Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-12-09

eiqn Relations.
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
The nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity y OF
course primarily due to the high indIvid-
ual average OF our citizenship. taken to-
eether with our great natural resources;
hut an important factor therein IS the
working OF our long continued govern
mental policies The people have EN- :
phatically expressed their approval OF the
principles underlying these policies. and
their desire that these principles be kept
substantially unchanged. although Of
course applied in a progressive spirit to
meet changing conditions
Capital and Labor.
In the vast and complicated mechanism
OF our modern civilized life the dominant
note is the note OF industrialism: and the
relations OF capital and labor, and espe
cially OF organized capital and organized
labor. to each other and to the public at
large come second in importance only to
the intimate questions of family life.
AS long as the states retain the prim-
airy control of the police power the cir
cumstances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the federal
guarding the rights OF labor or in the
w"y OF seeing that wrong is not done by
r--uly persons who shield themselves be-
bind the name of labor. If there is re-
distance to the federal courts Interior
ence with the mails. or interstate COM
merce. or molestaton of federal property
or II the state authorities in some crisis
which they are unable 10 face call for
help. tisa- the federal government may
interfere; but though such interference
may be caused by condition OF things
arising sut 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 primary duty and
in time OF, disorder and violence all 9th
er questions sink into allowance until or
der has been restored. In the District
Of Columbia and in the territories the
federal law covers the entire field of gov
eminent: but the labor question Is only
acute in populous centers of commerce.
manufactures. or mining. Nevertheless
both in the enactment and in the en-
forcement of law the federal government
within its restricted sphere should set an
example to the state governments. espe-
cially in matter vital as this affect
ing labor believe that under modern
Industrial conditions 1t Is often necessary.
".
often wise. that there should be organ
ization OF labor in order better to secure
the rights Of the individual wage worker
All encouragement should be given to any
such organization. so long as It is con-
Quoted with a due and decent regard for
the rights Of others. There are in this
country some labor unions which have
hahitually. and other la Dor unions which
have often. been among the most effec-
tive agents In working for good citizen
ship and for uplifting the condition of
those whose welfare should be closest to
our hearts. But when any labor union j
seeks improper ends. or seeks to achieve
proper ends by improper means, all good
citizens and more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the wrong
doing as resoluteIy as they would oppose
the wrongdoing Of any great corpora ton.
or course any violence. brutality. or cor
ruptfon should not for one moment be
tolerated. Wager workers have an entire
right TO organize and by all peaceful and
honorable means to endeavor to persuade
their fellows to join with them In organ
izations They have 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 |
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.
The amendment and strengthening
Of the employers liability law is rec
commended. and the passage of law
requiring the adoption of block Sig
nal system. to prevent railroad acct
dents urged.
Unions Of Government Employees.
The message continues:
There is no objection to employees OF
he government forming or belonging to
,niors: hut the government can neither
for nor discriminate against
ION union men who are in its employ
nent. or who seek to be employed under
L. Moreover. II Is very grave impro-
,riety for government employees TO hand
themselves together for the purpose OF
xtorting improperly high salaries from
he goversruent Especially Is this true
4 those within the classified service. The
ritter carriers. both municipal and rural.
re as a whole an excellent body of pub
c servants They should be amply paid
tut their payment must be obtained by
rguins their claims fairly and honorabIy
efore the Congress and not by banding
oGether for the defeat OF those congr ess-
,en who refuse 10 give promises which
hey can not In conscience give. Tho
has already taken steps
D prevent and punish abuses Of this ma
are: but II VII! be wise for the Congress
, supplement this action by legislation.
0ureau 81 Labor.
Much can BE- done by the government
, labor matters merely BY Swing pub
city to certain conditions. The bureau {
labor has done excellent work Of this /
Ind In many different directions. ! shall 4