Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-12-08

clares that the nation continues "to
enjoy noteworthy prosperity" and
that the people recently have express
ed emphatically their approval Of the
principles underlying the policies pro-
ducing it. He caIutions against ex-
travagance. Continuing he says:
Capital and Labor
The relations of capital and labor. and
especially Of organized capital and organ.
lied labor, to each other and to the Dub-
lie at large come second in importance only
To the intimate questions OF family life.
our peculiar form OF government, with its
sharp division Of authority between the
nation ana the several states, has been on
the whole far more advantageous to our
development than more strongly cen
trallzed government. But It is undoubt-
eddy responsible for much of the difficulty
OF meeting with adequate legislation the
new problems presented by the total
change IN Industrial conditions on this con
tlnent during the last half century. In ac-
tual practice II has proved exceedingly diff.
hcult and In many cases impossible, 10 get
unAninity OF wise action among the various
states on these subjects From ;he very
nature Of the case this is especially true Of
the laws affecting the employment III cap.
ital In huge masses.
with regard 10 labor the problem is no
less important, but IT Is simpler. AS lOng
as the states retain the primary control OF
altogether extreme which require interfcr
encc by the federal authorities whether in
the way Of safeguarding the rights Of la
bur or IN the way of seeing that wrong is
not done by unruly persons who shield
themselves behind the name OF labor. If
there h resistance to the federal courts In
reference with the mails, or interstate
commerce, or molestation of federal prop
orty, or II the state authorities In some
crisis winch they are unable to face call
for help, then the federal government may
Ia Nnrfn nah In nFs faro "a "a
may be caused 10y 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 10 the questions which have
caused the breach of order-for to keep
order Is a primary duty and in time of
disorder and violence all other questions
sink into Allowance until order mas been re
stored. In the District of Columbia and
In the territories the federal law covers
the entire field of government but the la
bor question Is only acute In populOus cen
ters Of commerce, manufactures. or mining.
Nevertheless, both In the enactment and in
the enforcement of law the federal govern
ment Within It's restricted sphere should
set an example to the state governments,
especially In matter so vital as THIS ar
fecting labor | believe that under mod
ern Industrial conditions II Is often neces-
sary, and even where not necessary IL Is
yet often wise. that there should be organ
izailon of labor In order better TO secure
the rights of the individual wage worker
All encouragement should be "iyen TO any
such organization, SO long MS II Is conducted
with due and decent regard for the rights
uf others. But when any labor union seeks
improper ends seeks to achieve proper
ends by improper means, all good citizens
and more especially all honorable public
servants must oppose the wrongdolng as
resoIutely as they would oppose the wrong
doing Of any great corporation OF course
amy violence brutality, or corruption
should not for one moment be tolerated.
Ware.workers have an entire right to or
gAnlze and by all peaceful and honorable
means to endeavur TO persuade their rel
lows to Join with them In organizations
They have legal right, which, according
to circumstances, may or may not DE
moral right, to refuse 10 work IN company
with men who decline TO join their organi-
cations. They have under no clrcum~
stances the right to commit violence upon
those, whether capitalists or wn"e- workers
who refuse to support their organizations
ar who side with those with whom they
are at odds for mob rule Is intoleranle III
any form,
Employers Liability Law,
From the very nature of their occunat ion
railroad men. for instance are liable 10 he
MANNED In doing the legitimate work Of
their profession, unless the railroad com.
panes are required by law to make amule
provision for their safety. The administra.
iion has been Jealous In enforcing the ex-
lsting law for this purpose. That law
should be amended and strengthened.
Wherever the national government has
power there should he a stringent EN-.
ployers liability law, which should npplv
to the government itself where the govern
ment Is an employer of labor. | recon-
mend that the congress appoint a commits
sion 10 make comprehensive study of EN-
ployer'S liability with the View of extend
ing tue provisions OF great and cunstitu.
tional law TO all environments Within the
scope of federal power,
Prevention OF Railroad Accidents
Many Of our leading roads nave brep
foremost IN the adoption Of approved safe,
guards for the protection of travellers and
employees yet the list OF clearly avoidahlr
accidents continues unduy large The pas
sage Of law requiring the adoption az a
block signal system has peer proposed 10
congress | earnestly concur In that recon,
mendntion, and would also point out the
urgent need Of legislation In the interest
of the public safety limiting the hours of
labor for railroad employees In train ServiC,
upon railroads engaged In Interstate com
merce. and providing that only trained and
experienced persons be employed In posi-
lions of responsibility connected with thu
operation of trains, There should be dras
tic punishment for any railroad employe
whether officer or man. who by issuance OF
wrong orders or by dlsobedienee of order,
causes disaster
The safety appliance law has proved
beneficial to railway employees and In or
der that Its provisions may he properly
carried out the force cf inspectors provided
for by appropriation should be Increased
This service has passed the eNperimenta
stage and demonstrated its utility, anC
should receive generous recognition.
Extortiug Higher Fay,
There Is no objection to employees of tn,
government forming or belonging to unions
but the government can neither discrtmn
ate for nor discriminate against non
union men who are In It's employ
mept er ~hu seek 10 be employed
under It. Moreover. It is a very grave i,c
nroprietv for government employees {,
hand themselves together for the ourpaS'
of e~tnIting improperlv high salaries IRON
the government Especiallv Is this true O
those within the classified service. tn,
letter carriers, both municipal and rural
are rs a whole an excellent body Of puhlt,
servants They should be amply paid
Buf their nayment must be obtained bv ~
ening their claims fairly and honorahly
before the congress and not by banding
together for the defeat Of those congress
men who refuse 20 give promises whlcu
they can not IN conscience give. The al
mlniS,ration has ALREADY taken steps To
prevent and punish abuses Of this nature
but Il will he wise for congress 10 supple
vaapf this action hy legislation.