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

to organize and by all peaceful and honor
able means to endeavor to persuade their
fellows to Join with them In organiza-
tions- They have a legal right. which.
according to circumstances. may or may
not be q moral right. to refuse to work
In company with men who decline to Join
their organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
lence upon those. whether capitalists or
wage-workers, VINO refuse to support
their organisations. or who side with
those with whom they are at odds; for
mob rule is intolerabie In any form
Employers Liability Law.
The wage-workers are peculiarly en-
eitlsd to the protection and the encour-
agement Of the law. From the very ma
instance. are liable to be MANNED In do
Ing the legitimate work of their profess
sion. unless the railroad companies are
required by law to make ample provision
fer their safety. The administration has
been zealous In enforcing the existing law
for this purpose. That law should be
amended and strengthened Wherever
the national government has power there
should be n stringent employers liability
law. which should apply to the govern
ment itself where the government Is an
employer OF labor.
In my message to the Fifty-seventh
congress, at its second session. 1 urged
the passage OF an employers liability law
for the District of Columbia l now re-
new that Recommendation. and further
commission TO make a comprehensive
study of employers liability with the
view Of extending the provisions OF a
great and constitutional law to all en-
pigments within the scope of federal
power.
Medals Of Honor.
The government has recognized heroism
ha
honor upon those persons who by ex-
treme and heroic daring have endangered
their lives In saving. or endeavoring 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 ex-
tended to cover cases of conspicuous
bravery and seif-sacrifice In the saving
Of life In private employments 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 upor
cur railroads II n matter Of grave public
concern. and urgently calls for action by
the congress- In the matter OF speed anc
comfort of railway travel our railroadi
give 1T least as good service as those oi
any other nation and there 10 no reason
why this service should not also be as SAT-
as human ingenuity can make It. Many oi
our leading roads have been foremost II
the adoption OF the most approved safe
guards for the protection OF travellers ans
employees. yet the list Of clearly svoidabl'
aceidsnts continues urculy large. Tit
passage Of q law requiring the adoption o
Q block signal system has been PROPOSED
70 the congress-. earnestly concur II
that recommendation. and would also poin
out to the congress the urgent need o
legislation In the interest OF the publi'
safety limiting the hours OF labor for rail
road employees in train service upon rail-
roads engaged In interstate commerce. ant
providing that only trained and experiences
persons be employed in positions Of re
sponsibility connected with the operation
Of trains OF course. nothing can eve
prevent accidents caused by human weak
ness or misconduct; and there should b
drastic punishment for any railroad EN-
ploye, whether ofiicer or man, who by issu
ance OF wrong orders or by disobedienc
of orders causes disaster. The law of 1901
requiring interstate railroads to max
monthly reports Of all accidents to passen
gers and employees on duty. should also b
amended SO as to empower the government
to make q personal Investigation, throug
proper officers, OF all accidents involvin
loss Of life which seem to require investiga
ton. with a requirement that the result
of such Investigation be made public.
The safety appliance law. as amended b
the act of March 2. 1903. has proved bent
nciai to railway employees. and In erde
that Its provisions may be properly carrie
out. the force Of inspectors provided for b
appropriation should be largely increased
This service Is analogous to the steamboa
inspection service. and deals with eve
| more important interests. 1t has passe
the experimental stage and demonstrate
It's utility and should receive generou
recognition by the congress.
4 Unions Of Government Employees.
There is no objection TO employees Of II
/, ! government forming or belonging
unions; but the government can neith'
discriminate for nor discriminate againi
nonunIon men who are In its employ men
or who seek to be employed under
| Moreover IL is a very grave impropriei
, for government employees to band then
selves together for the purpose Of extortin
improperly high salaries from the govern
, ment Especially Is this true Of those will
In the classified service. The letter ca
| riers both municipal and rural. are as
| whole an excellent body OF public servant
, | They should be amply paid. But their pa.
, | ment must be obtained by arguing the
, | claims fairly and honorably before Il
! | congress. and not by banding together Il
I the defeat Of those congressman who r
. fuse to give promises which they cann
In conscience give. The administration hi
1 already taken steps to prevent and punit
, buses of this nature: but It will be wi
: Tor the congress to supplement this actiS
L by legislation
> Corporations
When we come to deal with great CO
| porations the need for the government
, act directly is far greater than in the ca
of labor. because great corporations CT
become such only by engaging In intersta
commerce. and Interstate commerce 10 y
culIarly the field of the general Cover
ment. 1t is an absurdity to expect to elir
mate the abuses IN great corporations
| state action. IL II difficult to be patie
n | with an argument that such matters shou
!. | be left to the states. because more thu
: one state pursues the policy Of creating
-, easy terms corporations which are new
4 | operated within that state at all. but
: other states whose laws they ignore. T
: | national government alone can deal ad
: quateiy with these great corporations.
|, try TO deal with them in an intemperai
' destructive or demagogic spirit would.
: all probability, mean that nothing whs
;, | ever would be accomplished. and with a
n solste certainty that IL anything were q
: complished IL would be OF a harmful n
a ture The American people need TO CO
= tinue to show the very qualities that tn
n have shown-that is. moderation, go
> | sense, the earnest desire to avoid doing a
4 damage. and yet the quiet determination
u proceed. step by step. without halt a
. | without hurry, in eliminating or at least
= minimizing whatever OF mischief or of e
Al | there Is to Interstate commerce In the CO
l. duct Of great corporations. They are a.
n ing in no spirit of hostility to wealth. eth
u individual or corporate. They are I
e against the rich man any more than agair
n the poor man. On the contrary. they
l. friendly alike toward rich man and iowa
II poor man. provided only that each az
A. in a spirit of justice and decency tows
q his fellows Great corporations are nee
of | sary. and only men of great and singu
he | mental power can manage such corpo
ID | tions successfully. and such men must hs
n. | great rewards. But these corporatic
In should be managed with due regard to
p interest OF the public as n whole. VIII,
j. this can be done under the present law
Ut must be done. Where these laws CO