Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-01-21

provement of the channels of the Mis-
souri,. Hundreds of millions of dol
lars are spent upon our Atlantic and
Pacific s~eacoasts. Why should not some
of these millions be spent upon the
Mississippi? The States bordering on
the Mississippi pay relatively as much
in national taxes as do those tributary
to the Atlantic or the Pacific ~seacoasts.
The time will come when men from
Atchison county can take ship from
their own county ard go from there
to China, as can men from Clay and
Clark. The price of every pound Of
beef, of every bale Of cotton, and of
every bushel of wheat and corn pro-
duced in the State of Missouri, will be
increased, if the work is undertaken,
and believe that 1t can be accomplished
by a united movement. headed by Mis-
souri,. l would like to see ships built
of Missouri lumber, the two Missouri
bears at every prov, carrying good
food, good men and good Democracy
to all parts of the world,
GOOD ROADS.
Missouri must have good roads. Good
roads near good horses and good
farmers of the costs Of transportation
of their products from the farm 10 the
railroads or to the rivers. What good
streets are to the city, good roads are
to the country, Advocating good roads
will not do, building them is what is
necessary.
UNION LABOR.
The laboring classes would ultimate
ly be driven into a condition of serv1-
tude, did they not protect themselves
by organization. They would become
inefficient and servile in their rela-
lions with their employers. The short
ening of the hours of labor gives men
an opportunity to educate themselves,
and in this way become better citizens.
Time and spirit are both essential in
raising men to the standard of good
American citizens. Time and spirit
come through unionism.
Children must not be permitted to
work in factories lest their little
bodies may become deformed, their
health ruined, and that they may not
grow up in ignorance. Good citizenship
in America demands that our children
should be sent to school, and not
forced into competition with grown
men and women. We have laws pro-
viding against the use Of unsafe and
adulterated food. Why have we not
laws protecting workmen against I'M
safe scaffolding in the erection or
painting of buildings, and for their
protection during hours of labor? Men
provide safe and healthy places for
their horses and cattle. Why should
ley not be compelled to provide
healthy and safe places for laboring
men to work in? Labor must be paid
for it's service in lawful money OF the
United States, not in orders issued by
employers. Shortened hours give oppor-
tunity for recreation; good wages give
good food and good clothes; bodily
strength and education make good citl-
zens; good citizens make a good nation.
In the settling of disputes between
employers and employees, the State
Board of Arbitration has performed
valuable services for the State.
If it develops in the future that
their authority has not been properly
given, or is not of sufficient scope
new laws must be enacted SO that their
work may proceed without Interrupt
ton, and with the whole forces of the
State and public sentiment at their
back.
The raising of a caste in American
politics in the large cities of Missouri
by the use of the special jury in dis.
barring laboring men from sitting or
iuries in civil and criminal cases mus
be abolished. The law must not draw
nor should a public official draw, a line
of honesty to be regulated by occupa-
ton. The greatest enemy of the labor
union is the demagogue who counsels
improper methods of adjusting dis.
putes. He will either drive his audience
to extremes, or so alarm those he as.
sails, as to cause them to go to I'm.
warranted extremes in their defense.
SPECIAL JURIES.
II elected governor of Missouri, thu
first message | send to the assembly
will contain a recommendation for thu
absolute and unconditional repeal o.
what is known as the special jury law
1t is to my mind the most unfair anC
dangerous law now upon the statute
books. 1t will do more to create cast
in American politics than any other in
stitution. These special juries cost $7I
each. This at the outset makes it i'm
possible for many poor men to secure
this sort of a %venire, which is used b,
great corporations almost exclusively
Their use in criminal cases is especial
ly obnoxious to justice. The first pub
lie prosecutor in Missouri, or for tina
matter in the United States, to call TO
a special jury in a criminal cause, wa
the circuit attorney of st. Louis. VIII.
he should not have been willing to ad
dress his causes to an ordinary jur,
composed alike of laboring men, arti
sans and mechanics, with those EN-
ployed in other occupations, is a mat
ter of some comment.
The only serious criticism which
have permitted myself to make of tn
bribery trialsfhas been the use of spe
cial juries. A special Jury is a Yenir