course any violence, bru-
tality. or corruption, should not for
one moment be tolerated. Wage-work-
ers have an entire right to organize
and by all peaceful and honorable
means to endeavor 10 persuade their
fellows to join with them i'm organiZa-
lions. They have a legal right, which,
according TO circumstances, may or
may not be a moral right, to refuse to
work i'm company with men who de-
cline to join their organizations. They
have under no circumstances the right
TO commit violence upon those,
whether capitalists or wage-workers
who refuse to support their organiza-
tions, or who side with those with
whom they are at odds; for mob rule
is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
entitled to the protection and the en-
enlargement of the law. From the
very nature of their occupation rail
road men, for instance, are liable To
be manned in doing the legitimate
work of their profession, unless the
railroad companies are required by
law to make ample provision for their
safety The administration has been
Jealous in enforcing the existing law
lsa oh hG
amended and strengthened. Wherever
the national government has power
there should be stringent employ
ers 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 it's second session, / urged
the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia
now renew that recommendation, AND
further recommend that the Congress
appoint commission to make com
prehensive study of employers liabil-
ity with the view of extending the pro-
visions of a great and constitutions
law to all employments within the
scope of Federal power.
Medals of Honor.
The government has recognized he
rQism upon the water, and bestowS
medals of honor upon those person:
who by extreme and heroic daring
have endangered their lives in saving
or endeavoring to save, lives from the
perils Of the sea in the waters Over
which the United States has jurisdic
| ton, or upon an American vessel. This
recognition should be extended t
cover cases of conspicuous Drawer!
| and self-sacrifice in the saving of lif'
| in private employmentS under the Juf
| isdiction of the United States, and par
| ticularly in the land commerce of th'
nation.
Prevention OF Railroad Accidents.
The eVer-increasing casualty lis
upon our railroads is matter of grave
concern, and urgently calls for actor
by the Congress. In the matter o.
speed and comfort of railway traVe
our railroads give at least as good ser
vice as those of any other nation, anc
there is no reason why this service
should not also be as safe as human
ingenuity can make il. Many of oui
leading roads have been foremost iT
the adoption of the most approved
safeguards for the protection of trav-
elers and employees, yet the list OF
clearly avoidable accidents continues
unduly large. The passage of a law
recurring the adoption of a block-sig-
Congress. l earnestly concur in that
recommendation, and would also point
out to the Congress the urgent need Of
legislation in the interest of the public
safety limiting the hours of labor fol
railroad employees in train service
upon railroads engaged i'm interstate
commerce, and providing that only
trained and experienced persons car
be employed in positions of RESPONSE
bility connected with the operations o.
trains. OF course nothing can ever
prevent accidents caused by human
weakness or misconduct; and there
should be drastic punishment for any
railroad employee, whether officer OF
man, who by issuance of wrong order:
or by diSobedience of orders cause:
disaster The law of 1901, requiring
interstate railroads to make monthly
reports of all accidents to passenger:
and employees on duty, should also be
amended so as to empower the gov
eminent to make personal inVesti'
CATION, through proper officers, of al
accidents involving loss of life which
seem to require investigation, with {
requirement that the results of sucf
| investigation be made public.
The safety-appliance law, as amend
ed by the act of March 2, 1908, has
proved beneficial to railway employees
and in order that it's provisions may
be properly carried out. the force OF
inspectors provided for by appropria-
ton should be largely increased. This
service is analogous to the Steamboat
Inspection Service, and deals with ever
more important interests. 1t has pass
ed the experimental stage and demon
strated its utility, and should receive
generous recognition by the Congress
There is no objection to employees
of the government forming or belong
ing to unions; but the government car
neither discriminate for nor discrimi-
nate against non-union men who are
in it's employment, or who seek to be
employed under it. Moreover, it is a
very grave impropriety for govern
ment employees to band themselves
together for the purpose of eXtorting
Improperly high salaries from the
government. Especially is this true
of those within the classified service
The letter carriers, both munici pal and
rural, are as whole an excellent body
of public servants They should be
amply paid. But their payment must
be obtained by arguing their claims
fairly and honorably before the Con-
gress, and not by banding together for
the defeat of those congressman who
refuse to give promises which they can
not in conscience give. The admins
tration has already taken steps to pre-
vent and punish abuses of this ma