The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-12-06
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE
Read In Both Houses OF
Congress Today
TAKES BULL BY HORNS
Discusses Capital and Labor, Rail-
road Rebates, Unionism
Etc.
TAKES BULL BY HORNS

President RoOsevelts message has
been delivered to congress. Its main
features are as follows:
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 is passing
justifies expenditures for permanent
improvements far greater than would
be wise in hard times, but abundant
revenues and a large surplus always
invite extravaganza and constant care
should be taken to guard against un-
necessary increase of the ordinary ex-
penses 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 more strongly centralized
government But it is undoubtedly re-
sponsble for much of the difficulty Of
meeting with adequate legislation the
new problems presented by the total
change in industrial conditions on this
continent during the last half century.
In actual practice it has proved ex-
ceedingly difficult, and 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 or
capital in huge masses.
With regard to labor. the problem il
no less important but it is simpler. AS
long as the states retain the primary
control of the police power the circum-
stances must be altogether extreme
W Iltu require ny tut ltb-
eral authorities, whether in the way of
safeguarding the rights of labor or in
the way OF seeing that wrong is not
done by unruly persons who shield
themselves behind the name of labor.
II there is resistance to the federal
courts, interference with the mails or
interstate commerce or molestation of
federal property. or if the state authori-
ties in some crisis which they are I'M
able to face call for help, then the fed
eral government may interfere: but,
though such interference may be caus-
ed by condition of things arising out
of trouble connected with some ques-
ton of labor the interference itself
simply takes the form of restoring or
der without regard to the questions
have caused the breach of or
Ter. In the District of Columbia and
n the territories the federal law COW
RS the entire field of government. But
he labor question is only acute in
,oNulous centers of commerce, manu-
actures or mining. Nevertheless both
n the enactment and in the enforce
nent of law the federal government
within it's restricted sphere should set
n example to the state governments,
specially In matter so vital as this
ffecting labor.
LABOR UNIONS.
I believe that under modern indus
rial conditions II is often necessary and
ven where not necessary ii is yet Of
IN wise that there should be organiza-
on of labor In order better to secure
ne rights Of the individual Wagework-
r. All encouragement should be given
, any such organization so long as it
conducted with a due and decent re-
ard for the rights of others. There
re in this county some labor unions
hich have habitually and other labor
Mons which have often been among
10 most effective agents in working
II good citizenship and for uplifting
e condition of those whose welfare
lould be closest to our hearts. But
hen any labor union seeks improper
Ids or seeks to achieve proper ends
: improper means all good citizens,
ID more especially all honorable pub
, servants, must oppose the wrongdo-
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