Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-06
Continued from first pago.)

bitne OF OlSOTuef ana violence all OInel
questions sink into abeyance until or
der has been restored. In the District
Of Columbia and in the territories the
federal law covers the entire field Of
government, but the labor question il
only acute in populous centers of com
} Rcrce; manufactures or mining. Never.
theless, both in the enactment and the
enforcement Of Law, the federal gov
ernment within its restricted sphere
should set an example to the state gov
ernments, especially in matter so vital
as this affecting labor. ] believe that
under modern industrial conditions it is
often necessary, and even where not
necessary it is yet often wise, that there
should be organization of labor in order
better to secure the rights Of the indi-
vidual wage-worker. All encourage
ment should be given to any such or
ganization, so long as it is conducted
with a due and decent regard for the
rights of others. There are in this
country some labor unions which have
habitually, and other labor unions
which have often been among the most
effective agents in working for good
citizenship and for uplifting the condi-
tion of those whose welfare should be
closet to our hearts. But when any
labor union seeks improper ends or
seeks TO achieve proper ends by inn
proper means, all good citizens, and
more especially all honorable public
servants, must oppose the wrongdoing
as resolutely as they would oppose the
wrongdoing of any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality or
corruption should not for one moment
bo tolerated. Wage-workers have an
entire right to organize, and by all
peaceful and honorable means to en-
deavor to pursuade their fellows to join
with them in organizations. They have
a legal right, which, according to cir
eumstances, may or not be a moral
right, to refuse to work in company
with men who decline to join their or
ganizations. They have under no cir
eumstances the right to commit vio-
lence upon those, whether capitalists or
wageworkers, who refuse to support
their organizations or who side with
those with whom they are at odds, for
mob rule is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
The wage-workers are peculiarly en-
titled TO the protection and the encour-
agement Of the law. From the very
nature of their occupation railroad men,
for instance, are liable to be manned
in doing the legitimate work of their
profession unless the railroad compa
nios are required by law to make ample
provision for their safety. The admin
istration has been jealous in enforcing
the existing law for this purpose. That
law should be amended and strength
ened. Wherever the national govern
ment has power there should be strin-
gent employers liability law, which
should apply TO the government itself
where the government is an employer
Gf labor.
In my message TO the ffty-seventh
congress at its second seccion, l urged
the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia.
now renew that recommendation, and
further recommend that the congress
appoint a commission 20 make COM
prehensive study of employers liabil-
ity with the view of extending the pro-
visions of a great and constitutional
law to all employments within the
scope of federal power.
Medals OF Honor.
The government has recognized he
roism upon the water, and bestows med
ais Of honor upon those persons who
by extreme and heroic daring have en-
dangered their lives in saving or en-
deavoring 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 extended TO cover cases of
conspicuous bravery aud self'sacrifee
in tho saving of life in private employ
nents under the jurisdiction of the
United States. and particularly in the
and commerce Of the nation.
Prevention OF Railroad Accidents.
The ever-increasing casualty list
mon our railroads is matter of grave
public concern, and urgently calls for
action by the congress, In the matter
4 speed ana comfort Of railway travel
,ur railroads give at least as good
Iervice as those of any other nation,
md there is no reason why this serv-
60 should not also be as safe as hui
nan ingenuity can make il. Many of
'ur leading roads have been foremost
N the adOption of the most approved /