Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-12-12

Soon to Vote for LesisIa-
tors.
Washington, Dec. Elm his message
to congress President Roosevelt de-
clares that the nation continues ito
enjoy noteworthy prosperity" and
that the people recently have express
ed emphatically their approval of the
principles underlying the policies pro-
ducing it. He cautions against ex
travagance. Continuing he says:
Capital and Labor.
The relations of capital and labor. and
especially of organized capital and orgaL-
lied labor, to each other and to the pub
lie at large come second in Importance only
to the intimate questions of family life.
Our peculiar form Of government, with its
sharp division of authority between the
nation and the several states, has been on
the whole far more advantageous to orr
development than more strongly cen
traliZed government. But it is undoubt-
eddy responsible for much of the difficulty
of meeting with adequate legislation the
new problems presented by the total
change in industrial conditions on this con-
tinent during the last half century. In ac-
tual practice it has proved exceedingly diff
ficult, 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 cap
tal 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 circumstances must be
altogether extreme which require interfer-
nv no fp6pra1 authorities. whether in
the way of safeguarding the rights of la
Dor or in the way of seeing that wrong is
not done by unruly persons VINO shle1d
themselves behind the name of labor. If
there is resistance to the federal courts, in
reference with the mails or interstate
commerce. or molestation of federal prop
erty. or if the state authorities in some
crisis which they are unable TO race 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 a primary duty and in time OF
disorder and violence all other questions
sink into allegiance until order has peen re,
stored In the District of Columbia ana
in the territories the federal law covers
the entire field of government; but the Ia
Dor question is only acute IN populous cen
ters of commerce. manufactures, or mining.
Nevertheless both in the enactment ana IN
the enforcement of law the federal govern
ment within its restricted sphere should
set an example to the state governments
especially in a matter so vital as THIS al
fecting labor l believe that under MOD
ern Industrial conditions 1t IS often neces-
sarv and even where not necessary 1t is
vet often wise. that there should be organ
ization of labor in order better to secure
the rights of the individual wage-worKer
All announcement should be given TO any
such organization, so long as 1T is conquered
a n am decent regard for the rights
of others. But when any labor union seeks
improper ends. seeks to achleve proper
ends by improper means. all good citizens
and more especially all honorable pubic
servants must oppose the Wrongdolng as
resOlutelv as they would oDnoSe TIE wrong
doing of any great corporation ~ course ours
any violence brutality. or corruption,
should not for one moment be tolerated.
Wage-workers have an entire right TO or
ganize and by all peaceful ana h 1i1 fo1
means to endeavor to persuade their Tel
lows to Join with them in organizations.
They have legal right which. ACCORDING
10 circumstances may or may not De d
moral right. to refuse to work IN company
With men who decline to join their organi-
cations They have under no clrcum-
stances the right to commit violence upon
those. whether CAPITALISTS or wage-worKfers'
or who side with those with whom they
are Of odds: for mob rule is intolerable in
any form.
Employers Liability 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 com
panies are REQUIRED by law to make ample
provision for their safety The admlnlstra-
tion has been Jealous in enforcing the ex-
listing law for this purpose. That law
should be amended and strengthened.
Wherever the national government has
mower there should be a stringent en-.
ploynr's liability law. which should ABBY
to the government itself where the govern
ment is an employer of labor recon-
mend that the con gress appoint q commits
sion to make a comprehensive STUDY OF EN-
nloyers liability with the view OF exte .l
ING the provisions Of great and constltu-
tioral law to all employments within the
scope of federal power
Prevention of Railroad Accidents.
Many Of our leading roads nave been
foremost in the adoption OF approved sa1e-
Guards for the protection of travellers and
ononIoves vet the list of clearly avoidable
accidents continues unduly large Inc pas
sage of a law recurring the adoption OF a
block signal system has been proposed TO
congress- I earnestly concur in that recon-
mendation. and would also point out the
uroent need of LEGISLATION In the interest,"
of the public safety limiting the hours OF
labor for railroad employees In train service
upon railroads engaged in interstate conn.,
MERGE and providing that only trained ana
experienced persons be employeu ~ p4 ~
oneration of trains. There should be dras-
tic punishroent for any railroad employe;
whether officer or man. who by issuance Oh
wrong orders or by disobedience OF orders
causes disaster.
Tho safety-anniance law mas proved
beneficial TO railway EMPLOYEES. and IN or
der that it's provisions may be properly
carried ont the force of INSPECTORS provloea
for by appropriation should be increased;
This service has passed the experiments,
stage and demonstrated its utility ana
should receive generous recognition,
Extorting Higher Pay.
There is no objection to employees of the
government forming or belonging 70 unions
but the government can neither d1scrimn-
ate for nor discriminate against non
union men who are in its employ
under it. Moreover. it is a very grave i'm,
ment or who seek to be emnloyed
Droprety for government e. employees mp ygyno 20
of extorting Improperly high salaries from
the government Especially is this true 20, OF
those within the classified service me
bofb MN and