The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-12-10

AS far as possible he hopes to see a
frank recognition of the advantages
conferred by machinery, organization
and division Of labor, accompanied. by
an effort to bring about larger share
railway, mill and factory.
The regulation of the national high
ways must be such that they shall
serve all people with equal justice.
corporate finances must be supervised
SO as to make it far safer than at
present for the man Of small means to
| invest his money in stocks. There
must be prohibition Of child labor;
stock watering should be prohibited.
and stock gambling so far as possible
discouraged. There should be pro-
gresslve inheritance tax on large for
tunes. Industrial education should be
encouraged. AS far as possible we
should tighten the burden of taxation
, on the small man. We should put a
premium on thrift. hard work and
business energy. 1t is eminently right
mat the nation should fix the terms
upon which the great fortunes are in
h merit They rarely do good and
herit them in their entirety. The
above is the merest sketch, hardly even
a sketch in outline, of the reforms for
which we should work. But there is
one matter with which congress should
deal at this session. There should no
Longer be any paltering with the ques-
tlon OF taking care of the wage-work-
ers who. under our present industrial
system, become killed. crippled or worn
out as part of the regular incidents of
given business. The majority Of
wage workers must have their rights
secured for them bv state action: but
the national government should legis-
fhnrnpuhoniney nd fpr o,.1,-
ing fashion not only for all employees
OF the national government. but for all
persons engaged in interstate COM
merce The object sought for could
pc achieved to measurable degree. as
Ear as those killed or crippled are con-
e Ssria by proper employers liability
avs. AS far as concerns those who
nave been worn out. definite steps
toward providing old-age pensions
nave been taken in many Of our pri-
Nate industries. To strengthen these
PRACTICAL measures should be our i'm
mediate duty. When a workman is
injured what he needs is not an ex-
pensire and doubtful lawsuit. but the
certainty of relief through immediate
administrative action
The law passed at the last session of
congress granting compensation to GER
tain classes of employees of the gov
eminent should be extended to includ.
all employees Of the government and
Should be made more liberal in its
terms. Congress should without further
c@lay pass Il model EMPLOYERS liability
law for The district of Columbia.
The president recommends that the
principle of the eight hour day should
as rapidly and as far as practicable be
extended to the entire work being car-
ried on by the government.
The president urges upon congress
the duty Of increasing the salaries now
given our judges. Beginning
Sourts. With the supreme court. he
says. the judges should have
their salaries doubled
IT is earnestly to be desired that
some method should be devised for
doing away with the long delays which
now obtain in the administration OF
justice. and which operate With pc
cu!isr severity against persons of
small means; and favor only the Very
criminals whom il is most Gesirab bic
to punish. These long delays in the
final decisions Of cases make in the
aggregate crying evil; and a remedy
should be devised.
Our judicial system is sound and ef-
fective at core. and it remains and
must be maintained, as the safeguard
of those principles of liberty and
justice which stand at the foundation
of American institutions. The presi-
dent thinks there is ground for the
belief that substantial injustice is
often suffered by employees in conse-
quence of the custom of the courts is
suing temporary injunctions without
notice to them. and furnishing for con-
tempt of court in instances where, as
a matter of fact, they have no
is widespread feeling that this sys-
tenn often works great injustice to
wageworkers when their efforts to
better their working condition result
In industrial disputes. A temporary
injunction procured ex parte may as
a matter of fact have all the effect of
permanent injunction in causing
such a dispute. Organized labor is
chatting under the unjust restraint
which comes from repeated resort to
this plan of procedure. It's discomfort
has been unwisely expressed, and
often improperly expressed, but there
is sound basis for it, and the order
ly and law-abiding people of COM
position for upholding the courts if the
undoubtedly existing abuses could be
provided against.
Such proposals as advocated bv
some of the extreme labor leaders
contain the vital error of being class
legislation or the most offensive kind,
and even If enacted into law would
rightly be declared unconstitutional.
The power of injunction is a great
equitable remedy, which should on no
account be destroyed. But safeguards
should be erected against Its abuse
Provision should be made that no in
junction or restraining order issue
otherwise than on notice. except where
irreparable injury would otherwise
result; and in such a case a hearing
on the merits of the order should be
had within short fixed period and.
if not then continued after hearing 1t
should forthwith lapse. Decisions
should be rendered Immediately. and
the chance of delay minimizcd i'll
every way.
If there is any one duty which more
than another we owe it to our chill
dren and our childrens
Forests. children to perform at once
it is to save the forests of
this country. for they constitute the
first and most important. element in
the conservation of the natural re-
sources of the country. Thanks to our
own re6R!essness in the use of our
splendid forests. we have already
crossed the verge of timber famine
in this country and M meo SlIres thar