The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-09

ana ASKS fOr HeYlSlOn OF lm"A-
grafton Laws.
Washington, Dec. 5. = President
Roosevelt's annual message to con-
gress makes some $4,000 words. In ac-
cordance with established custom con-
siderable space is devoted to re-
sumo of the year in the administrative
departments of the government, but
much of the message is given up to a
discussion of those subjects which are
considered of vital interest to the ma
ton, and upon many OF which he
deems legislation needed. 1t is this
portion of the message which we give
below.
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives: 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 required
by our development as a nation involves,
of course, increase of expense; and the
period of prosperity through which the
country is passing justifes expenditures
for permanent improvements far greater
than would be wise in hard times. Bat
tleships and forts, public buildings, and
improved waterways are investments
which should be made when we have the
money; but abundant revenues and a
large surplus always invite extravaganza,
and constant care should be taken to
guard against unnecessary increase of
the ordinary expenses of government.
The cost of doing government business
should be regulated with the same rigid
scrutiny as the cost of doing a private
business.
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 es-
pecially of organized capital and organ
ICED labor to each other and to the pub
lie at large come second in Importance
only to the intimate questions of family
life. Our peculiar form of government,
with its sharp division of authority be-
tween the nation and the several states,
has been on the whole far more advan-
tageous to our development than more
strongly centralized government. But it
is undoubtedly responsible for much of
the difficulty of meeting with adequate
legislation the new problems presented
by the total change in industrial condi-
tions on this continent during the last
half-century. In actual practice it has
proved exceedingly difficult, and in many
cases impossible, to get unanimity OF
wise action among the various states on
these subjects. From the very nature OF
the case this is especially true of the laws
affecting the employment of capital in
huge masses.
With regard to labor the problem is nc
less important, but it is simpler. AS long
as the states retain the primary control
of the police power the circumstances
must be altogether extreme which re-
quire interference by the federal author
tiles, whether in the way Of safeguard
ing the rights of labor or in the way OF
seeing that wrong is not done by un-
ruly persons who shield themselves be.
hind the name of labor. If there Is re-
sistance to the federal courts, interior
ence with the mails, or interstate com
merce, or molestation of federal proper.
ty, or IL the state authorities in some
crisis which they are unable to face cal
for help, then the federal government
may interfere; but though such interior
ence may be caused by a condition Of
things arising out of trouble connected
with some question of labor. the interior
ence itself simply takes the form of re
storing order without regard to the ques
tions which have caused the breach o.
order-for to keep order is a primary
duty and in time of disorder and VIC
lence all other questions sink into abey
ance until order has been restored. IL
the District of Columbia and in the ter
ritories the federal law covers the entir,
field of government; but the labor Ques
ton is only acute in populous centers o
commerce, manufactures or mining
Nevertheless, both in the enactment ant
in the enforcement of law the fedora
government within it's restricted spher
should set an example to the state gov
ernments, especially in a matter so vita
as this affecting labor. I believe that un
der modern industrial conditions 1t
often necessary, and even where no
necessary it is yet often wise, that Their
should be organization of labor in orde
better to secure the rights of the individ
ual wage-worker. All encouragement
should be given to any such organiza
ton. so long as it is conducted with
due and decent regard for the rights o
others There are in this country som
labor unions which have habitually, an
other labor unions which have otter
been among the most effective agents i
working for good citizenship and for UP
lifting the condition of those whose wei
fare should be closest to our hearts. Blu
when any labor union seeks imprope
ends or seeks to achieve proper ends b
improper means, all good citizens an
more especially all honorable public serS
ants must oppose the wrongdoing a
resolutely as they would oppose tn
wrongdoing of any great corporation. c
course any violence, brutality or corruI