The Forrest City times., 1904-12-09

Washington, Dec. 6. - President Roosevelt in his annual message to congress, discusses many subjects of vital interest to the nation and makes several recommendations regardinp needed legislation. He declares the people have emphatieally expressed their approval of the policies at pres ent in force, which, he says, have been an important factor in our continued prosperity. The principles underlying these policies are to be kept substan- uaily unchanged. The document in fuII comprises about 18,000 words but con siderable of this space is devoted to resume of the various departments.
 Caution Against Extravaganza.
 III opening, the president cautions against eN.i aN dsdhee ana says the cost of doIng government business should be regulated Mn "ith 'he same rigid scrutiny as the cost of aoihg a private business. "The period of prosperity he says through which tbe country Is passing justifies expendjtures TOT permanent improvements far greater tndh would be wise in hard times. Baf 9eshlps and forts, public buildings. and improved waterways are investments
 9-tou4o pe made when We have the money but abundant revenues and q large surplus always invite extravapance dHa constant care should be taken to sudia against unnecessary increase of tAe ordinary expenses of government"
 Capital and Labor.
 Considerable attention is paid to tie question of capital and labor and their re- ldiohs, ana particularly to organized cap- 4sdt ana organized labor. He says our pc cu4iar form of government. with it's sharp 9INtsioh of authority between the nation ahq the several states. has been respon- sio4e Tor much of the difficulty of meeting with adequate legislation the new problems presented by the change in industrial conditions during the last ha.f-cen- tury. As long as the states retain ehe primary control of the police DOW VI, ne says, the circumstances must De altogether extreme which re- qulre interference by the federal author lHes, whether in the way of safeguard Ing the rights of labor or in the way Of seeing that wrong is not done by un- Fuiy persons who shield themselves be- hlnd 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 proper ", or II the state authorities in some crisis which they are unable to face call Tor help' then the federal government lnteTfer- ence may be caused by a condition of thlngs arising out of trouble connected with some question of labor, the interfer- ence itself simply takes the form of re- storing order without regard to the ques- tons which have caused the breach of order-for to keep order is a primary duty and in time of disorder and vio- lenee all other questions sink into abey- ance until order has been restored. In the District of Columbia and in the ter ritories the federal law covers the entire held of government; but the labor ques- ton Is only acute in populous centers of commerce, manufactures mining. Nevertheless, both in the enactment and in the enforcement Of law the federal government within it's restricted sphere should set an example to the state gov ernments, especially in matter so vital as this affecting labor. l believe that un- der modern industrial conditions it is often necessary, and even where not necessary il Is yet often wise. that there should be organization of labor in order better to secure the rights of the individ- uat wage worker, All encouragement should be given to any such organiza- ton, so long as 1t is conducted 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 effective agents in
 
 lifting the condition of those whose wei fare 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 serv- ants must oppose the wrongdoing as resolutely as they would oppose the wrongdoing of any great corporation. Of course any violence, brutality or eorrup- ton should not for one moment be toler- ated. Wage workers have an entire right to organize and by all peaceful and honor able means to endeavor to persuade their fellows to join with them in organiza- tons. They have 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 circumstances the right to commit vio- fence 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 intoerable in any form"
 Railroad Accidents.
 The increasing casualty list on American roads is commented upon and action by congress is called for He earnestly con CUTS in the law proposed to congress. re quiring the adoption of the block system and points out the need of legfsla- tion in the interest of the public safety limiting the hours of labor for rail- road employees in train service upon rail roads engaged In interstate commerce and providing that only trained and experienced persons be employed in positions of re- sponsibiity connected with the operation Of trains. The law of 1901. requiring inter state railroads to make monthly reports Of all accidents to passengers and employees on duty, should aiso be amended he says so as to empower the government to make personal investigation, through proper officers of all accidents involving loss of life which seem to require Investigation with a requirement that the results of such Investigation be made public.
 Corporations.
 When we come to deal with great cor porations the need for the government to act directly is far greater than in the case or labor, because great corporations can become such only by engaging in interstate commerce. and interstate commerce is pe- culiariy the field of the general govern ment. It is an absurdity to expect to e,im- mate the abuses in great corporations by state action. It is difficult to be patient with an argument that such matters should be left 10 the states. because more than