Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-08
PRES|DENT'SMES

The enlargement of scope Of the
functions Of the national government
required by our development as a ma
ton involves, Of course, increase Of ex.
pense, and the period Of prosperity
through which the country IL passing
justihes expenditures for permanent
Improvements far greater than would
be wise in hard times, but abundant
revenues and Il large surplus always
invite extravaganza, and constant care
should be taken to guard against UNI
necessary increase of the ordinary ex.
penscs of government.
Capital and Labor.
The relations OF capital and labor.
and especially of organized capital and
organized labor, to each other and to
the public at large come second in i'm
portance only to the intimate questions
of family life. Our peculiar form Of
government, with its sharp division of
authority between the nation and the
several states, has been on the whole
far more advantageous to our develop.
ment than n more strongly centralized
government But 1t is undoubtedly re-
meeting with adequate legislation the
new problems presented Ivy the total
change in Industrial conditions on this
continent during the last half century
In actual practice II has proved eX-
ceedingly difficult, md 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
no less important, but 1t Is simpler. AS
/ long as the states retain the primary
control of the police power the circum-
stances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the fed
eral authorities, whether in the way of
safeguarding the rights of labor or In
! tnc way Oh ettlIiS luul WINS 10 NV
done by unruly persons who shield
themselves behind the name OF labor.
If there is resistance to the federal
courts, interference with the mails OF
interstate commerce or molestauon OF
federal property, or If the state authori
ties in some crisis which they are un
able to face call for help, then the fed
eral government may interfere; but
though such interference may be caus
ed by a condition Of things arising Out
of trouble connected with some CUES
ton of labor the interference Itself
simply takes the form Of restoring or
der without regard to the questions
which have caused the breach OF or
der. In the District of Columbia ant
in the territories the federal law GOV
ers the entire field of government. But
the labor question Is only acute II
populous centers Of commerce. manu-
features or mining. Nevertheless botf
In the enactment and in the enforce
ment Of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should Sc
an example to the state governments
especially In n matter so vital as thil
affecting labor.
Labor Unions.
r ! believe that under modern indus
trial conditions 1t is often necessary anC
even where not necessary IT is yet OF
ten wise that there should be organiza
q ton Of labor In order better TO secure
f the rights of the individual wagework
err. All encouragement should be givel
1 to any such organization so long as !
IS conducted with due and decent re
gard for tho rights Of others. Their
are in this country some labor union
\ which have habitually and other labo
j unions which have often been amoni
n the most effective agents in working
r for good citizenship and for upliftin;
c the condition of those whose weifar
should be closest to our hearts. Blu
when any labor union seeks iInprope
ends or seeks to achieve proper end
by improper means all good citizens
= and more especially all honorable pub
lie servants, must oppose the wrongdO
', ing as resolutely as they would oppos
e the wrongdoing of any great corpora
/. ton. Violence, brutality or corruptio
# should not for one moment be tolcral
l. ed.
u Entire Right 10 Organize.
a Wageworkers have an entire RICH
to organize and by all peaceful an
=, honorable means TO endeavor to pei
suade their fellows to Join with thel
l., In organizations. They have n lcgG
u right, which, according to circuu
Il stances, may or may not be NOR
Il right, to refuse to work In compan
s. with men who decline to join their Vi
+ ganizatlons. They have under no eli
> cumstances the right to commit vic
& lence upon those, whether capitalist
l. or wagework ers, who refuse to supper
t. their organizatio or who side wit
Z those with whom they are at odds, f
d mob rule is intolerable in any form.
% The wageworkers are peculiarly ent
- tied to the protection and the encou
, agement Of the law. Wherever the nj
IF tional government has power thel
O. should be u stringent employers liabi
r ity law, which should apply TO the go
d, eminent itself where the governmer
r Is an employer Of labor.
~ Prevention of Railroad Accidents
ct The ever increasing casualty list u
on our railroads Is a matter of gray