The Van Buren press., 1904-12-10


Reduction of Philippine Tariff Fa-
vored.
Washington, Dec. G. - 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-
ually unchanged. The document in full
comprises about $4,000 words, but con-
siderable of this space is devoted to
resume of the various departments.
Caution Against Extravaganza.
In opening, the president cautions against
extravaganza and says the cost of dong
government business should be regulated
with the same rigid scrutiny as the cost Of
uolng private business. THE period Of
prosperity" he says, through which the
country is passing justihes expenditures
Tor permanent improvements far greater
than would be wise in hard times. Bat
teships and forts, public buildings and
improved waterways are investments
which should be made when we have the
money; but abundant revenues and
larse surplus always invite extravaganza,
ana constant care should be taken to
guard against unnecessary increase Of
the ordinary expenses of government"
Capital and Labor.
Considerable attention is paid to the
question Of capital and labor and their re-
lations, and particularly to organized cap
ital and organized labor. lie says our pc
cu.lar form Of government, with its sharp
division Of authority between the nation
and the several states, has been respon-
sible for much Of the difficulty Of meeting
with adequate legislation the new problems
presented by the change In Industrial
conditions during the last ha,f-cen-
tury AS long as the states retain
the primary control Of the police pow
err he says, "the circumstances
~ must be altogether extreme which re-
quire interference by the federal author
lues, whether in the way Of safeguard
Ing the rights of labor or in the way of
seeing that wrong Is not done by un-
ruIy persons who shield themselves be.
hind the name Of labor, If there is re-
sistanCe to the federal courts, nterfer-
ence with the mails or interstate COM
merce, or molestaton Of federal proper
ty or Il the state authorities in somo
crisis which they are unable - face call
Tor help then the federal government
may interfere; but though such nterfcr-
encc may be caused by u condition OF
things arising out OF trouble connected
with some question Of labor, the inlerfer-
ence itself simply takes the form of re-
storing order without regard TO the qucs-
tions which have caused the breach OF
order-for to keep order Is n primary
duty and In time of disorder and vlo-
lence all other questions sink into abey-
ance until order has been restored. In
the District Of Columbia and in the tor
rtories the federal law covers the entire
field Of government; but the labor ques-
tion is only acute in populous centors OF
commerce, manufactures or mining.
Nevertheless, both In the enactment and
In the enforcement OF law the federal
government within It's restricted sphere
should set an example to the state gov
ernmcnts. especially In matter so vital
as this affecting labor, | believe that un-
der modern industrial conditions il IL
often necessary, ana even whore not
necessary 1t Is yet often wise, that there
should be organization OF labor In order
ual wage-workor All encouragement
should be given to any such organza-
ton, 80 long as II Is conducted with a
due and decent regard for the rights OF
others There are in this country some
labor unions which have habituully, and
other labor unions which have often,
been among the most effective agents fn
working for good citizenship and Tor up.
lifting 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 proper ends BY
improper means, all good citizens and
more especially all honorable public Ncrv-
ants must oppose the wrongdoing as
resolutey as they would oppose the
wrongdoIng OF any great corporation OF
course any violence, brutality or cOrrup.
ton should not for one moment be tolCr-
atod, Wagcsworkcrs have an entire right
10 organize and by all peaceful and honor
able means 10 ondNAvor TO persuade their
fellows to Join : u them IN organzu-
tlons, They hav d legal right, which
according to circumstances, may or may
not be n 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 VIC.
lcncc upon those, whether capitalists or
wage. workers, who refuse to support
their organizations, or who aide with
those with whom they are at odds, iof
mob rule ls inlolerabic In any form"
Railroad Accidents
The Increasing casualty list On American
roads In commented upon ana action by
congress IN called for. lie earnestly con.
ours IN the law proposed TO congress, 10.
oulrlng the adoption OF the block al stem
ara points out tho need OF lcRsla.
tIon In the inicrcst Of tho public
safety limiting the hours Of labor for rail.
road employees w trnia service upon raj,
ronds engaged IN Interstate commerce, ana
providing that only trained ana experienced
persons be employed IN positions OF rot
sponhhllly connected with the uIorHtlon
Of trains Tho law " 1901, requiring inlors
state railroads 10 mako monthly reports
Of all Incidents 10 passengers und employees
on duty should also be amended he says,
''so ~ 10 empower the government tu mako
personal lnycallRnllon, through proper
ofloora " all accidents involving loss ot
life which seem 10 require lUyuHllgHtlpM
with requirement that the results VI such
Investigation be made public
Corporations,
"Whtn we come to deal with great c5r-
noratIons the need fer the government 10
act directly ls far greater than In the case
of labor, because great corporations can
become such only by engaging In Interstate
commerce, and interstate commerce Ii Io.
,u,lnr,y lHo neld uf the general govern
meni II IN an absufditN 10 expect To elm.
mate the abuses m Htcut corporations by
state action, II Is dlfiicut TO be patient
! with an argument that such matters should
be loft to the states, bccnupe more than
ono state pufuuos the policy OF creating ON
Easy terms corporations which nte never
operated within that state at all, but Nv
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