Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1904-12-15

Congress, read at the opening OF tne
short session of that body, deals vol
umiuously with questions of state.
The subject of tariff revision is left
for further communication. Sub
stantially the message is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tativcs:
The nation continues to enjoy note
worthy prosperity. Such prosperity Is OF
course primarily due to the high individ-
ual average Cf our citizenship, taken to-
gether with our great natural resources;
but an important factor therein Is the
working of cur 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.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
The enlargement of scope of the func-
lions of the national government re-
CURED by our development as n nation
Involves, of course increase of expense
and the period Of prosperity through
which the country is passing justifes eN-
penditurcs for permanent improvements
times. Battle ships and forts, public
buildings, and improved waterways are
Investments which should be made when
we have the money: but abundant rev.
enues and large surplus always invite
extravaganza, and constant care should
he taken to guard against unnecessary
Increase OF the ordinary expenses of gov
ernmeut.
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-
cialy 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 prm-
airy control of the police power the cir
cumstances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the federal
authorities. whether In the way of safe
guarding the rights of labor or in the
way of seeing that wrong Is not done by
Cn"uW persons who shield themselves be-
hind the name OF labor If there Is re-
sistance to the federal courts interfer-
ence with the mails. or interstate COM
merce, or molestntion of federal property
or II tho state authorities In some crisis
which they are unable to face call for
help. then the federal government may
interfere; but though such interference
may be caused by n 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
Tor to keep order Is n primary duty and
In time OF disorder and violence all 9th
err questions sink into allegiance 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 It's restricted sphere should set an
example To the state governments, espe-
cially In matter so vital as this affect
Ing labor. l believe that under modern
industrial conditions II Is often necessary
and even where not necessary. II Is vel
oi'eh wise, that there should be organ.
iSatlon OF labor In order better to secure
the rights of the individual wage worker
All encouragement should be given to any
rsuch Organization. so long as II is CON
'dnted with due and decent regard for
the rights OF others. There are in this
country some labor unions which have
habitually. and other labor unions which
nave 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 &c
sur hearts. But when any labor union
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 resolutely as they would oppose
the wrongdoing of any great corporation
or course any violence. brutality. or cor.
ruptiou. should not for one moment b,
tolerated. Wage workers have an entir,
right to organize and by all peaceful anC
honorable means to endeavor to persuad,
their fellows to join with them in organ
izations They have legal right which
according to circumstances, may or ma,
not be a moral right. to refuse to worl
In company with men who decline to joiI
their organizations. They have under n,
circumstances the right to commit VIC
lence upon those whether capitalists O
wage workers, who refuse to supper
their organizations. or who side wit
those with whom they are at odds; 70
mob rule is intolerable in any form.
The amendment and strengthenin
of the employers liability law is rec
omme nded, and the passage of la,
requiring the adoption of block sil
nal system. to prevent railroad acc
dents urged.
Unions of Government Employees.
The message continues:
There Is no objection 10 employees
the government forming or belonging
unions; but the government can Meth.
discriminate for nor discriminate again
non-union men who are In its emplo,
ment or who seek to be employed und
It. Moreover, II is a very grave impr,
priety for government employees to bar
themselves together for the purpose
extorting improperly high salaries fro
the government. Especially is this tr,
of those within the classified service. II
letter carriers, both municipal and rurt
are as a whole an excellent body of pu
lie servants. They should be amply PAL
But their payment must be obtained
arguing their claims fairly and honorah
before the Congress, and not by bandit
together for the defeat of those congress
men who refuse to give promises wifi
they can not In conscience give. r.
Administration has already taken ste
to prevent and punish abuses OF this 1,
ture; but II will. be wise FOR the Congre
to supplement this action by Legislation
Bureau OF Labor.