Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-02-07
PRESIDENT SCORES
CORPORATE ABUSES
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
Calls for Legislation Against Ills
to Which Country Is
Heir.
NOT TO BLAME FOR PANIC
Policies of Administration Are Earnest
ly Defended Against Critics-Docu-
ment One of Most Striking
State Papers of History.

Washington. Feb. 3.-President
Roosevelt today sent to congress a
special message, in which he vigor-
ously defencs the course of the adj
ministration in it's correction of cor
porate abuses, and recommends legis-
lation along various lines. The mes
sage. which is in many respects one
Of the most remarkable state papers
ever submitted, follows:
The recent decision of the supreme
court in regard to the employers liability
act, the experience of the Interstate Com
merce commission and Of the department
merce and antitrust laws. and the grave,
ly significant attitude toward the law and
IT'S administration recently adopted by
certain heads Of great corporations, rem
der 1t desirable that there should be ad.
ditional legislation as regards certain Of
and between the great corporations and
AS regards the employers liability law.
I advocate its immediate re-enactment,
limiting it's scope so that it shall apply
only to the class Of cases as to which the
but strengthening its provisions within
this scope. Interstate employment being
thus covered by an adequate national law.
be lef. TO t action Of the several states.
the states will undoubtedly, give the per,
formance of their duty within their field
the consideration the Importance of the
subject demands.
I also very urgently advise tina a com
prehensive act be passed providing for
employees injured in the government ser,
vice. Under the present laws an injured
workman in the employment of the gov-
ernment has no remedy. and the entire
burden of the accident falls on the help
less man, his wife, and his young chill
dren. This is an outrage. It is a matter
Of humiliation to the nation that there
vision to meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when 1t comes upon a
man through no fault of his own while
faithfully serving tha D1lhllr
: :hSS5S a aRPilS 70 be the maS S%$ver spRfls5
Where the nation has tae power i should
state states alone have the power they should
enact the laws. 1t Is to be observed that
an employers liability law does not really
mean mulcting employers in damages: 1t
merely throws upon the employer the bur
den of accident insurance against injur-
les which are sure to occur.
AS to lnjurctions.
of some action in connection with the
abuse of injunctions in labor cases. A s
regards reg cnn, the frem pi nnd Wfpnsf to Of bo lae9l
ting, the whole subject is covered in adj
mirable fashion by the report of the
report should serve. as a chart for the
guidance of both legislative and executive
little but repeat what I have said in my
though it were possible, i should consider
It most unwise to abolish the use of the
process of injunction. 1t is necessary in
order that the courts may maintain their
own dignity and in order that they may
In effective manner check disorder and
violence. The Judge who uses it cautious
Nv and conservatively, but who, when the
need arises. use it fearlessly, c%onfers tn.
creates service upon our people, and his
m usefulness as a public Serv.
ant should be heartily recognized. Blu
there is no question In my mind that i
has sometimes been used heedlessly ant
unjustly, and that some of the injunc
lions issued infict grave and occasionally
irreparable wrong upon those enjoined
This matter is daily becoming of grave
Importance and I can not too urgentl.
consideration to the subject. If SOM
way of remedying the abuses is no
found the feeling of indignation agains
them among large numbers of on
to produce a revolt against the who'll
use of the process of injunction. TIL
ultra-conservatives who object to cutting
out the abuses will do we'll to remembe
strong many of those upon whom the.
rely to defend them will he the first t
turn against them. Men of property cal
not afford to trust to anything save. tn
very public men who. whiie it is to thei
interest. defend all the abuses committe,
by capital and pose as the champions o
conservatism, will, the moment the.
lead in just such a matter as this an.
pander to what they esteem popular feel
Ing by endeavofing, for instance, effec
lively to destroy the power of the court
in matters of Injunction; and will eve
seek to render nugatory the power t
punish for contempt. upon which powe
the very existence of the orderly admin
1stration of justice depends.