Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-12-07

ed to do SO BY the Interstate commerce
commission. II is greatly to be desired
that some way might be found by which
an agreement as to transportation with
In state intended to operate as a fraud
upon the federal interstate commerce
laws could be brought under the juris-
diction Of the federal authorities. Al
present Il occurs that large shipments OF
interstate trafiio are controlled by con-
cessions on purely state business, which
OF course amounts to an evasion Of the
law, The commission should have power
TO enforce fair treatment by the great
trunk lines Of lateral and branch limos.
Immediate Action urged.
urge upon the congress the need OF
providing for expeditions action BY the
interstate commerce commission In all
these matters, whether In regulating
rates for transportation or for storing
or for handling property or commodities
IN transit. The history OF the cases It'll
gated Nnder the present commerce act
shows that It's efficacy has been to a great
degree destroyed by the weapon Of delay.
almost the most formidable weapon in
me hands OF those whose purpose It Is
to violate the law,
The president asks for legislation COM
pelling railroads to install block systems on
their lines, and also calls the attention OF
congress TO the excessive hours OF labor
OF train service employees Of the railroad
companies are often subjected to. He rec
ommends that commission be appointed
10 study Of employers liability with the OBJ
ject Of the enactment OF a law covering the
subject and applicable to all industries
within the scope Of the federal power.
The Labor Question.
The labor question is treated Of at con-
siderable length, apd In this connection the
president says:
There has been demand for depriving
courts of the power to Issue injunctions
In labor disputes. Such special llmita-
ton OF the equity powers Of our courts
would be most unwlse. 1t is true that
some judges have misused this power;
but this does not Justify denial Of the
power any more than an improper exer-
else of the power to call a strike by a
labor leader would Justify the denial of
the right to strike. The remedy IL to
regulate the procedure by requiring the
Judge to give due notice to the adverse
parties before granting the writ, the hear
Ing to be eX parte IL the adverse party
does not appear at the time and place
ordered. What is due notice must depend
upon the facts OF the case; Il should not
be used as a pretext to permit violation
of law, or the jeopardizing OF life OF
property. OF course this would not au-
thorize the issuing OF a restraining order
VI lnIuHIAlou IN any EhAG III winch IL is
not already authorized by existing law
l renew the recommendation I made
in my last annual message for an In
vestigation by the department OF COM
merce and labor OF general labor condi-
lions, especial attention to be paid to the
conditions OF child labor and child labor
legislation in the several states. Such
an investigation should take into account
the various problems with which the
question of child labor is connected. IL
is true that these problems can be actu-
ally met in most cases only by the states
themselves, but II would be well for the
nation to endeavor to secure and publish
information as to the con-
ditions Of the labor OF children in the dlf-
ierent states. so as to spur up those that
are behindhand, and to secure approx
lmately uniform legislation OF a high
among the several states. In
such a republic as ours the one thing
that we cannot AFFORD 10 neglect is the
problem Of turning out decent citizens.
The future OF the nation depends upon
me citizenship of the generations to
come; the children of to-day are those
who Tomorrow win shape the destiny
ot our land, and we cannot afford TO neg
ect them. The legislature OF Colorado
has recommended that the national gov
srnment provide some general measure
Tor the protection from abuse of children
Ind dumb animals throughout the United
states. I lay the matter before YOU for
what trust viii be your favorable con-
,ideration.
The department Of commerce and labor
should also make thorough investiga-
ION OF the conditions Of women in in
iustry. Over 100000 American women
ire now engaged In gainful occupations.
ret there is an almost complete dearth
II data upon which to base any trust |
EnFNhU Ne
Is important as 1t is vast ana commit. |
'ated. There is need OF full knowledge |
m which to base action looking toward |
tate and municipal legislation for tbe |
protection Of working women. The in |
reduction of women into Industry Is |
Working change and disturbance in the |
Domestic and social life OF the NATHAN |
The decrease in marriage, andNOspeciaiiv |
n the birth rate. has been coincident with |
We must face accomplished facts.
-nd the adjustment to factory conditions |
must be made; but surely Il can be made /
Win less friction and less harmful effects |
n family life than is now the case. |
ms whole matter In reality forms one
I the greatest sociological phenomena
4 our time; 1t is n social question of
he first Importance, of far greater i'm
ortance than any merely political or
economic question can be; and to solve
we need ample data, gathered in a
ane and scieDtihc spirit in the course
an exhaustive investigation.
In concluding with the subject OF labor
he president says:
In any great labor disturbance not only
re employer and employe interested, but
$50 a third party-the general public.
very considerable labor dlfhculty In |
'hich Interstate commerce Is involved
nould be investigated by the govern
tent and the facts officially reported to
be public.
Equal Rights for All.
The question OF securing healthy,
slt-respecting and mutually sympathetic
ttitude as between employer and en-
loye, capitalist and wage worker Is a
lmeult one. An phases OF the labor
roblem prove difieult when approached.
ut the underlying principles, the root
rlnciples, IN accordance with which the
roDlem must be solved are entirely sim
IT, We can get Justice and right dealing
My II we put as OF paramount impor-
Inee the principle OF treating a man on
Is worth as a man rather than with
'ierenee to his social position, his ocou-
alton, or the class TO which he belongs
here are selfish and brutal men IN All
inks OF life. II they are capitalIsts
leir selhshness and brutality NAV fave /
le form OF hard indifference 10 snGer-
9, greedy Disregard Of every moral re-
RANT which interferes with the aeeum- /
auon OF wealth, and cOld-blooded ex-
oNation or the weak; or, II they are
pofefs, the form Of lazineBs. OF sullen
Wy OF me more fortunate, and OF will {