Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-12-07


Congress, which was transmitted to
that body. Tuesday
To the Senate and House OF Representa-
The Nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity Is OF
course primarily due to the nigh moi
vidual average of our citizenship tahei.
together with our great natural resources
but an important factor therein IS the
working OF our lOng-cOntinued govern
nhatioally expressed their approval Of
th@ principles underlying these policies,
and their desire that these principles b.-
Kept substantially unchanged. although
Of course applied in progressive spirit
to meet changing conditions
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement Of scope of the func-
tions OF the National Government re-
quired by our development as a nation IN
wolves. Of course. increase OF expense
and the period OF prosperity through
which the country is passing JuSt:hes eN-
FAR greater than would be wise in hard
times. Battle ships and forts. public
buildings. and improved waterways are
Investments which should b.. made when
we have the money; but abundant reVe-
nues and a large surplus always invite eA-
travagance. and constant car" should De
taken TO guard against unnecessary IN
crease OF the ordinary expenses ol gov
ernment The cost Of doing Government
business should be regulated with the
a private business.
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
OF our modern civilized ill.,. the dominant
note Is the note of industrialisn; and the
relations OF capital and labor ana rs-
pecially Of organized capital and organ
ized labor to each other and 10 the publlc
at large come second in Importance only
10 the intimate questions OF family MI M,
our peculiar form Of government, with
its sharp division of authority between
the Nation and the several States. has
been on the whole far mon" advantageous
To our development that a more strongly
centralized government. But 1t Is un-
doubtedy responsible for much "f the
difficulty Of meeting with adequate l"GiN-
lation the new problems presented by The
total change in industrial conditions on
this continent during the last half gen
fury. In actual practice 1t has proved eX-
ceedingly difficult. and in many cases i'm
possible, to get unanimity Of WIS" action
among the various states on these sub
JeCts. From the Very naiil" ui th" case
this is especially true of -. T. vs. affect
ing the employment OF III mug"
masses.
less important but it is -itni ! AZ long
as the states retain th- pI' ny control
OF the police power IT,, .,Il umStaMGrs ,,,,,i'ir
Interference by the Frdclal authorities.
whether In the way OF St'"-faarding me
rights of labor or in the WhN OF seeing
that wrong Is not done by uuruly persons
who shield themselves behind the name
of labor. If there is ressthncc to the
Federal courts, Interference with the
mails. or Interstate commerce. or moleSta-
tion Of Federal property. or If the state
authorities in some crisis which they are
unable to face call for help. then the
Federal Government may int'rfel"; nut
though such interference may b' caused
by condition of things arising OUT OF
trouble connected with some question of
labor the Interference itself simply takes
the form of restoring order without re-
gard to the questions which have caused
4 hx, bro h -
a primary duty and in n time of dls"r-
der and violence all other questions sink
into allegiance until order has h'cn re
stored. In the District of Columbia and
in the Territories the Federal law covers
the entire field OF government. hut tn"
labor question Is only acute in populouS
centers OF commerce. manura cturcs. or
mining. Nevertheless. both In the enact
ment and In the enforcement of law the
Federal Government within its restricted
sphere should set an example to the state
governments. especially in a matter so
vital this affecting labor believe
that under modern industrial conditions
1t IL often necessary. and even where not
necessary II Is yet often wise. that there
should be organization OF labor IN order ,,
vidual wage worker All encouragement
should be given to any such organization:
decent regard for the rights of others
There are In this country som" laDor
unions which have hahitually. and other
among the most effective agents in work
ing 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 endst by improper
means all good citizens and more es-
pecially all honorable public servants
must oppose the wrongdoing as resolutey
as they would oppose the wrongdoing of
any great corporation. or course any vio-
lence, brutality or corruption should not
for one moment he tolerated. Wage
workers have an entire right to organize
and by all peaceful and honorable means
to endeavor to persuade their fellows to
Join with them in organizations. They
have "a legal right. which. according to
circumstances may o: may not he
moral right to refuse to work in company
with men who decline to join their or
ganiza tions. They have under no circum-
stances the right to commit violence upon
those whether capitalists or wage
workers. who refuse to support their or
ganizations, or who side with those with
whom they are at odds: for mob rule Is
tntolerable in any form
Employers Liability Law.
The wage-workers are peculiarly en-
titled to the protection and the encour-
axement Of the law. From the very ma
ture Of their occupation railroad men. for
instance. are liable TO he manned in do
ing the legitimate work of their profess
sion unless the railroad companies are
required by law TO make ample pro-
tion has been Jealous in enforcing the
existing law for this purpose. That law
should hc amended and strengthened.
Wherever the National Government has
power there should be stringent en-
ployers liability law. which should apply
to the Government itself where the Gov
ernment is an employer of labor.
In my Message to the Fifty-ScVenth
Congress. at its second session. | urged
the passage Of an employers liability law
for the District of Columbia. ] now
new tnat recommendation, and further
recommend that the Congress appoint a
commission to make a comprehensive
Of employers liability with the view Of
of extending the provisions OF great and
constitutional law t. all employ mcnts
within the scope OF Federal power
Medals of Honor.
The Government has recognized heroiSm
upon the water and bestC->s medals Of
honor upon those person. V ~ by ex-
treme and heroic daring i.,>, endangered
their lives IN saving, or enHeavoring to
save, lives from the perls - the sea in
the waters over which the .ited States
has Jurisdiction. or upon American
vessel. This recognition sh d he ex-
tended to cover cases of conspicuous
bravery and self-sacrifice in the saving of
fife In private employmer,S under the
jurisdiction of the United States and rar-
ticNlarly in the land commerce of the Ma