Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Every person who is competent to
express an opinion on the subject will
agree that the presidents message.
which appears in The Herald this
morning, is one of the ablest executive
papers ever transmitted to congress.
Although unusually long 1t is well
worth reading carefully and thought
fully from beginning to end. It's style
throughout is characteristic of the
president, vigorous, incisive and force
full. And Il leaves no question about
the presidents determination to back
his ideas on leading issues by efforts
to secure desired legislation in con-
gress.
The message leaves no doubt that
what Is conveniently called the rail-
way rate question will be the para
mount issue at this session. Column
after column Of the message is devoted
to It, in connection with cognate ques-
tions The views of the president are
presented clearly and logically and
are calculated to convince all persons
who are not interested directly or indi-
rectly in the policy of railway mo-
nopoly.
The president leaves no doubt con-
cerning his attitude on the pivotal
point of the proposition to clothe the
Interstate commerce commission with
power to regulate freight rates As
The Herald has heretofore shown, the
real issue to be fought out relates to
the immediate effectiveness Of rate
orders that may emanate from the
commission. The congressman who
are expected to line UP on the side of
the railway magnates concede some
extension of power to the commission
i'm the matter of railway control, be-
cause they see the futility of opposition
to any such extension. But they want
the orders of the commission held for
review by the courts before becoming
operative, which would admit of inter-
minable delay. The president demands
that this decision go into effect within
reasonable time and obtain from
thence onward, subject to review by
the courts"
No adequate comment is possible
here at this time. upon the single
question of rate control, nor is it pos
sible even to advert to all the subjects
of interest embodied in the message.
AS the labor question is treated at
length, however, as it's Importance de-
mands attention is called briefly to the
presidents general view of the sub
ject.
Abiding to the demand for depriv-
ing courts of the power to issue in
functions in labor disputes the presi-
dent makes it very clear that he sus-
tains the policy of such injunctions.
He gives the timely reminder that sin
any great labor disturbance not only
are employer and employe interested
but also a third party-the general
public And again, Individual capt.
alist and individual wage worker, cor
poration and union, are alike entitled
to the protection of the law"
In this feature of the message which
treats of the relations of capital and
labor the president makes some lu-
minous observations This govern
ment is not and never shall be gov
ernment by plutocracy. This gov
ernment is not and never shall be gov
ernment by a mob. 1t shall continue
to be in the future what it has been ir
the pasta government based on tht
theory that each man. rich or poor, is
to be treated simply and solely on his
worth as a man; that all his personal
and property rights are to be safe
guarded, and that he is neither to wrong
others nor to suffer wrong from
Others"
The leading points of the message
will be considered severally in these
columns.