The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1906-12-06

MESSAGE.

The following is a synopsis OF the pres
idents message:
The president in opening says: a a
nation we still continue TO enjoy a ntSr-
ally Unprecedented prosperity, and IL Is
probable that only reckless speculation
and disregard OF legitimate business
methods on the part of the business
world can materially mar this prosperity.
mo congress In our times has none
more good work OF Importance than the
present congress. There were saveral
matters left unfinished at your last SEES
sion, however. which ] most earnestly
hope you will complete before your ad-
Il tournament"
The president again recommends a law
prohibiting all corporations from con-
tributing to the campaign expenses OK
any party.
The urgent necessity OF ~enacting into
Law the bill which passed one house OF
congress. comforting upon the government
the right of appeal in criminal cases on
questions OF law, is strongly advocated.
The president says: "A failure to pass "
will result In seriously hampering the
government in its effort TO secure Justice.
! especially against wealthy individuals or
corporations who do wrong, and may also
prevent the government from obtaining
Justice for wageworkers who are not
themselves able effectively TO contest a
| case where the judgment of an inferior
court has been against them. ! have
specifically in view a recent decision by
n district Judge leaving railway employees
| without remedy for violation of n certain
| so-called labor statute.
1T seems an absurdity to permit q sim
/ gle district Judge, against maY he
the judgment OF the immense majority of
his colleagues IN the bench. To declare a
law solemnly enacted by the congress TO
be unconstitutional and then to deny 10
the government the right to have the
supreme court definitely decide the dues-
ton.
1.-THE Importance OF enaclng into law
the particular bill In question Is further
increased by the fact that the govern
ment has now definitely begun a policy OF
resorting to the criminal law IN those
trust and interstate commerce cases
where sXch a course offers a reasonable
chance of success. The action of the
government i'm finally deciding. In certain
cases. 10 undertake criminal proceedings
was Justiflable, and, though there nave
been some conspicuous failures i'm these
cases. we have had many instances which
undoubtedly had a deterrent effect upon
| evildoers. whether the penalty inflicted
was in the shape of fine or Imprisonment,
and penalties OF both kinds have already
been inflicted by the courts
The president Urges the passage of q
law which will stop the habit of setting
aside the judgments OF inferior courts on
| technicalities absolutely unconnected with
the merits Of the case and where there
Is no attempt TO show that there has been
any failure OF substantial justice.
| Inc aDuSe OF the lnJuntliNt power III
labor cases should be guarded against.
according TO the president. who urges the
passage Of such a law as he advocated
last year.
He says: There must be no hesitation
n dealing with disorder, But there must
likewise be no such abuse of the %injunc-
tive power as is implied in forbidding Ia
boring men to strive for their own better
I, ment in peaceful and lawful ways. nor
must the injunction be used merely 10
aid some big corr ration in carrying out
schemes for its own aggrandizement
In connection with the delays of the
law. the president calls attention to the
| prevalence of crime and the epidemic OF
lynching and moi violence that springs
up, now in one part of the country. now
in another. The greatest existing cause
| of lynching is the preparation. especially
by black men. of the hideous crime OF
| rape-the most abominable i'm all the cat
egory of crimes: even worse than murder.
Mobs frequently avenge the commission
OF this crime by themselves torturing to
death the man committing II. thus aveng-
ing in bestial fashion a bestial deed and
| reducing themselves TO a level with the
criminal. I'm my Judgment the crime Of
rape should be punished with death, as Is
the case with murder. and pro ision
should be made by which the punishment
may follow immediately upon the heels
| OF the offense. Let justice be both sure
and swift. but let it be justice under the
law. and not the wild and crooked saw
| agery of a mob
In dealing with the question OF labor
one thing more important to remember
than aught else, and that is the infinite
harm done by preachers of mere discon-
tent. These are the men who seek to
excite a violent class hatred against all
men OF wealth. They seek to turn wise
and proper movements for the better con-
troll of corpora tons and for doing AVA
with the abuses connect with wealth
into a campaign of hysterical excitement
and falsehood. In which the aim is to in
flame to madness the brutal passions of
I'm reality they are the worst enemies
of the cause they profess to advocate,
Just as the purveyors of sensational SLAM
der In newspaper or magazine are the
/! worst enemies of all men who are en-
gagged in an honest effort 10 better what
Is bad In our social and governmental
conditions.
ITO preach hatred OF the rich mas as
such, to carry on a campaign of SANDER
and invectiye against him. TO seek 10
!! mislead and ~infarnc 10 madness honest
| men whose lives are nard and who have
not the kind of mental training which
will permit them to appreciate the dam
| ger In doctrines preached-alt Is to COM
nit a crime against the body polite and
TO be false to every worthy principle and
tradition Of American national .ife.
The man who dehauches others In or
der To obtain high office stands on an
evil equality of corruption with the man
who debauches Others for financial profit.
and when hatred is sown the crop which
springs can only be evil"
The president again urges the passage
of a bill limiting the hours OF labor of
railway employees. He saws. TT should
be our aim steadily TO reduce the number
of hours of labor. with as a goal the gem
eral introduction of an eight-hour day.
On the Isthmus of Panama. he SAYS.
the conditions are such that an eight
hour day would be absurd. Just a. il is
absurd. so far as the isthmus In con-
cerned. where white labor cannot be en-
ployed. to bother as to whether the work
Is done by alien black men or by alien
yellow men.
A thorough investigation of the condi-
tons of child labor and of the labor OF
women In the United States Is again
urged.
The president recommends that the en-
ployers' liability law be amended TO place
the entire risk Of trade upon the en-
plover.
The enactment of a low providing for
the compulsory investigation OF contro-
versies between employer and employee is
urged.
The president thinks IL is not wise that
the nation should ALLEVIATE its remaining
coal lands. II nave withdrawn temporar-
lily from settlement all the lands which
the geological survey has indicated as
containing or i'm all probability containing
coal. The question. however. can be
propely settled only by legislation. which.
In my Judgment. should provide for the
withdrawal Of these lands from sale or
from entry. save In certain especial cir
x.ao "