Evening journal., 1908-12-08
President Attacks Anti Trust Law and Says Sherman Act Should
Be Amended to Permit Combinations that Are for Public
Good-Urges Legislation for WageWorkers

4NS uoeL eucCuN6 euOIl IN the shape
Of an appeal to the old doctrine OF
states rights.
The proposal to make the national
government supreme over, and there
fore TO give It complete control over
the railroads ahd other instruments OF
Interstate commerce is Xlerely n pro
posal to carry out to thS letter one Of
the prime purposes, II not the prime
purpose, for which the constitution
was founded. 1t does not represent
Capitalization.
{ / believe that the more tarslghted
corporations are themselves coming to
recognize the unwisdom OF the violent
hostility they have displayed during
the last few years to regulation and
control by the national government OF
combinations engaged In interstate busi-
ness.
Labor.
There are many matters affecting la-
Dor and the status Of the wageworker
TO which l should like to draw your
attention. AS far as possible l hope
to see a frank recognition of the ad-
vantages conferred by machinery, or
ganization and division Of labor, ac-
companied by an effort to bring about
a larger share in the ownership by
wageworker Of railway, mill and fac
tory. In farming this simply means
that we wish to see the farmer own his
own land. We do not wish to see the
farms so large that they become the
= - L..
farm them by tenants nor yet so small
that the farmer becomes like a Euro
pean peasant.
The depositors in our savings banks
now number over ore-tenth of our en-
tire population. These are all capital
lists who through the savings banks
loan their money to the workers-that
Is, IN many cases TO themselyes--to
carry on their various industries.
Postal savings banks viii make it easy
for the poorest to keep their savings
in absolute safety. The regulation Of
the national highways must be such
that they shall serve all people with
equal justice. Corporate finances must
be supervised so as to make 1t far
safer than at present for the man OF
small means to invest his money in
stocks. There must be prohibition OF
child labor, diminution Of woman la
Dor, shortening of hours OF all me-
chanicnl labor Stock watering should
be prohibited, and stock gambling, so
far as is possible, discouraged. There
should be a progressive Inheritance
tax on large fortunes. Industrial edu-
cation should be encouraged.
Protection Fer Wsaeworkers.
There is one matter with which the
congress should deal at this session.
There should no longer be any palter-
ing with the question Of taking care
Of the wageworkers who, under our
present industrial system, become kill
ed, crippled or worn out as part Of the
regular incidents Of a given business.
The object sought for could be achiev-
ed to a measurable degree, as fur as
those killed or crippled are concerned,
! by proper employers liability laws.
: AS far as concerns those who have
been worn out, 1 call your attention to
the fact that definite steps toward pro-
viding old age pensions have been
; taken in many Of our private indus
tries.
Pending & thorougbgoing investiga-
tion and action there IS certain legls-
lation which should be enacted at
once. The law passed at the last ses-
sion Of the congress granting com
pensation to certain classes Of en-
ployees Of the government should be
extended 10 include all employees Of
the government and should be made
more liberal in its terms. In this re
J. spect the generosity of the United
States toward its employees compares
most unfavorably with that ot every
country in Europe-even the poorest
The terms of the act are also a
hardship in prohibiting payment in
cases where the accident is in any
way due TO the negligence Of the en-
ployee. 1t is inevitable that daily IA
miliarity with danger viii lead men to
take chances that can be construed
into negligence.
= renew my recommendation made
IN a previous message that half holl-
days be granted during the summer 30
= all wageworkers IN government en-
= ploy.
also renew my recommendation
that the principle Of the eight hour
day should as rapidly and as far as
practicable be extended TO the entire
work being carried on by the govern
ment
The Courts.
most earnestly urge upon the con-
gress the duty Of increasing the totally
, inadequate salaries now given to our
[ judges. On the whole. there is no
; body Of public servants who do as
, valuable work nor whose moneyed
reward is so inadequate compared TO
|, their work. Beginning with the su-
/ preme court. the judges should have
their salaries doubled
1t is earnestly to be desired that
some method should be devised for do
ing away with the long delays which
now obtain in the administration of
justice and which operate with pecul-
far severity against persons of small
means and favor only the very crimi-
nails whom Il is most desirable TO pun
ish.
At the last election certain leaders
Of organized labor made a violent and
cxvoonfpcr arfoclr unor, fho autfra IN,