The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-12-06


ertheless both in the enactment and
in the enforcement Of law the federal
government within It's restricted
sphere should set an example to the
state governments, especially in a
matter so vital as this affecting labor.
believe that under modern industrial
conditions it Is often necessary, and
even where not necessary it is yet
often wise, that there should be Or
ganization Of labor in order better to,se-
cure the rights of the individual wage
worker. All encouragement should be
given to any such organization SO long
as it is conducted with a due and de-
cent 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 effective agents
in working for good citizenship 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 es-s
| pecially all honorable public servants,
| must oppose the wrongdoing as reso-
lutely as they would oppose the
wrongdoing Of any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality or
corruption should not for one moment
be tolerated. Wageworkers have an
entire right to organize and by all
peaceful and honorable means to en-
deavor to persuade their fellows to
join with them in organizations. They
have a legal right, which, according
to circumstances, may or may not be
| moral right, to refuse to work In COM
pany with men,whp decline to join their
! organizations They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
l lence upon those, whether capitalists
or wageworkers, who refuse to support
their organizations or who side with
those with whom they are at odds, for
| mob rule is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
The wageworkers are peculiarly enti-
tied to the protection and the encour-
agement of the law. From the very
| nature of their occupation railroad
men, for instance, are liable to be
! MANNED in doing the legitimate work
of their profession unless the railroad
companies are required by law to make
| ample provision for their safety. The
administration has been Jealous in en-
| forcing the existing law for this pur-
| pose. That law should be amended
and strengthened. Wherever the ma
| tional government has power there
! should be stringent employers liabil-
lty law, which should apply to the gov
ernment itself where tR government
is an employer Of labor.
/ In my message to the Fifty-seventh
| congress at it's second session I urged
| the passage Of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia.
= now renew that recommendation and
| further recommend that the congress
! appoint commission to make COM
| prehensive study of employers liabili-
| ty with the view Of extending the pro-
visions Of great and constitutional
law to all employments within the
scope Of federal power.
Medals of Honor.
The government has recognized hero
ism upon the water and bestows med
ais Of honor upon those persons who
by extreme and heroic daring have en-
| dangered their lives in saving or. en-
| deayoring to save lives from the perils
Of the sea in the waters over which the
/ United States has Jurisdiction or upon
an American vessel. This recognition
| should be extended to cover cases Of
| conspicuous bravery and self sacrifice
in the saving of life in private employ
/ ments under the jurisdiction Of the
United States, and particularly in the
land commerce Of the nation.
Prevention Of Railroad Accidents
The ever increasing casualty list up
on our railroads is matter Of grave
public concern and urgently calls for
action by the congress. In the matter
Of speed and comfort of railway travel
our railroads give at least as good
service as those of any other nation,
| and there is no reason why this serv-
Ice should not also be as safe as hui
man ingenuity can make It, Many Of
our leading roads have been foremost
in the adoption of the most approved
safeguards for the protection of travel