The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-12-08

a
portion of the message which we give
below. ss4se's''sos''ses1
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tlves: The nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity Is of
course COZ primarily due to the high individ-
uat average OF our citizenship, taken to.
getner with our great natural resources;
Out an important factor therein is the
working OF our long-continued govern
mental policies. The people have en-
phatically expressed their approval of
tne principles underlying these policies,
ana their desire that these principles be
kept Substantially unchanged, although
OF course applied in progressive spirit
20 meet changing conditions. le
Caution Against Extravagance.
The enlargement Of scope of the func-
tlons OF the national government required
ny our development as a nation involves,
OF course, increase of expense: and the
period OF prosperity through which the
country Is passing justifies expenditures
Tor permanent improvements far greater
imam would be wise in hard times. Bat
tieshtps 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,
ana 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 private
business. s
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-
peciaily OF organized capital and organ
ICED labor, to each other and to the pub
nc at large come second in Importance
only to the Intimate questions of family
lie. Our peculiar form of government,
with Its sharp division OF authority be-
tween the nationssand the several states,
has been on the whole far more advan-
tageous to our development than a more
strongly centralized government. But it
ls Undoubtedly responsible for much of
the, difficulty of meeting with adequate
legislation the new problems presented
Dy the total change in industrial condi-
lions on this continent during the last
half-century. In actual practice 1t 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.
s2a With regard to labor the problem is no
sas the states retain the primary control
sof the police power the circumstances
must be altogether extreme which re-
SQuire 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-
sruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name Of labor. II there is re-
Esistance to the federal courts, interior
5ence with the mails. or interstate COM
merce. or molestation Of federal proper
sjty. or If the state authorities In some
zcrisis which they are unable to face cali
s1or help. then the federal government
may interfere: but though such interfer-
.ence may be caused by condition of
things arising out Of trouble connected
with some question of labor, the; interfer-
;sence itself simply takes the form of re-
storing order without regard to the ques-
gtions which have caused the breach of
sorder-for to keep order is primary
duty and in time of disorder and vio-
slence 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-
stton Is only acute in populous centers of
commerce, manufactures or mining.
SNeyertheless. both in the enactment and
An the enforcement Of law the federal
government within its restricted sphere
sernments. especially in matter SO vital
AS this affecting labor. I believe that un-
der modern industrial conditions it Is
often necessary. and even where not
@necessary it is yet often wise. that there
SHOULD be organization Of labor in order
better to secure the rights of the indiYid-
sual wage-worker. All encouragement
gshould be given to any. such organiza-
ton. SO long as it is conducted with a
! due and decent regard for the rights of
Others. There are In THIS country Some
I labor unions which have habitually, and
other labor unions which have often,
been among the most effective agents in
. working for good citizenship and for up
lifting the condition of those whose well
fare should be closest to GU. 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
. resc.utely as they would opposes the
wrongdoing Of any great corporation. xOf
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