Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-08


form of restoring order without regard
to the questions which have caused
the breach of order; for to keep order
is primary duty. and in a time of
disorder and violence all other ques-
lions sink into allegiance until order
has been restored. In the District Of
Columbia and in the territories the
federal law covers the entire field of
government. but the labor question is
only acute in populous centers Of COM
merce, manufactures or mining New
ertLeless, both in the enactment and
in the enforcement 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.
I believe that under modern industrial
conditions it is often necessary, and
even where not necessary it is vet
often wise. that there should be or
gsnizaticn af labor in order better to Sc
cure the tights of the individual wage
/ worker. All! encouragement should be
given to any such organization so long
as 1t is conducted with due and de-
/ cent regard for the rights of others.
There are in this country some labor
unions which have habitually, and
other labor unions which have often,
been among the most effective agents
in working for good citizenship and for.
( uplifting the condition of those whose
welfare should be closest to our
i rfS RiJf yr1,o 10Io
seeks improper ends or seeks to
achieve proper ends by improper
means all good citizens, and more es-
pecially all honorable public servants,
must oppose the wrongdoing as reso-
lutely as they would oppose the
wrongdoing of any great corporation.
OF course any violence, brutality or
corruption should not for one moment
be tolerated. Wageworkers have an
entire right to organize and by al.
peaceful and honorable means to en-
deayor to persuade their fellows to
join with them in organizations. They
have a legal right, which, according
to circumstances, may or may not be-
moral right. to refuse to work in COM
pany with men who decline to join their
organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit VIC
/ lence upon those, whether capitalists
! or wageworkers, who refuse to support
! their organizations or who side with
those with whom they are at odds. for
mob rule is intolerable in any form.
Employers Liability Law.
The wageworkers are peculiarly enti.
tied to the protection and the encour.
agement of the 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
companies are required by law to make
ample provision for their safety. The
administration has been Jealous in en-
forcing the existing law for this pur-
pose. That law should be amended
and strengthened. Wherever the ma
4 tional government has power there
! should be a stringent employers liabil.
ity law, which should apply to the gov
eminent itself where the government
is an employer Of labor.
In my message to the Fifty-seyenth
congress at its second session I urged
the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia. /
| now renew that recommendation and
further recommend that the congress
I appoint commission to make a COM
prehensive study Of employers liabili-
4 ty with the view Of extending the pro-
! visions Of great and constitutional
law to all employments within the
scope Of federal power.
Medals of Honor.
The government has recognized hero
ism upon the water and bestows med
ais of honor upon those persons who
by-extreme and heroic daring have en-
dangered their lives in saving or en-
deavoring to save lives from the perlls
of the sea in the waters over which the
/ United States has jurisdiction or upon
an American vessel. This recognition
| should be extended to cover cases of
conspicuous bravery and self sacrifice
in the saving of life in private employ
ments under the jurisdiction of the
| United States, and particularly in the
land commerce of the nation.