Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-12-07


cotfrts of the power to issue injunctions
IN labor disputes. Such special llmita
tion 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 ex-
ercise of the power to call 4 strike by q
labor leader would justify the denial of
the right to strike. The remedy is to
regulate the procedure by requiring the
Judge to give due notice to the adverse
parties before granting the writ, the
hearing to be ex parte if the adverse
party does not appear at the time and
place ordered. What is due notice must
depend upon the facts of the case. 1t
should not be used as a preteXt TO per-
nit violation of law or the jeopardiZ-
ing of life or property. OF course this
would not authorize the issuing Of n
restraining order or injunction in any
case in which it is not already author
lied by existing law.
I renew the recommendation l made
in my last annual message for an in
vestigation by the department of COM
merce and labor of general labor condi-
tons. 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. In such a republic as ours
the one thing that we cannot afford to
neglect is the problem of turning out
decent citizens. The future Of the ma
tion depends upon the citizenship of
the generations TO come. The children
of today are those who tomorrow will
shape the destiny of our land, and we
cannot afford to neglect them. The leg
islature of Colorado has recommended
that the national government provide
some general measure for the protec-
ton from abuse of children and dumb
animals throughout the United States
l lay the matter before you for what
trust will be your favorable consider
alton.
As to Women Who Work.
The department of commerce and la
Dor should also make thorough inves-
tigation of the conditions of women in
industry. Over 5000, 900 American wo-
men are now engaged In gainful occu-
pations, yet there is an almost complete
dearth of data upon which to base any
trustworthy conclusions as regards q
subject as important as it is vast and
complicated. The introduction of wo-
men into industry is working change
and disturbance in the domestic and
social life of the nation. The decrease
in marriage, and especially in the birth
rate, has been coincident with it. We
must face accomplished facts, and the
adjustment to factory conditions must
be made, but surely it can be made
with less friction and less harmful ef-
fects on family life than is now the
case. This whole matter in reality
forms one of the greatest sociological
phenomena of our time. 1t is a social
question of the first Importance, Of far
greater Importance than any merely po-
litlcal or economic question can be.
In any great labor disturbance not
only are employer and employee inter-
ested, but also a third party-the gen.
eral public. Every considerable labor
difficulty in which interstate commerce
Is involved should be Investigated by
the government and the facts officially
reported to the public.
Insurance.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples of corporations
whose business has extended so far
beyond the jurisdiction of the states
which created them as to preclude
strict enforcement of supervision and
regulation by the parent states. In my
last annual message / recommended
that the congress carefully consider
whether the power of the bureau of
corporations cannot censtitutionally be
extended to cover interstate transac-
tions in insurance" Recent events
have emphasized the Importance of an
early and xhaustive consideration of
this question, to see whether 1t Is not
possible to furnish better safeguards
than the several states have been able
to furnish against corruption of the
fragrant kind which 1as been exposed.
1t has been only too clearly shown
that certain of the men at the head of
these large corporations take but small
note of the ethical distinction between
honesty and dishonesty They draw
the line only this side Of what may be
called law honesty, the kind of honesty
necessary In order to avoid falling into
the clutches of the law, OF course the
only complete remedy for this condi-
ton must be found in an aroused pub
lie conscience, higher sense of ethical
conduct In the community at large and
especially among business men and In
the great profession of the law, and in
the growth of spirit which condemns
all dishonesty, whether in rich man or
In poor man, whether it takes the shape
of bribery or of blackmail. But much
can be done by legislation which is not
only drastic, but practical. There is
need of a far stricter and more uni
form regulation Of the vast insurance
interests of this country. The United
States should In this respect follow the
policy of other nations by providing
adequate national supervision of COM
lueIcldl luleIeSlS WHICH are CledIly Ia
tional in character.
l repeat my previous recommends
ton that the congress should consider
whether the federal government has
any power or owes any duty with re,
spect to domestic transactions in in.
surance of an interstate character
That state supervision has proved In
adequate is generally conceded.
The Revenues.
There is more need of stability thaa
of the attempt to attain an ideal per-
fection in the methods of raising rev.
enue, and the shock and strain to the
business world certain to attend any
serious change in these methods rem
der such change inadvisable unless for
grave reason. 1t is not possible to lay
down any general rule by which to de-
termine the moment when the reasons
for will outweigh the reasons against
such change. No change can be
made on lines beneficial to or desired
by one section or one state only. There
must be something like general agree
ment among the citizens OF the several
states that the change Is needed and
desired In the interest of the people as II
whole and there should then be a sin
cere, intelligent and disinterested eff
fort to make it in such shape as will