The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-08-25


distinguish between phrase making
and action.
I'm addition to thus dealing with
the proper control of eapitalistie
wealth, congress has also taken i'm
portant steps in securing to the wage
workers certain great rights. At the
session just closed, an employers H.
ability law was enacted which puts the
2 national government in its proper
place as regards such legislation. An
eight-hour law was already upon the
statute books, but as is almost ineyi-
table with such laws, there has at first
been confusion as to whose duty it
was, among the different public of
ficials, to enforce it. This confusion
has now been remedied, and the law
is in process of thorough enforcement.
If this enforcement demonstrates the
need Of additional legislation to make
the eight-hour law effective, I shall
ask for such legislation. I may add
that next year | shall ask congress to
put IN the permanent form Of law the
provision have made by executive
order by securing the wage-workers
under the government half-hofidays
during the summer months, just as
regular holidays are now secured by
law for the salaried clerical workers
in the classified service.
mo congress has ever more clearly
shown its practical appreciation Of the
fact that the welfare of the wage-work-
ers and the welfare of the tillers of the
soil make the real basis of the welfare
of the nati9n as a whole. We will do
everything that can be done to further
the interests Of the farm and the wage
worker, and this declaration is subject
only to one reservation, which is that
to no man and no body of men will we
do anything that is wrong. Our con-
slant aim is to do justice to every man
and to treat each man as by his own
actions he shows that he deserves to
be treated. We favor the organiza-
ton of labor as we favor the organs
cation of capital; but ON condition
that organized labor and organized
capital alike act In a spirit of justice
and fair dealing and with due re-
gard to both the letter aud the spirit
of the law. We heartily favor trades
unions, and we recognize in them, as
in the corporations, when properly
conducted, indispensable instruments
in the economic life of the present;
but where either type Of organiza alton
is guilty of abuse we do not propose
TO weaken the remedial powers OF the
government to deal with such abuse.
We are anxious to help, alike by law
and by executive action, SO far as il
cur power lies, every honest man.
every right-dealing labor union, and,
for that matter, every right-dealing
corporation. But us corollary to
this we intend fearlessly and resolutely
to uphold the law and to strengthen it,
so that we can put down wrong,
whether done By rich or poor; if done
by the most powerful or the most in
auential labor union, just as if done
by the humblest and least influential
individual in the land. The fact that
we heartily recognize an organization
or kind Of org anization as useful will
not prevent our taking steps to con-
troll it or prevent it committing abuses
when it uses in wrong fashion the
power which organization confers.
1.-THE enactment into law OF the bill
removing the tax on alcohol for use
in markets and arts will ultim ately be
a great benefit. It shows likely the
entire willingness of those responsible
for the handling OF the present con-
gress to alter our revenue system,
derived by taxation on i'm
ports or internal taxation, whenever
it is necessary SO to do.
1--WE stand unequivocaIly for pro-
tective tariff and we feel tn at the phe-
nomenal industrial prosperity which
We are now enjoying is not lightly to
be jeopardized; for il would be to the
last degree unWise to secure here and
here a small beneft at the cost OF
general business depression. But
whenever q given rate or schedule
evidently Instantaneous to
he nation because of the changes
which 60 on from year to year in our
and where it is feasible to
change this rate or schedule without
90 much dislocating the system, it |
will be done; while a general revision
IF the rates and schedules will be |
undertaken whenever it shall appear to |
he sober business sense of our people |
hat on the whole the benefits TO be |
derived from making such changes
will outweigh the disadvantages, that |
S when the revision will do more good |
han harm. Let me add one word. |
lowever: The question of revising the
ariff stands wholly apart from the
question OF dealing with the so-called |
rusts-that is with the control of |
nonopolies and with the supervision
# great wealth or business, especially
q corporate form. The only way in
which it is possible to deal with trusts