Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1904-12-15


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
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity is Of
course primarily due to the high indvld-
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-
lions of the national government re-
qured 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 for 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 industrlallsm and the
relations of capital and labor, and espe-
clally 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 prlm-
airy control of the police power the cir
cumstancos 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
rnruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. II there is re-
slstance to the federal courts interfer-
ence 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; fbut 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 q primary duty and
in time Of disorder and violence all 9TH
err 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-
forcement Of law the federal government
within Its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments, espe-
cially In matter so vital as this affect
Ing labor. / believe that under modern
Industrial conditions Il Is often necessary,
and even where not necessary, II 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-
the rights Of others, There are in this
country some labor unions which have
habtually. 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
doing as resolutely as they would oppose
the wrongdong OF any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality or cor
ruptlon, should not for . moment BE
tolerated. Wage-workers nave 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 have a legal right, which,
according to circumstances. may or may
not be moral right. to refuse to work
I'm company 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.
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 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 its employ
ment. or who seek to be employed under
IT, Moreover It is a very grave impro-
priety for government employees to band
themselves together for the purpose OF
extortng 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 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 honoraby
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
10 prevent and punish abuses OF this ma
ture; but II will be wise for the Congress
TO supplement this action by legislation.
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