Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1904-12-15

Ehort session OF that body deals vol
Uminously with questions OF state.
The subject Of tariff revision is left
Tor a further communication. Sub
gsaHtially the message is as follows:
To the Senate and House Of Represen.
tatives:
The nation continues 20 enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity Is OF
course primarily due 20 the high indiyid-
uRl average Of our citizenship. taken to-
Sgether with our great natural resources;
but an important factor therein IS the
working OF our iong-cuntinued 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 Ia a progressive spirit to
meet changing conditions.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement Of scope of the func-
lions OF the national government re-
aufred By our development as n nation
tuvolyes, OF course. increase OF expense;
and the period Of prosperity through
which the country l. passing justices eX-
penditures fo- permanent improvements
Tar greater than would be wise in hard
dimes. 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
eNtravagance. ard constant care should
De taken 10 guard against unnecessary
Increase Of the ordinary expenses OF gov
eminent
Capital ard Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
of our modern civilized life the dominant
note Is the rote Of industrialism: and the
NHTasa- - V-N.H a
etaiiy OF organized capital and organized
tabor, 20 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 prlm-
cry control OF the police power the cir
cumstanccs 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
unruly persons who shield themselves be-
aliDd the name Of labor. II there is re-
sistarce TO the federal courts interfer-
enoe with the mails. or interstate COM
merce. or molestation Of federal property,
or 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 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 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
eminent; but the labor question is only
acute In pOpulous centers OF commerce,
manufactures, or mining. Nevertheless.
both in the enactment and in the en-
Torcement Of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments. espe-
.ciaily I'm a matter so vital as this affect
ing labor. / believe that under modern
Industrial conditions II Is often necessary,
and even where not necessary, L is yet
often wise that there should be organ
SZation OF labor I'm order better TO secure
the rights Of the individual wage worker
An encouragement should be given to any
such organization, so long as ID Is con-
Quoted with n due and decent regard for
The rights OF others. There are In this
country some labor unions which have
habltually, and other labor unions which
nave often. been among the most effec-
Sive agents In working Cor good citizen
ship and for uplifting the condition OF
those whose welfare should be closest to
seeks improper ends. or seeks to achieve
proper ends by improper means, all good
citizens ana more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the wrong
doing as reSolutely as they would oppose
the wrougdOng Of any great corporation.
or course any violence. brutality or cor
Euptlon, should not for one moment be
tolerated Wage-workeTs have an entire
right to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to Join with them I'm organ
SzatiOns. They have a legal right, which,
according 20 circumstances, may or may
not be a moral right, TO refuse TO work
In company with men who decline to Join
their organization They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
aeDce upon those. whether capitalists or
Ngage-workers. who refuse 10 support
their organizations. or who side with
chose 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 a block sig
nal system, to prevent railroad acct
dents urged.
Unions Of Government Employees.
The message continues:
There Is no objection 20 employees of
the government forming or belonging &c
unions: but the government can neither
discriminate for nor discriminate against
uon-union men who are In its employ
'ment. or who seek TO be employed under
AZ. Moreover It Is a very grave impro.
Driety for government employees to band
themselves together for the purpose OF
-eEtorting Improperly high salaries from
the government, Especially Is this true
81 those within the classified service, Tn,
lester carriers. both municipal and rural
are as q whole an excellent body OF pub.
DC servants. They should be amply paid
hut their payment must be obtained b,
WrEuing their claims fairly and honorabl,
befOre the Congress, and not by banding
Gogether for the defeat OF those congress
aaen who refuse 20 give promises which
they can not In conscience give. The
Administration has already taken stepi