The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-12-09

Washington. Dec. S. President
gress makes some $4,000 words. In ac-
cordance with established custom con-
siderable space Is devoted to q re-
sumo OF the year in the administrative
departments of the, government, but
much of the message Is given up to .
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
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 II 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 coursc applied in a progressive spirft
, to meet changing conditions
Caution Against Extravagancs.
The enlargement of scope of the func-
tions OF the national government required
OF course, increase Of expense: and the
period Of prosperity through which the
country is passing justifies 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 extravagance,
and constant care should be taken tc
guard against unnecessary increase OF
/ the ordinary expenses of government
The cost Of doing government businss.
should be regulated with the same rigid
scrutiny as the cost Of doing . private
business
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
Of our modern civilized life the dominant
nots is the note of industrialism: and tho
relations of capital and labor, and es
pecially of organized capital and organ
lied labor, to each other and to the pub
lie at large come second in Importance
only to the intimate questions of famil,
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 a NOR
strongly centralized government But 4
the dificulty OF meeting with adequate
legislation the new problems presentes
by the total change IN Industrial condi
tions on this continent during the las
half-century- In actual practice It ha
proved exceedingly difficult. and I'm man,
cases impossible. to get unanimity o
wise action among the various states OF
these subjects From the very nature o
the case this Is especially true of the law
an citing the employment OF capital Il
huge masses
, With regard to labor the problem Il n
{ less important. but IL Is simpler. As LON
As the states retain the primary contro
: OF the police power the circumstance
? 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 Q
: seeing that wrong Is not done by un
ruly persons who shield themselves be
hind the name OF labor. II there IL re
sistanee to the federal courts. interfer
ence with the malls. or interstate com
merce. or molestation of federal proper
ty. or II the state authorities In som
crisis which they are unable to face ca
Tor help. then the federal governmer
may interfere: but though such interfer
things arising out OF trouble connecte
with some question of labor. the tnterfei
snce itself simply takes the form of rs
L storing order without regard to the que,
uOuS WHICH nave Caused Nnc DEedCl
order-for to keep order Is q primar
o duty and In a time OF disorder and viz
lence all other questions sink into abey
ance until order has been restored
the District OF Columbia and In the tel
ritories the federal law covers the entil
!. deld OF government. but the labor que,
: ton Is only acute In populous centers
commerce. manufactures or minin
Nevertheless. both in the enactment an
: In the enforcement of law the federi
i government within its restricted sphel
ID should set an example to the state go'
ernments. especially in a matter so Wit
as this affecting labor. I believe that VI
/, der modern industrial conditions IL
often necessary. and even where n
necessary II Is yet often wise. that the
should be organization of labor in ord
better to secure the rights of the indivi
ual wage-worker. All encouragemel
should be given to any such organic
ton, SO long as IL Is conducted with
due and decent regard for the rights
others. There are in this country son
., labor unions which have habitually, al
ii >ther labor unions which have ofte
been among the host enecttve agents
q working for good citizenship and for U
y lifting the condition OF those whose W,
fare should be closest to our hearts. b
1r when any labor union seeks improp
IN ends, or seeks to achieve proper ends
CT improper means. all good citizens a
more especially all honorable public ser
=, ants must oppose the wrongdoing
VI resolutely as they would oppose {
,. wrongdoing Of any great corporation.
.