Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-28
had, as already said. a period OF
enormous prosperity.
Necessity For Revision Of rar;H

~.
The consequent material develop
ment has greatly changed the condi-
lions under which many articles de-
scribed by the schedules OF the tariff
are now produced. The tariff I'm n
number OF the schedules exceeds the
difference between the cost of produc-
ton or such articles abroad and at
home. including reasonable profit to
the American producer. The excess
over that difference serves no useful
purpose. but offers temptation to
those who would monopolize the pro
duction and the sale OF such articles
In this country. TO profit by the excess
I've rate. On the other hand. there are
other schedules I'm which the tariff IL
not sufficiently high To give the meas
ure OF protection which they should re.
ceive upon Republican principles. and
as 10 those the tariff should be raised
A revision OF the tariff undertaken
upon this principle, which is at the
basis OF our present business system.
begun promptly upon the incoming or
the new administration, and considered
ut special session with the prclimi.
nary Investigations already begun by
the appropriate committees OF the
House and Senate. will make the dis
turbance OF business incident to such
u change as little as possible.
Labor and What the Republican Party
Has Done For u.
We come now To the question OF Ia.
Dor. One important phase OF the pol.
f.lA o. no.
been an anxiety To- secure for the wage.
Garner an equality OF opportunity and
such positive statutory protection as
shall place him on n level In dealing
with his employer. The Republican
party has passed an employers llabil
ity act for interstate railroads. and has
established an eight hour law for gov.
eminent employees and on government
construction. The essence OF the re
form Effected 10y the former Is tn,
abolition OF the fellow servant rule
and the Introduction OF the comparn
tive negligence theory by which an EN-
ployee injured in the service of hi,
employer does not lose his right TO re
cover because OF slight negligence O,
his part. Then there Is tho act pro
yiding for compensation for injury e
government employees, together will
the various statutes requiring safety
appliances upon interstate commcrc,
railroads for the protection OF their
employees. and limiting the hours oi
their employment. These are all I'm
stances OF the desire of the Repub
In In 20
Garner. Doubtless more comprehcn
sive measure for compensation of gov
eminent employees will be adopted II
the future.
To give TO employees their proper
position In such controversy. to en-
able them TO maintain themselves
against employers having great cap
ital, they may we'll unite, because IN
union there is strength and without II
each individual laborer and employee
would be helpless. The promotion OF
industrial peace through the instru.
mentality of the trade agreement is
often one of the results of such union
when intelligently conducted.
There Is large body OF Thborers
however. skilled and unskilled, who
are not organized into unions. Their
rights before the law are exactly the
same as those of the union men, and
are TO be protected with the same care
and watchfulness.
In order 10 induce their employer
into compliance with their request
for changed terms OF employment
workmen have the right to strike I'm a
body. They have right to use such
persuasion Ms they may, provided &
does not reach the point OF duress, "a
lead their reluctant co-laborers TO Join
them I'm their union against their en-.
ployer, and they have right, If they
choose. TO accumulate funds to support
those engaged I'm n strike, to delegate
to officers the power TO direct the ac-
ton OF the union, and TO withdraw
themselves and their associates from
dealings with. or giving custom to
those with whom they are I'm contro
versy.
What Labor Cannot Lawfully Do.
What they have not the right 10 do
Is to injure their employers property,
to injure their employers business by
use Of threats or methods of physical
duress against those who would work
for him, or deal with him. or by car.
rying on what is sometimes known as
n secondary boycott against his GUS
toners or those with whom he deals.
1t has been claimed that lnjunctione
do not issue TO protect anything but
property rights, and that business Is
not property right; but such a propo
sition is wholly inconsistent with all
the decisions OF the courts. The Su.
preme Court OF the United States says
that the Injunction IS q remedy 10 pro
tect property or rights Of pecunlary
nature, and we may we'll submit 20 the
considerate judgment Of all laymcn
whether the right OF a man I'm his bust
ness is not MS distinctly a right of n
pecuniary nature as the right 10 his
horse or his house or the stock OF goods
on bis shelf; and the instances IN
which injunctions TO protect business
have been upheld by all courts are 50
many that II is futile further to discuss
the proposition.
IL is difficult TO tell the meaning Of
the Democratic platform upon this sub
ject IL says:
Questions Of judicial practice have
arisen especially in connection with IN
dustrial disputes. We deem that the
parties TO all judicial proceedings