The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-12-09


ed 10 do 30 by the interstate commerce
| commission. II II greatly TO be desire
that some way might be found by which
an agreement as to transportation with
In state intended to operate as frau,
| upon the federal Interstate commerce
lava could be brought under the jufis
diction OF the federal authorities, A
present Il occurs that large shipments o
| interstate tranic are controlled by con
cessions on purely state business, which
OF course amounts to an evasion OF III,
law. The commission should have power
TO enforce fair treatment by the Erea
trunk lines OF lateral and branch lines.
Immediate Action Urged.
l urge upon the congress the need Of
providing for expeditions action by the
interstate commerce commission in ali
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 under the present commerce act
shows that Its efIicacy has been to great
degree destroyed by the weapon OF delay.
almost the most formidable weapon in
the hands OF those whose purpose 1t Is
\ The president asks for legislation conn
,pelling railroads to install block sy stems on
their lines, and also calls the attention OF
congress to the excessive hours or labor
OF train service employees OF the railroad
companies are often subjected to. He rec
ommends that commission be appointed
to study of employers liability with the OBJ
feet 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. and In this connection the
president says:
There has been demand for depriving
courts OF the power to issue injunctions
In labor disputes. Such special Emita-
ton OF the equity powers OF our courts
would be most unwise 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 strike by
labor leader would justify the denial Of
the right to strike. The remedy Is 10
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: II should not
be used as a pretext to permit violation
of law, or the jeopardiz!ng of life or
property. OF course this would not au-
thor.ze the issuing OF a restraining order
or Injunction in any case In which II Is
not already authorized by existing law.
I renew the recommendation / made
in my last annual message for an in
vestigat,on by the department of COM
merce and labor OF general labor condi-
tions. 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. 1t
is true that these problems can be actu-
ally met in most cases only by the states
themselves. but II would be we'll for the
nation to cndeavor to secure and publish
information as to the con-
ditlons OF the labor OF children in the diff
ferent states, so as To spur up those that
are bchindhand. and to secure approx
imately uniform legislation of a high
character among the several states In
such a republic ours the one thing
that We cannot afford neglect is the
problem OF turning out decent citizens.
The future of the nation depends upon
the citizenship of the generations to
come: the children OF to-day are those
who tomorrow VIII shape the destiny
Of our land. and We cannot afford to neg
lect them. The legislature of Colorado
has recommended that the national gov
eminent provide some general measure
for the protection from abuse OF children |
and dumb animals throughout the United !
States lay the matter before you for
what trust viii be your favorable con-
sideration.
The department Of commerce and labor |
should also make thorough inyestiga-
Ton OF the conditions of women in in |
iustry.' over 100000 American women
are now engaged In ga;nful occupations;
yet there Is an almost complete dearth |
Of data upon which to base any trust
worthy conclusions as regards subject |
ls important as II Is vast ana compii- |
cateds There Is need of full knowledge |
On which to base action looking toward
state and municipal leg!slat ton for the
protection of working women. The in
of women into Industry Is |
change and disturbance in the |
domestic and social life of the nation. |
rhe decrease In marriage. and especially |
n the birth rate, has been coincident with |
{. We must face accomplished facts |
md the adjustment to factory condition /
must be made; but surely II can be made |
with less friction and less harmful effects
On family life than Is now the case
This whole matter In reality forms one !
Of the greatest sociological phenomena
of our time: II Is social question of
the first Importance. of far greater Inn
portance than any merely political or
question can be; and to solve !
sane and scientific spirit in the course
Of an exhaustive investigation.
"A concluding with tic subject Of labor |
the president says:
In any great labor disturbance not only
are employer and employee interested. but
also third party-the general public
Every considerable labor d,ficulty In
which Interstate commerce Is involved
should be investigated by the govern
ment and the facts officially reported to
the public.
Equal Rights for All.
The question OF securing a healthy,
and mutually sympathetic
attitude as between employer and en-
ploye. capitalist and wage worker, Is a
difficult ono. All phases of the labor
problem prove difficult when approached.
But the underlying principles, the root
principles. In accordance with which the
problem must be solved are entirely sim
pie. We can get justice and right dealing
only IL We put as OF paramount impor-
lance the principle of treating a man on
his worth as man rather than with
reference to his social position. his occu-
patton, or the class to which he belongs.
There are selfish, and brutal men In all
ranks OF life. II they are capitalists
their selfshness and brutality may take
the form Of hard indifference to suffer-
ing. greedy disregard OF every moral re-
straint which interferes with the accum-
ulation of wealth. and cold-blooded ex-
ploitation OF the weak: or. II they are
iaborers. the form Of laxiness, of suilen
envy Of the more fortunate and NJ vvilt-