The Springfield herald., 1904-12-09

President RoOSeveltS message TO
Congress, read at the opening of the
short session of that body; deals vol
uminously with questions OF state.
The subject of tariff revision is left
for \ further communication. Sub
stantially the message is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
The nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity il of
course primarily due TO the high individ-
ual average of our citizenship. taken to-
gether with our great natural resources; ;
but an important factor therein is the
working Of our long continued govern,
mental policies The people havo em-
expressed their approval of the
principles 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 Extravsosnee.
The enlargement of scope OF the func-
tlons of the national government re-
qutrednby our development as nation
Involves. of course. Increase of expense:
and the period of prosperity through
which the country is passing justifes exI
penditures. for permanent improvements
far greatsr than would be wise In hard
times. Battle ships and forts. public
buildings. and improved waterways are
investmepfs which, should be made when
we have the money! but abundant rev.
ennes and large surplus always invite
extravagance. and constant care should
be taken to guard against unnecessary
increase of the ordinary expenses of gov
ernment. ~
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated meeha nlsm
n
note II the note OF industriaiism: and the
relations OF capital and labor. and espe
ciAliy Of organized capital md urGa mixed
labor. to each other and to tho public at
large come second in Importance only to
the intimate questions of family lirc.
AZ long as the states retain the prim-
ary 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 II not done by
rnruly persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name of labor. II there II re-
sistanc< TO the federal courts. interfer-
ence with tho malls. or interstate, conn.,.
merce. or molextatton 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 a 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
which have CAUSED the breach of order
for to keep. order is n primary duty and
in a tirne-of disorder and violence all 9TH
or questions sink into -;ibcyance until orr
der has been restored. In the District
of Columbia and In the territories the
federal law covers the entire field of gov
crnment: but the labor question Is only
acute In populous centers OF commerce,
or ,mining.f Nevertheless.
both in the enactment and In the en-
forcement of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments, espe-
cially In n matter so vital as this Affect
ing labor, Il believe that under modern
industrial conditions it5y$ften necessary.
and even where not ntcessary. itIs vet
often wise. that there should be organ
ization.of labor in order better to secure
the rights of the Individual wage -worken
All announcement should be given to any
such organization so long as Il Is con
Quoted with a due and decent regard for
tho rights of others. There ARE III this
country some labor unions which have
hahitually. and other labor unions which
have often. been among the most efrcc-
tive agents i'm working for good citizen
ship and for uplifting the condition Of
those whose welfare should be cl,sest 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 .honornh h1e
public servants must oppose the wrong
doing as resoiutely as they would oppose
the wrongdoing Of any great corpora ti.n
or course any violence. brutality. or cor
ruption. should not for moment he
tolerated. Wage workers have an entire
right to organize and by all pcaccYur and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to join with them In organ
izations They have legal right. which
according to circumstances. may or may
not be moral right. to refuse to work
in company with men who decline to Join
their organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right 10 commit vio-
lence upon those. whether capitalists or
wa ge- workers, who refuse to support
their organizations. or who side with
those with whom they are at odds, Tor
mob rule is intolerable In any form.
The amendment and strengthening
of the employers liability law is rec
commended. and the passage of law
requiring the adoption of block sig
nal system, to prevent railroad acci-.
dents urged.
Unions Of Government Employees. q
The message continues: r
There is no objection to employees. of!
the government forming or belonging to
unions: but the government can neither
for nor dtscr frpinate against
non union men who are in its employ
ment Or who seek to be employed under
1t. Moreover. 1t Is a very grave ippro-
priety .fon government employees to hand
together for the purpose of
rxturtihE Improperly high salaries ,frSrA,
the goxe,nment. Especially is this trxse
81 those within the,elassiflsd service. .The
letter carriers, -botp mflnjripal and rural.
are as whole an excellent body Of pub
lie satvants They should be amply pa ID
But their payment must he obtained ny
arguing their claims fairly and -henorably
before the Congress. and not by banding
together for the -defea LOT those congress
men who refuse to give promises which
A Adminiytra ton haa already taken steps
TO prevent and punish abuses ahAbis ta
ture: but 1t vii. be wise for. tls,tGpngrcss
10 supplement this Retion iiy legislation.
Bureau OF Labor. - ~ y I'D
Much can be done by the government
in labor matters merely by giving pub
iicity to certain conditions. The bureau
Of labor has done excellent work of this
kind in many different directions, shaii
shortly lay before you In specisIsires
sage the full report OF the invcstiEal ll3p
of the bureau Of labor into the C913fIdS
mining STRIKE as this Is, q strike in lYhlrh'
certain Very evil forces. which are, i39fe
or less mt work everywhere tiHpeE. the
e.