The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-09


fellows to join with them in organiza-
tons They have a legal right, which,
according to circumstances, may or may
not be a moral right, to refuse to work
in company with men who decline to join
their organizations. They have under no
circumstances the right to commit vio-
lence upon those, whether capitalists or
wage workers, 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 wage-workers are peculiarly en-
titled to the protection and the encour-
agement Of the law. From the very ma
ture of their occupation railroad men, for
instance, are liable to be manned in do
ing the legitimate work of their profess
sion. unless the railroad companies are
required by law to make ample provision
for their safety. The administration mas
been Jealous in enforcing the existing law
for this purpose. That law should be
amended and strengthened. Wherever
the national government has power there
should be a stringent employers liability
law, which should apply to the govern
ment itself where the government is an
employer of labor.
In my message to the Fifty-seventh
congress, at it's second session, L urged
the passage of an employers liability law
for the District of Columbia. 1 now re-
new that recommendation, and further
recommend that the congress appoint
commission to make comprehensive
study of employers liability with the
view of extending the provisions OF
great and constitutional law to all en-
Payments within the scope OF federal
power.
Medals of Honor.
The government has recognized heroism
upon the water, and bestows medals OF
honor upon those persons who by ex-
treme and heroic daring have endangered
their lives in saving, or endeavoring 10
save, lives from the perils Of the sea in
the waters over which the United States
has jurisdiction, or upon an American
vessel This recognition should be eX-
tended to cover cases of conspicuous
bravery and self-sacrifice in the saving
of life in private employments under the
jurisdiction of the United States, and
particularly in the land commerce OF the
nation.
Prevention of Railroad Accidents.
The ever-increasing casualty list upon
our railroads is a matter of grave pubic
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 service as those OF
any other nation and there is no reason
why this service should not also be as safe
as human ingenuity can make it. Many of
our leading roads have been foremost in
the adoption of the most approved safe
guards for 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
a block signal system has been proposed
to the congress. 1 earnestly concur in
| that recommendation, and would also point
out to the congress the urgent need OF
| legislation in the interest of the public
| safety limiting the hours Of labor for rail-
| road employees in train service upon rail-
| roads engaged in interstate commerce, and
| providing that only trained and experienced
persons be employed in positions OF re-
| sponsibility connected with the operation
of trains. OF course nothing can ever
prevent accidents caused by human weak
| ness or misconduct; and there should be
| drastic punishment for any railroad en-
| ploye whether officer or man, who by issu-
| ance of wrong orders or by disobedience
| of orders causes disaster. The law OF l9Ol
requiring interstate railroads to mako
monthly reports of all accidents to passen-
gers and employees On duty, should also be
amended so as to empower the government
! to make a personal investigation, through
! proper officers of all accidents involving
| loss of life which seem to require investlga'
ton, with requirement that the results
| of such investigation be made public.
4
the act of March 2, 1908, has proved bene
| fetal to railway employees and in order
, that its provisions may be properly carried
/ out the force of inspectors provided for by
| appropriation should be largely increased
| This service is analogous to the steamboat
| inspection service, and deals with ever
more important interests. 1t has passed
| the experimental stage and demonstrated
it's utility, and should receive generous
! recognition by the congress,
| Unions of Government Employees.
There is no objection to employees of thu
| government forming or belonging Il
unions; but the government can neithe
discriminate for nor discriminate agains
nonunion men who are in its employment
or who seek to be employed under 1t
Moreover, it is a very grave impropriet.
for government employees to band them
selves together for the purpose of extortinl
improperly high salaries from the govern
ment Especially is this true of those with
in the classified service. The letter car
riers, both municipal and rural, are as
whole an excellent body of public servants
They should be amply paid. But their pay
ment must be obtained by arguing thei
claims fairly and honorably before tn
congress, and not by banding together TO
the defeat of those congressman who re
fuse to give promises which they canno
in conscience give The administration ha
already taken steps to prevent and punis
abuses of this nature; but it will be wis
for the congress to supplement this actor
by legislation.
Corporations.
When we come to Geal with great cor
porations the need for the government t
act directly is far greater than in the cas-
of labor, because great corporations ca
become such only by engaging In interstat
commerce, and interstate commerce is pc
culiarly the field of the general govern
ment 1t is an absurdity to expect to elm
mate the abuses in great corporations b
state action. 1t is difficult to be patien
with an argument that such matters shout
be left to the states, because more tina
one state pursues the policy of creating o
easy terms corporations which are neve
operated within that state at all, but |
other states whose laws they ignore. TIL
national government alone can deal adt
quately with these great corporations. 7
try to deal with them in an intemperat'
destructive or demagogic spirit would,
all probability, mean that nothing wha
ever would be accomplished, and with al
. solute certainty that if anything were az
. complished it would be Of a harmful ns
ture. The American people need to col
tinue to show the very qualities that the
have shown--that is, moderation, goo
, sense the earnest desire to avoid doing an
! damage, and yet the quiet determination
, proceed, step by step, without halt an
without hurry, in eliminating or at least
, minimizing whatever of mischief or of ev
: there is to interstate commerce in the col
| duct Of great corporations. They are &C
/ ing in no spirit of hostility to wealth, eitht
individual or corporate They are M
| =, ,,oI,v fbo,, IN,