Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-12-14

tylnG these policies, aud their desire
taas these principles be kept substan-
italy unchanged, although of course
applied in progressive spirit to meet
changing conditions.
CAUTION AGAINST gXTRAvA.
- ---.--G GANCE.
The enlargement OF scope cf the
functions OF the National Government
required by our. development as "A na-
slon involves, ef course, increase OF
expense; aad the period Of prosperity
through which the country Is passing
!ustlhes expenditures for permanent
lmRroVementments far greater than
S:uld be wiseain hard times. Battle
SHIPS and forts, public buildings, and
improved waterways are investments
which should be made when we have
ehe money; but abundant revenues and
large surplus always invite extra a.
Sance, and constant care should be
taken 10 guard against unnecessary in
crease OF the ordinary expenses of gov
erament. The cost Of deiAs Government
business should be regulated with the
same rigid scrutiny as the cost of
doing a private business.
WI ~ ftNO LASoRs
In the vast and complicated mechan-
ism or cur modern civilized life the
oamlnant note is the note of industrial
ISM: aud the relations of capital and
tabor, and especially OF organized capt.
Ri and organized labor, to eacL other
and to the public ct large come second
I'm Importance only to the intimate
questions of family life. Our peculiar
-forms OF government, with; its! sharp
DIVISION Of authority between the Ma
:, ION AMI the several States, has been
OR the Whole far more advantageous to-,
our Development than a more strongly
centralized 5goEerament.s But It: is suI-s.
- f5
difficulty OF meeting With adequate
Legislation the$neiv problems presented
by the:total change in Industrial condi-
tons on this continent during the last
half century. In actuai practice it has
nroved exceeding.J difficult, and in
many casea impossible, to get unaniDlity
of wise action among the various States
cn these subjects. From the very nature
Of the case this is especially true of the
laws affecting the employment Of capi-
tai in huge masses.
EMPLOYERS LIABILITY LAW.
The subject cf liability of employ
ers cones in for lengthy paragraph
Of the message. 1t is argued that
persons or corporations using labor
should use every means possible to
protect employees.
PREVENTION OF RAILROAD AccI-
s~.s--- DENTS.
The efer-incrcaSing casualty list
upon our railroads is matter of grave
public concern, and urgently calls for
action by the Congress- IN the matter
Of speed and comfort of railway travel
our railroads give at least as good ser
vice as those Of any other nation, I'D
there is no reason why this service
shonld not also be as safe as human in
genuity can make it. Many Of our lead
ing roads have been foremost in the
adoption of the most approved safe
guards Tor the protection of travellers
and employees, yet the list Of clearly
avoidable accidents continues unduly
large. The passage of a law requiring
The adoption of blocksignal system
has been proposed to the Congress.
earnestly concur in that recommends
ton, and would also point out to the
Congress the urgent need Of legislation
in the interest OF the public safety lin
itiug the hours Of labor for railroad
employees in train service upon rail
roads engaged in interstate commerce,
and providing that only trained and
experienced persons be employed in po-
s:tions of-responsibility cor nected with
aethe operation Of trains. OF course moth
ing can ever prevent accidents caused
by human weakness or misconduct;
and there should be drastic punish
uent for any raliroaod employee,
whether officer or man, who by issu-
ance Of wrong orders or by disobedi-
euce Of orders causes disaster The
law of 1901, requiring interstate rail.
roads to make monthly reports OF all
accidents to passengers and employees
en- duty, should also be amended so as
10 empower the Government 10 make
personal Investigation, through proper
officers, of all accidents involving loss
Of life which seem to require inyestiga-
ton, with requirement that the re-
suit of such Investigation be made
public. -
UNIONS OF GOVERNMENT EN-
PLOYEES.
On the subject of organized labor
the President declares that all people
have perfect right to organize for
their protection, but that the Govern
ment cannot discriminate against non-
union laborers.
BUREAU OF LABOR.
Much can be done by the Government
in labor matters merely by giving pub
licity to certain conditions. The Bureau
of Labor has done excellent work Of
this kind in many different directions.
shall shortly lay before you in spe-
cial message the full report OF the In
yestigation of the Bureau of Labor into
the Colorado mining strike. as this
is a a strike in which certain very evil
forces, which are more or less at work
everywhere under he conditions OF
modern industrialisin, became start
.:ngiy prominent 1t is greatly TO De
Uished that the Department OF Com
aerce and Labor, through the labor
Bureau, should compile and arrange for
The Congress list of the labor laws OF
he various States, and should be given
the means to investigate and report TO
,sS.ihe Congress upon the labor conditions
si,l the manufacturing aud mining re-
ssons throughout the country oo.h as
.,l.E<n