The Forrest City times., 1907-12-06
forcemen, of the laws the message

"A few years ago there was loud complaint that the law could not be in- voked against wealthy offenders There IS no such complaint now The course Of the department of justice during the last lew years has been such as to make it evident that no man stand. above the law. that no corporation is so wealthy that 1t cannot be held to account Everything that can be done under the existing law. and with the existing state of public opinion which so profoundly influences both the courts and juries has been done Put the laws themselves need strenethen- ing in more than one important potnt. they should be made more definite. SO that no honest man can he led unwit- tingly to break them, and so that the real wrongdoer can be readily punished
 The two great evils In the execution or our criminal laws o-day are senti- mentally and technically For the lat ter the remedy must come from the hands of the legislatures the courts and the lawyers. The other must de- pend for it's cure upon the gradual growth or sound public opinion which shall insist that regard for the law and the demands of reason shall control all other influences and emotions in the Jury box. Both of these evils must be removed or public diseontent with the criminal law will continue"
 Use of Iniunctiops
 Referring to the question of the use and abuse of injunctions the president de clares:
 Instances of abuse in the granting of in1unctions in labor disputes continue to occur and the resentment in the minds of those who feel that their rights are being invaded and their liberty of action and of speech unwarrantably restrained continues to grow. Much of the attack on the use of the process of injunction is wholly without warrant; but I am con strained to express the belief that for some of 1t there is warrant. This qucs- ton Is becoming more and more of prime importance, and unless the courts will themselves deal with 1t in effective man ner, it is certain ultimately to demand some sort of legislative action. I earnest ly commend to the attention of the con- gresS this matter, so that some way may be devised which will limit the abuse of injunctions and protect those rights which from time to time it unwarrantably in vades."
 Among the recommendations made in the message are for federal inspection of railroads, the establishment of an em- ployers' liability act, and for the exten- sion of the present eight-hour law by the government.
 In Industrial Disputes.
 The president favors compulsory in- vestigation by the national government of industrial disputes, saying:
 Strikes and lockouts with their at tendant loss and suffering. continue to increase. For the five years ending De- cember 31, 1905. the number of strikes was greater than those in any previous ten years and was double the number in the preceding five years These fig ures indicate the increasing need of providing some machinery to deal with this class of disturbances in the inter- est alike of the employer, the employe and the general public. l renew my previous recommendation that the con gross favorably consider the matter of creating the machinery for compulsory investigation of such industrial contro- versies as are of sufficient magnitude and of sufficient concern to the people of the country as whole to warra mt the federal government in taking action" The recent strike of the telegraphers is cited as an instance where such power might profitably have been used.
 Child Labor Evil.
 The necessity of checking the evil of child labor is pointed out with much di- rectness. On the relation between capital and labor the president asserts that pub lie opinion must be aroused in condemna- tion of evil practices on both sides The work of the department of agriculture is given high praise and the importance of the department pointed out. Cooperation with farmers associations is urged The necessity of a national system of inspec- tion and grading of grain. to correct evils complained of Is also pointed out.
 National Water Highways.
 Showing the necessity for the develop ment of the national water highways the message says: Our great river systems should be developed as national water ltpbwaVSs ha hfecfazfrpi uttth itc trih utaries. standing first in importance. and the Columbia second although there are many others of importance on the Pacific. the Atlantic and the gulf slopes. The na- tonal government should undertake this work. and l hope a beginning will be made in the present congress. and the greatest of all our rivers, the Mississippi. should receive especial attention. From the great lakes to the mouth of the Mis- sissippi there should be a deep waterway, with deep waterways leading from 1t to the east and west Such a waterway would practically mean the extension of our coast line into the very heart of our eft to our people.
 'As an incident to creating the deep waterway down the Mississippi, the gov ernment should build along It's whole lower length levees which. taken to- gether with the control of the head waters, will at once and forever put a complete stop to all threat of floods in the Eely fertile Delta region. The territory lying adjacent to the Mlssis- sipp along It's lower course will there by become one of the most prosperous and Dopulous. as it already is one of the most fer .le, farming regions Tn all the world
 "I have appointed an iniand waterways commission to study and outline a com prehensiye scheme of development along all the lines indicated. Later ] shall lay it's report before the congress"
 Public Lands.
 Extension Of the work of irrigation and the reclamation Of waste lands is advo- cated. together with a revision of the present land laws In the interest of the actual home maker. The unlawful fenc- ing of public lands for private grazing. the president says, must be stopped, but at the same time the necessity which oc- casioned 1t must be provided for. Several plaI~ are recommended.
 Conservatism of the mineral wealth of the country. and the necessity for the preservation Of the fnres's 10 prevent a timber famine. are dwelt upon Drastic action by the congress Is urged.
 Would Repeal Duty on Wood Pulp.
 The president declares in favor of the repeal of the duty on wood pulp. at the same time declaring that it should if