The Monticellonian., 1904-12-08

cleS to Be Continued-Question oi
 Capital and Labor-Corporation
 Reduction of Philippine Tariff Fa-
 vored.
 Washington, Dec 6. = President Roosevelt, in his annual message to congress, discusses many subjects of vital interest to the nation and makes several recommendations regarding needed legislation. He declares the people have emphatically expressed their approval of the policies at pres ent in force, which, he says, have been an important factor in our continued prosperity. The principles underlying these policies are to be kept substan- tially unchanged. The document in full comprises about 18,000 words, but con siderable of this space is devoted to resume of the various departments.
 Caution Against Extravaganza.
 In opening, the president cautions against eXtraVagance and says the cost of dong government business should be regulated with the same rigid scrutiny as the cost of aoing private business 'aThe period of prosperity, he says. through which tEe country is passing justihes expenditures Tor permanent improvements far greater than would be wise in hard times Bat 54eShlps and forts, public buildings. and improved waterways are investments which should be made when We have the money; but abundant revenues and idf se surplus always invite eXfravaganee. and constant care should be taken to guard against unnecessary increase of eEe ordinary expenses Of government
 
 Capital and Labor.
 Considerable attention is paid to tie question of capital and labor and Il cir re latlons and particularly to organized cap issat and organized .abor He says our pc Cu.lar fern of government with it's ekarp GlNlslon Of authority between the nation and the several states has been rcspon- slbte fer much Of the difficulty of meeting With adequate legislation the new problems hfesented by the change in industrial conditions during the last haIf-een- tary. As long as the states retain the primary control of the police pow CT, he saSs, the circumstances must be altogether extreme which re qa!fe interference by the federal author lIes, whether In tine way of safegllarei- ing the rights ef labor or in the way of seeing that wrong Is not done by nm ruly persons who shield themselves be- hiHd the name of labor. If there is re- slStanGe 10 the federal courts interfer- enee with the malls. or interstate com merce, or muiestation of federal proper ", CT II the state authorities in some crisis which they are unable to face call for help, then the federal government may interfere. but though such interfer- enee may be caused by a condition of things arising out of trouble connected with some question of labor. the interfer- ence itself simply takes the form of re storing order without regard to the qucs- hR aah of order-for to keep order is q primary duty and in time of disorder and Vio- fence all other questions sink into abey- ancc until order has been restored In the District ot Columbia and in the ter rItor!es the federal law covers the entire field of government; but the labor ques- ton Is only acute in populous eenters of commerce, manufactures or mining Nevertheless both in the enactment and in the enforcement of law the federal government within its restricted sphere should set an example to the state gov ernments. especially in a matter so vital as this affecting labor. l believe that un- der modern industrial conditions it Is often necessary, and even where not necessary if ts yet often wise that there should be organization of labor in order better to secure the rights of the individ- ual wage worker. All eueouragement should be given 10 any such Crganiza- ton, so long as it is conducted with a due and decent regard for the rights of others There are in this country some labor unions which have hdbitually. and other labor unons which have often been among the most effective agents in working for good citizenship and for up Hitting the condition of those whose well fare should be closest to our hearts. But when any labor union seeks improper ends, or seeks to achieve pr per ends by improper means. all good citizens and more especially all honorable public serv- ants must oppose the wrongdong as resolRtely as they would oppose the wfonSdolnS of any great corporation. Of course any violence. brutality or corrup- ton should not for one moment be toler- ated. Wage workers have an entire right 10 organize and by all peaceful and honor able means to eudeaVor to persuade the.r fellows to join with them in organiza- tons They have q 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 v.o- fence upon those whether capital sts or wage-workers, who refuse to support their organizations, or who side with those with whom they are at odds; for mob rule is in%oierah.e in any form ''
 Railroad Accidents.
 The increasing casualty list on American
 
 l congress is cai.ed for He earnestly con cErs in the law proposed to congress, le- quiting the adoption of the block system and points ouI the need of legis.a ton in the interest of the public safety limiting tEe hours of abor for raj road emploNts in |, ain service upon raj ; roads engaged ir interstate commerce, ard providing has or'1 trained and experienced persons bc employed in posidurs of re- Sponsi6idtH connected with tbe operation If trains Tie law If la6l, requiring Inter- state railroads to make monthly reports of all accidents 10 passengers and enp-aNcs on duty. sfoul1 a.so be ameuGed." Ee says. ''so as To empower the government ID ma ke q personal iuvestisatton, through proper officers, of a.t accidents involving loss Of life which seem 10 require iuVes ,igatfau. with requirement. that the results CT such investigation be made pubic
 Corporations.
 When we come to deal with great cor porations the need for the government 10 act directly is fr greater than in the ease i of labor. because great corporations can | become such onty by engaging in interstate commerce, and interstate commerce is De- cu.iar.y the feif of the general govern nent It IS an absurdity to expect to elm i mate the abuses in great corporations by 1 state action. II Is difficult to be patient | with an argument that such matters should l be lett to the states because more than 1 one state pursues the policy of creating on l easy terms corporations which are never l operated within that state at all but i,. other states whose laws they ignore The