Free press., 1904-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
READ TO CONGRESS
Document Deals VoIs1rninousIy with
Questions of State---Tariff Left for
Future Conrns1nication---P of
the Government Toward Organized
Labor---DeaIing with Illegal Combi-
nations.


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
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity IS of
course primarily due to the high individ-
ual average of our citizenship, taken to-
gether with our great natural resources;
but an important factor therein is the
working of our long continued govern
mental policies The people have en-
phatically 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-
tions OF the national government re-
quired by our development as a nation
involves. Of course. increase of expense;
and the period Of prosperity through
which the country is passing justifies ex-
penditures foC 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 a 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 industrialism; 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-
ary control of the police power the cir
cumstances 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
r1~uly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. If there is re-
sistance to the federal courts. interfer-
ence with the malls. or interstate COM
merce. or molestation of federal property,
or If 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
in time of disorder and violence all 9TH
er questions sink into allegiance until or
der has been restored. In the District
of Columbia and in the territories the
federal law covers the entire field of gov
ernment; but the labor question is only
acute in populous centers of commerce.
manufactures, or mining Nevertheless
both in the enactment and in the en-
forcement of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments, espe-
cially in matter so vital this affect
ing labor. 1 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 as it is con-
Quoted with due and decent regard for
the rights of others. There are in this
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, or seeks to achieve
proper ends by improper means. all good
citizens and more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the wrong
doirg as resolutely as they would oppose
n.
OF course any violence, brutality, or cor
ruption. should not for one moment be
! tolerated Wage-workers have an entire
| right to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to join with them in organ
| iZatiOnS They hat a legal right which,
according to circumstances may or may
not be a moral right. to refuse to work
| in company with men who decline to Join
their organizations. They have under no
1
| lence upon those. whether capitalists or
wag e-workers, who refuse to support
| their rganizations. or 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 a law
requiring the adoption OF a block sig.
nal system, to prevent railroad acct
| dents urged.
| Unionslof Government Employees.
The message continues:
There is no objection to employees of
| the government forming or belonging to
unions: but the government can neither
/ discriminate for nor discriminate against
| non union men who are in it's employ
ment. or who seek to be employed under
it, Moreover. it is a very grave impro-
| prfety for government 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 municipal and rural
/ are as 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 honorably
! before the Congress. and not by banding
| together for the defeat of those congress
| men who refuse to give promises which
/ they can not In conscience give The
| Administration has already taken steps
| to prevent and punish abuses of this ma
| ture: but it will. be wise for the Congress
to supplement this action by legislation
Bureau OF Labor.
Much can be done by the government
| in labor matters merely by giving pub
licity to certain conditions. The bureau
| of labor has done excellent work Of thi:
kind in many different dtrections- shall
shortly lay before you IN special mes
sage the full report Of the investigation
of the bureau Of labor into the Colorado
mining strike. as this Is a strike in which
certain very evil forces. which are more
/ or less at work everywhere under TIT
conditions of modern industr1alism. be
came startIingiy prominent.
Corporations.
i When we come to deal with great cor
porations the need for the government +
act directly Is far greater than in tn