Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
READ TO CONGRESS
Document Deals Voll1nninously with
Questions of State---Tariff Left for
Future Comnunication---Po of
the Government Toward Organized
Labor---Dealins with Illegal Combi-
nations.

President Roosevelt's message to
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 individ-
ual average of our citizenship. taken to-
gether with our great natural resources;
but 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 re-
quired 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 fo- 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 nave the money, but ABUNDANT rev.
enueS and a large surplus always invite
extravaganza. and constant should
be taken to guard against unnecessary
increase of the ordinary expenses of gov
eminent.
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 espe
cially 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 prim-
airy control of the police power the cir
cumstances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the federal
authorities. whether in the way of safe
guarding the rights of labor in the
way of seeing that wrong is not done by
rnruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. If there is re-
sistance to the federal courts. interior
ence with the mails. interstate COM
merce or molestation of federal property,
or if 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-
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
hat lrGR
industrial conditions it is often necessary
and even where not necessary it is vet
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. long as it is con-
Quoted 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 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 honora BILE
public servants must oppose the wrong
doing resolutely they would oppose
the wrongdoing of any great corpora alton.
OF course any violence. brutality. or cor
ruption. should not for tne moment be
tolerated Wage workers have an entire
right to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to join with them in organ
fzations They have a legal right. which
according to circums tances. may or may
not be moral right. to refuse to work
in company with men who decline to join
their organize lions. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
1ence upon those. whether capitalists or
wage-workers. who refuse to support
their organizations 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 a law
requiring the adoption of 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 discriminate against
pon-union men who are in its employ
ment. or who seek to be employed under
It. Moreover. it is very grave impro-
themselves together for the purpose of
extorting 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 whole excellent body of pub
lie servants They should be amply paid.
But their payment must be obtained by
arguing their claims fairly and honorably
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