Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-06


dsknee Destroyed by ne y.eapon 81 xaalay,
almost the most formidable weapon Ia
the hands 6f those whose purpose It ID
TO svtolato the laW. s ~
a# The question characterization Hes
at the root OF all industrial success,
which has taken place during tho last
hall century has been the most im-
portant factor In the growth OF tho
new industrial conditions Most en-
haticAlly we do not wish to sec the
man OF Eroat talents refused tho re-.
ward for his talents. Still less do We
wish to see him penalixed; but Ne do
desire to see the system OF railroad
transportation SO handled that the
strong man shall be given no adyan-
ta1e over the weak man. We wish to
insure as fair treatment for the small
town as for the big city; for the small
shipper az for the big shipper. In the
old days the highway Of commerce
whether by water or by road on
land. was open to all: it belonged to
the public and the tranc along 1t was
free. At present the railway is this
highway, and we must do our best to
ace that 1T is kept open to all ON equal
terms. Unlike the old highway t IL
a very di@cult and complex thing TO
manage, and It is far better that 1T
should be managed By private indi-
viduals than by the government. But
1T can only be SO managed on condi-
ton that justice is done the public.
It Is because. In my Judgment. public
ownership of railroads Is highly un-
desirable and would probably in this
country entail far-reachinK disaster
that wish to see such supervision
and regulation OF them In the inter-
est Of the public as will make it evil
dent that there IL no need for public
ownership. The opponents of govern
ment regulation dwell upon the DIM
culties to be encountered and the in
tricate and involved nature OF the
problem. Their contention is true.
1t Is complicated and delicate prob
lem, and all kinds Of dimculties are
sure to arise in connection with any
plan Of solution, while no plan will
bring all the benefits hoped for by
its more optimistic adherents. More
efits will develop gradually and not
rapidly Finally. we must clearly un-
derstand that the public servants who
are to do this peculiarly responsible
and delicate work must themselves be
of the highest type both as regards
integrity and efficiency. They must
be well paid. for otherwise able men
cannot in the long run be secured; ;
and they must possess a lofty probity
which will revolt as quickly at the
thought Of pandering to any gust Of
popular prejudice against rich men rs
at the thought Of anything even re-
motely resembling subserviency to
rich men. But while fully admit the
dihhculties in the way, I do not for
a moment admit that these lifnculties
warrant US in stopping In our effort
to secure wise and just system
They should have no other effect than
to spur us on to the exercise Of the
resolution the even-handed justice,
and the fertility Of resource, which
we like to think Of as typically Amer
lean, and which will in the end achieve
good results in this rs In other fields
of activity. The task is a great one
and underlies the task Of dealing with
the whole industrial problem. But the
not warrant US in shrinking from the
attempt to solve it. At present we
face such utter lack OF supervision,
such freedom from the restraints OF
law, that excellent men have often
been literally forced into doing what
they deplored because otherwise they
were left at the mercy Of unscrupu-
lous competitors. To rail ut and as
sail the men who have done Al they
best. could under such conditions &C.
complishes little. What we need to do
is to develop an orderly system; and
such system can only come through
the gradually increased exercise of the
right OF emcient government control
The president asks for legislation COM
pelling railroads. to install block systems on
their lines, and also calls the %attent ton Of
congress to the excessive hours Of labo,
OF train service employees of the railroad
companies are often subjected to. He rec.
ommends that q commission be appointed
to study Of employers liability with the OBJ
3ect Of the enactment of q law covering the
subject and applicable to all industries
within the scope Of the federal power.
The Labor Question. sS<s
The labor question is treated of at CON
siderable length and in this connection the
president says: % !@2as2&@ $50 ..ESssss..ss
There has been demand for depefyina
courts of the power to issue injur@c4io
in labor disputes Such special Hnlta.
ton of the equity powers of our courtl
would be most unwise. is true TIM
some iudxes have misused this power
but this does not justify a denial of thu
power any more than an improper@exer
else Of the power to call strike by Z
labor leader would justify the denial 81
the right to strike. The remedy 10 Il
regulate the procedure by requiring tht
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; It should moi
be used as pretext to permit violation
of law, or the jeopardi1ing OF life Of
property. OF course this would not NJ,
thorixe the issuing Of q restraining order
or Injunction in any case In which It il
not already authorised by existing law.
I renew. the reconmendation I made
in my last annual message for an in.
vestigation 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. auef
IN investigation should take into accoun,
the various problems with which thu
question of child labor 10 connected. I,
is true that these problems can be actu.
ally met in most cases only by the state,
themselves, but it would be we'll for the
nation to endeavor to secure and publish
comprehensive information as to the con.
didons Of the labor Of children In the diff.
ferent states, so as to spur up those tina,
are behindhand. and to secure approx.
imately uniform legislation Of higf
character among the several states II
such q republic as ours the one thins
that We cannot afford 70 neglect is thu
problem Of turning out decent citizens
The future Of the nation depends upor
the citizenship of the generations 4tt
come: the children Of to-day are those
who tomorrow win shape the destins
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 70,
what trust will be your favorable con
sideration. s. !: 90
The department of commerce and labo,
should also make thorough tnvestixa.
ton of the conditions Of rnman. q, r..