Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-06
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
SENDS ANNUAL MESSAGE
Executive First Takes Note of The Literally
Unprecedented Prosperity Of The
Nation-Devotes Much Attention
to Corporations
SUGGESTS INHERITANCE AND INCOMET TAX LAWS
ON The CONDITION THAT THEY CAN BE ENACTED
TO EVERY FORM DFFl
GUILTY THAT is PuBLlc-sueeEsTs
e,TRAToN OF DISPUTES BETWEEN LABOR AND cAPL
TAL-FLAYs THE AGTAToRs DIscoNTENr.

Washington, Dec. president
Roosevelt's annual message occupied
the attention of the senate as soon as
the opening preliminaries were conclu-
ded today.
The President discusses at some
length the subject of lynching, up
holding the enforcement Of the law;
favors arbitration Of the differences
between capital and labor; suggests
the necessity of currency REFORM; en-
dorses the proposition Of a lower Phil
ippine tariff; reviews the situation in
Cuba, and goes at length into the Rio
conference. On other subjects he
speaks In part as follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
II AS nation we still continue to en-
Joy literally unprecedented prosper
fly; and it is probable that only reck-
less speculation and disregard of legi-
innate business methods on the part
OF the business world can materially
mar this prosperity
No congress in our time has done
more good work Of Importance than
the present congress. There were
several matters left unfinished at your
last session, however. which I most
earnestly hope you will complete be-
fore your adjournment.
Corporation Campaign Contributions.
| again recommend law prohibit
ing all corporations from contributing
to the campaign expense of any party.
Such a bill has already passed one
house of congress. Let individuals
contribute as they desire; but, let us
prohibit in effective fashion all cor.
] porations from making contributions
! for any political purpose, directly or
indirectly.
Governments Right Of Appeal.
another bill which has just passed
one house of congress and which it
is urgently necessary should be enact
ed into law is that comforting upon
the government the right of appeal
upon criminal cases on questions of
law. This right exists in many of the
states; it exists in the District Of Col
umbia by act Of the congress.
Injunctions.
In my last message suggested the
enactment of law in connection with
having been sharply drawn to the
matter by the demand that the right
of applying injunctions in labor cases
should be wholly abolished. 1t Is at
least doubtful whether a law abolish
ing altogether the use Of injunctions
in such cases would stand the test of
the courts; in which case of course the
legislation would be ineffective. More.
over, believe it would be wrong al
together to prohibit the use of intunc-
tons. 1t is criminal to permit sympa-
thy for criminals toweaken our hands
In unfolding the law; and if men seek
to destroy life or property by mob
violence there should be no impair
ment of the power of the courts to
deal with them in the most summary
and effective way possible. But so far
as possible the abuse of the power
should be provided against by some
such law as l advocated last year.
In this matter of injun1cions there
is lodged in the hands of the Judiciary
a necessary power which is nevertha-
less subject to the possibility of grave
abuse. 1t is power that should be
exercised with extreme care and
should be subject to the jealous scrut-
my of all men, and condemnation
should be meted out as much to the
Judge who fails to use it boldly when
wantonly or oppressively. OF course
a Judge strong enough to be fit for his
Office will enjoin any resort to violence
or intimidation, especially by conspir-
acy, no matter what his opinion may
~ ~ IL -
There must be no hesitation in dealing
with disorder. But there must like.
wise be no such abuse of the injunc-
ton power as is implied in forbidding
laboring men to strive for their own
betterment in peace and lawful ways;
nor must the injunction be used
merely to aid some big corporation in
carrying out schemes for it's own
aggrandiZement. 1t must be remember.
ed that preliminary Injunction in a
labor case, if granted without ade.
quate proof (even when authority can
be found to support the conclusions
of law on which it is founded), may
often settle the dispute between the
parties; and therefore if Improperly
granted may do irreparable wrong
Railroad Employees Hours.
call your attention to the need OF
passing the bill limiting the number
of hours of employment of railroad
employees. The measure is very
morerate one and l can conceive OF
no serious objection to it. Indeed
SO far as it is in our power, 1t should
be our aim steadily to reduce the mum
Der Of houre of labor with as goal
the general introduction of an eight
hour day.
4, Labor Of Women and Children.
u The congress at its last session