The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-07

| way of safeguarding the rights of Ia
Dor or in the way of seeing that
wrong is not done by unruly persons
who shield themselves behind the name
of labor
If there is resistance to the Federal
| courts, interference with the malls, or
| interstate commerce. or molestation of
F., Federal property, or if the state au-
thorities in some crisis which they are
unable to face call for help, then the
| Federal government may interfere; but
| though such Interference may be caus-
| ed by a condition of things arising
out of trouble connected with some
! question of labor, the interference it
self simply takes the form of restor-
ing order without regard to the ques-
| lions which have caused the breach
of order-for to keep order is a pri-
mary duty and in time of disorder
and violence all other questions sink
into allegiance until order has been re-
| stored. 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 commerce, man
| ufactures, or mining.
An Example to the States.
Nevertheless, both in the enactment
and in the enforcement of law the
| Il SuCIdl government MlllllH us I6SLIlCl-
| ed sphere should set an example to
the state governments, especially in
a matter so vital as this affecting la
| Dor. 1 believe that under modern in
| dustrial conditions it is often neces-
| sary, and even where not necessary
| 1t is yet often wise, that there should
be organization of labor in order bet
ter to secure the rights of the indi-
| vidual stvage-worker All encoura ge-
| r,aa ant obi hn C1toh r.
! ganization. so long as it is conducted
with due and decent regard for the
rights of others.
There are in this country some la
| Dor 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
hearts.
WrongdOings of Unions.
But when any labor union seeks i'm
proper ends, or seeks to achieve proper
ends by improper means, all good citi-
zens and more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the
Wrongdoing as resolutely as they
would oppose the wrongdoing of
| any great corporation. OF course
any violence, brutality or cor
ruption should not for one moment
be tolerated. Wage-workers have an
entire right to organize and by all
peaceful and honorable means to en-
deavor to persuade their fellows to join
with them in organizations. 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
violence upon those, whether capitalists
or wage-workers, who refuse to sup
port 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
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
should be a stringent employers La
bility law, which should apply to the
government itself where the govern
ment is an employer of labor.
In my message to the F'ifty-seventh
Congress, at it's second session, / urged
the passage of an employers liability
law for the District of Columbia. /
new renew that recommendation, and
further recommend that the Congress
appoint a commission to make a COM
prehensive study of employers liabili-
ty with the view of extending the pro-
visions of a 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
endangered their lives in saving, or
endeavoring to save, lives from the
perils Of the sea in the waters over
which the United States has juris-
dlction, or upon an American vessel.
This recognition should be extended
to cover cases OF conspicuous bravery
and self-sacrifice i'm the saving of life
in private employments under the Ju-
risdiction of the United States and
particularly In the land commerce Of
the nation.
INCREASED RAILROAD CASUALTIES
Calls for Provisions for Greater