The Wahpeton times., 1906-12-06
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE.

The following is a synopsis of the pres
tdent's message:
The president in opening says: '.As a
nation we still continue to enjoy liter
ally unprecedented prosperity. and it is
probable that only reckless speculation
and disregard Of legitimate business
methods on the part of the business
No congress in our times has done
more good work Of Importance than the
present congress. There were several
matters left unfinished at your last ses-
sion, however. which / most earnestly
hope you will complete before your ad-
journment.'
The president again recommends a law
prohibiting all corpora ations from con-
tributinE to the campaign expenses of
any party.
The urgent necessity Of enactine into
law the bill which passed one house Of
congress. conferring upon the government
the right ct appea! IN criminal cases on
questions of law, is strongly advocated.
will result in seriously hampering the
government in its effort to secure justice.
especially against wealthy individuals or
prevent the government from obtaining
justice for wageworkerS who are not
themselves able effectively to contest a
case where the judgment of an inferior
specifically in view a recent decision by
district judge leaving railway employees
without remedy for violation Of certain
so-called labor statute.
1T seems an absurdity to permit sim
gle district Judge. against what may he
the judgment of the immense majority Of
his colleagues on the bench, to declare a
be unconstitutional and then to deny to
the government the right to have the
supreme court definitely decide the Ques-
ton.
The Importance of enacting into law
the particular bill in question is further
Increased by the fact that the govern
men. ras has now definitely begun a policy Of
trust and interstate commerce cases
where such course offers a reasonable
chance of success. The action of the
government in finally deciding. in certain
was justifiable. and. though there have
been some conspicuous failures in these
cases. We have had many instances which
undoubtedly had deterrent effect upon
eNildoers. 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
law which will stop the habit of setting
aside the judgments of inferior courts on
technicalities absolutely unconnected with
any failure of substantial justice.
The abuse of the injunctive power in
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 mus, be no hesitation
in dealing with disorder. But there must
tive. power as is implied in forbidding la
boring men TO strive for their own better
ment in peaceful and lawful ways; nor
ag as soe sss M npason a, Rf used rs aa,g merely
schemes for its own asgrandizement.'
law. the president calls attention to the
lynching and mob violence that springs
UP. now in one part of the country. now
In another. The greatest existing cause
OF lynching is the. perpetration. especially
by black men. OF the hideous crime of
rape-the most abominable in all the cat
egory Of crimes; even worse anlpurder
Mobs frequently avenge the commission
death the man committing it.. thus ayeng-
ing in bestial fashion bestial deed and
reducing themselves to level with the
criminal In my Judgment, the crime Of
the case with murder. and provision
should be made by which the punishment
may follow Immediately. upon the heels
and swift. but let it be justice under the
agery Of mob.'
In dealing with the question of labor
and capital the. president says there is
than aught else, and that is the infinite
harm done by preachers Of mere discon
tent: These are the men who seek to
men Of wealth. They seek to turn wise
and proper movements for the better con-
troll OF corporations and for doing away
into a campaign of hysterical excitement
and falsehoOd. in which the aim is to in
flame to madness the brutal passions of
mankind.
OF the cause they profess to advocate,
Just as the purveyors Of sensational SIAN
der IN newspaper or magazine are the
gagged in an honest effort to better what
is bad in our social and governmental
conditions.
TO preach hatred Of the rich mas as
and invective against him to y seek e.di'' to
mislead and inf1ame to madness honest
men whose lives are hard and who have
not the kind Of mental training which
ger in doctrines preached-all is to com
init crime against the body polite and
to 6e false to every worthy principle and
n,an aI Aba nasonal life
derr. to obtain high Office stands on an
evil equality of corruption with the man
who dsbauehes others for financial profit
springs can only be evil
The president again urges the passage
Of a,a bill limiting the hours Of labor of
be our aim steadily to reduce the number
of hours Of labor, with as goal the gen
eral introduction of an eight-hour day"
On the. 1sthmus of Panama. he says.
the conditions are such that an eight
hour day would be absurd. just as It is
absurd. SO far as the isthmus in con-
cerned, where white labor cannot be en-
ployed. to bother as to whether the work
ts done by alien black men or by alien
yellow men.
A thorough investigation of the condi-
tions of child labor and Of the labor of
women In the United States is again
The president recommends that the en-
ployers liability law be amended to place
the entire risk Of trade upon the en-
The enactment of a law providing for
the compulsory investigation of contro-
versies between employer and employe is
urged.
The president thinks It is not wise that
the nation should ALLEVIATE its remaining
coal lands. II have Withdrawn temporar.
lily from settlement all the lands which
containing. or in all probability contain
ing. 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
cumstances."
or the subject Of corporations the pres
tdent says: "The present congress has
taken long strides in the direction Of &C.