The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-21
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY q, 1905.
For riches and much money do
make proud and lazy people.
Luther.
THE PRESIDENT GREATLY DIS
TlRBED.

THE PRESIDENT GREATLY DIS
TuRBED.
In the Presidents letter to the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, published
yesterday morning. he indicates very
plainly that he is greatly disturbed
by the army of the unemployed and
tho impending reduction of wages OF
the working people. And well he may
be. He has been the avowed and con-
spicuous friend OF labor, especially or
ganized labor, and they have been
taught 10 look to him almost as the
patron saint in politics and power
Now for them to hear and to beiieN1
that ii is from him that they are re-
ceiving the ohastisement of hard times
IS more than the President can stand.
He not only becomes excited, as is
natural 10 him. but Immediately as
sumes an attitude of defense, defiance
and implied threat A special aggrava-
ton to mis- feelings is the fact that
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
has announced the reduction OF wages,
for it was only lately that the Louis
Vile and Nashville Railroad succeeded
in getting the Supreme Court of the
United states 10 declare that the Presi-
dents favorite employers liability act
was unconstitutional. If there is {
thing that President Roosevelt detests
it is to have the Judgment of the
courts. or even the Constitution. inter
posed between him and the realization
OF some of his favorite schemes OF re
form Away with courts' and away
with Constitutions when they come IL
conflict with his imperious will! S
the Louisville ana Nashville Railroad i
singled out as special object foi
investigation, because in an1ouncin
reduction in wages 1t states tha
1.-THE drastic laws inimical to the In
1crest of railroads that have in she pas
year or two been enacted by Congress!
and the State Legislatures are largely
.or chiefly responsible for the condition!
requiring reduction" The investiga
ton of the railroad will no doubt show
that there has been an enormous los
of business, and that the railroad il
obliged ito cut its coat according t,
its cloth" There should be no objec
ton 10 the inXes:igation, but the Pre-
dent calls :.tte5.tion'to the posaibilitie
of industrial conflicts between rail
road corporation and its employees
growing out of the reduction of wages
and suggests that such condition
offers peculiar opportunities to an.
small number of evil disposed person
TO destroy life and property and L
foment public disorder" He say
again: at is sincerely hoped, thereto
that any wage controversy that ma.
arise between tho railroads and thei
employees may find peaceful solutll
through the methods of conciliati
and arbitration Up to this time moth
ing whatever has been said suggesting
any impending conflict between tn
railroads and their employees, or tina
"a small number of evil disposed per
sons could destroy life and property.
The suggestion. coming from the Fres
dent, is most vicious and does greg
iniustice TO the employees of the raj
roads in the South. 1t must be a
occasion of the greatest regret TO IL
railroads TO be compelled to reduce IL
wages of their employees, but when the
own business is falling away like
crumbling bank before swollen riv,
and disaster threatens them. they ha,
absolutely no alternative but to equit;
bly, adjust the burden between capt.;
and labor
The President may well feel cor
cerned lest his popularity be not onl
on the decline, but, as is too often Ii
case with popular leaders, the shou,
of applause are about to be turne
into cries of eXecration.
When the President first started h
program Of reform in railroad manag,
ment in all Of the reasonable purpos,
he had in view we most heartily co,
Cured. We felt that reformation w.
NECESSARY and would be for the gor
moi only OF the public, but of the raj
roads themselves, and we approve
and applauded the President; bur VIII,
N. 1T became apparent that the Presidon,
N sentiments of vindetiveness and +
yelige exceeded even his desire for +
form. and that he seemed rather to d
sire to destroy than to cure, and il
neither solemn judgments of the co,
nor the restraints Of the CONSTITUTE
s were respected by him. it became i
possible for reasonable and conser,
tive. men to approve him any furth