The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-09

President Roosevelts message to
Congress-, read at the opening of the
cbort session of that body, deals vol
rminously with questions Of state.
The subject of tariff revision is left
for further communication. Sub
stantially the message is as follows:
10 the Senate and House of Represen-
tatiVeS:
The nation continues to enjoy note
rorthy prosperity. Such prosperity is of
course primarily due to the high individ-
mol average Of our citizenship, taken to-
pether with our great natural resources;
hit an important factor therein is the
working of our long continued govern
mental policies, The people have en-
nhatically expressed their approval of the
nrincples underlying these policies. and
their desire that these principles be kept
substantially unchanged, although Of
course applied in a progressive spirit to
meet changing conditions.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement Of scope Of the func-
tions of the national government re-
ouired by our development as a nation
involves, of course, increase Of expense;
and the period of prosperity through
which the country is passing justfcs en-
penditures fo- permanent improvements
far greater than would be wise in hard
times. Battle ships and forts, public
bindings. and improved waterways are
investments which should be made when
we have the money; but abundant rev.
enues and a large surplus always invite
extravaganza, and constant care should
be taken to guard against unnecessary
increase of the ordinary expenses of gov
sCnment.
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
of our modern civilized life the dominant
note is the note of industrialism; and the
relations Of capital and labor. and eSpe-
ciay of organized capital and organized
labor, to each other and to the public at
large come second in Importance only to
the intimate questions of family life.
AS long as the states retain the prim-
airy control Of the police power the cir
cumstances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the federal
authorities. whether in the way of safe
guarding the rights of labor or in the
way of seeing that wrong is not done by
rnruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. If there is re-
sistance to the federal courts. interior
ence with the mails. or interstate COM
merce, or molestaton of federal property
or II the state authorities in some crisis
which they are unable TO face call for
help then the federal government may
interfere; but though such interference
may be 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 regard to the questions
Shich have caused the breach of order
for to keep order is a primary duty and
in time of disorder and violence all 9TH
er questions sink into allegiance until or
der has been restored. In the District
Of Columbia and in the territories the
federal law covers the entire field of gov
eminent: but the labor question is only
acute in populOuS centers of commerce,
manufactures, or mining. Nevertheless,
both in the enactment and in the en-
iorcement Of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments, espe-
clally in matter so vital as this affect
ing 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 organ
zation OF labor in order better to secure
the rights of the individual wage worker.
All encouragement should be given to any
such organization. SO long as it is con-
Quoted with due and decent regard for
the rights of others There are in this
country some labor unions which have
nabitually. and other labor unions which
have often, been among the most effec-
i've agents in working for good citizen
snip 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 ends by improper means, all good
citizens and more especially all honorable
pubic servants must oppose the wrong
uoing as resolutely as they would oppose
me "Fongdoing Of any great corporation.
VI course any violence, brutality. or cor
Iuptlon' Should not for one moment be
liberated Wage-Workers have an entire
ilsht to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
.ieir fellows to join with them in organ
Hatlons. They have legal right, which,
according to circumstances, may or may
NOT De moral right, to refuse to work
~ company with men who decline to join
'Ier organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit yio-
lshee upon those, whether capitalists or
wase-Workers, who refuse to support
y. .ieir organizations, or who side with
muse with whom they are at odds; for
'iVo rule is intolerable in any form.
Inc amendment and strengthening
VI the employers liability law is rec
ommended, and the passage of a law
requiring the adoption of block sig
nal system, to prevent railroad acct
dents urged.
Unions Of Government Employees.
Inc message continues:
!, mere is no objection to employees of
e government forming or belonging to
sLlons' but the government can neither
discriminate for nor discriminate against
union men who are in it's employ
:. 'eh,' or Who seek to be employed under
- moreover, it is very grave impro-
tseV lor government employees to band
euiseVes together for the purpose of
sehAsottlng improperly high salaries from
government. Especially is this true
La. muse within the classified service. The
.sef carriers. both municipal and rural.
IL % whole an excellent body of pub
uc servants Tbev cI,n,,I5 ~ o,-,.I., ,Do;l