Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-06

Htul, Win ltS sHu'p NiNlHiuu vi uu'
thority between the nation and the
several states, has been on the whole
far more advantageous to our dc.
velopment than more strongly cen
trali2ed government. But II IL un-
doubtedly responsible for much of
the difficulty Of meeting with ade-
quate legislation the new problems
presented by the total change In IN
dustrial conditions on this continent
during the last half century. In ac-
taul practice It has proved exceed.
lnglF difficult and In many cases
impossible. to get ,manimity of wise
action among the various states on
these subjects. From the very ma
ture OF the case this is especially true
Of the laws affecting the employment
of capital in hinge masses.
With regard 20 labor the problem is
no less important but II is simpler
As long as the states retain the prl.
mary control of the police power the
circumstances must be altogether ex.
'reme which require interference by
the federal authorities whether In
the way OF sssfegnar,ls29 the rights
flabor or In the way Of seeing that
wrong is not done by unrulv per.
sons who shield themselves behind
the name Of labor. II there Is re-.
sistance to the federal courts, inter-
ference with the mails, or interstate
commerce, or molestatlon Of federal
property. or II the state authorities
In some crisis which they are un-
able to face call for help, then the
federal government may interfere; /;
but though such interference may
be caused by condition OF things
arising out OF trouble connected with
some question Of labor, the interfef.
ence 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 other ques-
tions sink into allegiance until order
has been restored. In the District
Of Columbia and in the territories the
| federal law covers the entire field oi
government; but the labor question
is only acute In populous centers OF
commerce, manufactures or mining.
Nevertheless. both In the enactment
| and In the enforcement OF law the
: federal government within It's restrict
ed sphere should set an example II
the state governments. especially n
a matter SO vital as this affectinf
labor. believe that under modern
Industrial conditions II Is often nee
essary. and even where not necessar,
| II is yet often wise. that there SHOULD
be organization OF labor In order bet
ter to secure the rights OF the indlvid
ual wage worker, All encouragement
should be given TO any such organi
zaiion. so long as II is conducted witt
due and decent regard for the right
of others. There are In this couri
try some labor unions which have
habitually, and other labor unions
which have often. been among III,
| most effective agents In working 10
good citizenship and for uplifting th'
should be closest 10 our hearts. Bu
when any labor union seeks improp
er ends, or seeks to achieve props
ends by improper means. all goo
citizens and more especially all hon
orable public servants must oppos
the wrongdolng as resolutely as the,
would oppose the wrongdoing Of an
great corporation Of course an,
violence. brutality, or corruption
SHOULD not FER one moment be toleT
ated. Wage workers have an entit'
| right to oraanlze and by All peaceful
End honorable means 10 endcavor Z
persuade their fellows 20 Join wit
them IN organizations. They hav