The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-12-29
F'RES|DENT'SMESSACE

iresioent Hoosevelts message has
been delivered to congress. Its main
features are as follows:
Inc enlargement of scope Of the
functions Of the national government
required by our development as n na-
ton involves, Of course, increase of ex.
pense, and the period Of prosperity
through which the country Is passing
lustlhes expenditures for permanent
improvements far greater than would
5e wise In hard times, but abundant
revenues and u large surplus always
invite extravaganza, and constant care
should be taken to guard against un-
necessary increase of the ordinary ex-
penses Of government
Capital and Labor
The relations of capital and labor.
ana especially Of organized capital and
organized labor, to each other and to
the public at large come second In i'm
portance only to the intimate questions
OF family life. Our peculiar form OF
government, with it's sharp division Of
authority between the nation and the
several states, has been on the whole
far more advantageous to our develop
ment than Il more strongly centralized
government. But it is undoubtedly re-
spOnslble for much Of the difficulty Of
meeting with adequate legislation the
new problems presented by the total
change i'll Industrial conditions on this
continent during the last half century.
In actual practice 1T has proved ex-
ceedingly difficult, and in many cases
impossible, to get unanimity of wise
action among the various states on
these subjects. From the very nature
of the case this is especially true Of
the laws affecting the employment Of
capital in huge masses.
With regard to labor, the problem is
no less important, but it is simpler AS
long as the states retain the primary
control of the police power the circam-
stances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the fed
eral authorities, whether in the way of
safeguarding the rights of labor or in
the way of seeing that wrong is not
Gone by unruly persons who shield
themselves behind the name of labor.
If there is resistance to the federal
courts. interference with the mails or
Interstate commerce or mOfestatiOn OF
federal property. or If the state authOri
ties In some crisis which they are un-
able to face call for help, then the fed
eraI government may interfere; but,
though such interference may be caus=
cd by condition of things arising out
of trouble connected with some ques=
ton of labor, the interference itself
simply takes the form of restoring Or
der without regard to the questions
which have caused the breach OF Or
der. In the District Of Columbia and
in the territories the federal law COW
ers the entire field Of government. But
the labor question Is only acute In
pOpulous centers Of commerce, manu-
factures or mining. Nevertheless both
ment of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set
an example to the state governments,
especially in a matter so vital as this
affecting labor.
Labor Unions.
! believe that under modern indus
trial conditions it is often necessary and
| ten wise that there should be organiza-
| ton of labor in order better to secure
! the rights of the individual wagework-
err. All encouragement should be given
to any such organization so long as lt
is conducted with due and decent re-
gard for the rights Of others. Ihere
are in this country some labor unions
which have habitually and other labor
unions which have often been among
the most effective agents tn working
for good citizenship and for upil1tlhg
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 pup
lie servants, must oppose the wrongdo-
ing as resolutely as they would oppose
the wrongdoing Of any great corpora
ton. Violence, brutality or corruption
should not for one moment be tolerat-
ed.
Entire Right to Organise,
Wageworkers have an entire right
to organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to per
, suade their fellows to join with them
in organizations. They have a legal
right, which, according to clrcum
stances, may or may not be q mora
right. to refuse to work in company
with men who decline to Join their or
ganizations. They have under no cir
cumstances the right to commit yio
leace upon those, whether capitailsti
or wageworkers, who refuse to suppor
their organizations or who side witt
those with whom they are at odds, TO
mob rule is intolerabie In any form.
The wageworkers are peculiarly ent,
tied to the protection and the encour
apement of the law Wherever the ma
tional government has power ther
should be d stringent employers liabil
sty law. which should apply to the gov
ernment itself where the governmen
is an employer of labor.
Prevention of Railroad Accidents
The ever increasing casualty list uI
Oh our railroads Is matter OF graV
public concern and urgently calls 10
action by the congress. The passage Q
a law requiring the adoption OF q bloc
signal system has been proposed to tn
u congress. earnestly concur in tbs
IS recommendation and weuld also pOir
u out to the congress the urgent need
20 legislation In the interest of the publ
9 safety limiting the hours of labor Il
So So railroad employees in train service VI
81 on railroads engaged in interstate con