The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-10

OF an appeal 10 ine oid uoctrine u
states rights.
The proposal to make the national
government supreme over, and there
fore TO give II complete control over.
The railroads and other instruments OF
interstate commerce Is merely a pro
posal to carry out to the letter one OF
the prime purposes. IL not the prime
purpose, for which the constitution
was founded. IL does not represent
Capitalization.
/ believe that the more farsighted
corporations are themselves coming to
recognize the unwisdom Of the violent
hostility they have displayed during
the last few years 10 regulation and
control by the national government Of
combinations engaged in interstate busl'
ness.
Labor.
There are many matters affecting ta-
Dor and the status of the wageworker
to which / should like to draw your
attention. AS far as possible l hope
to see 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
property OF absentee landlords who
farm them by tenants nor yet so small
that the farmer becomes like a Euro
pean peasant.
The depositors In cur savings banks
now number over one-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 themselves-to
carry on their various Industries.
Postal savings banks Will make 1t 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 rs TO make It far
safer than at present for the man OF
small means to invest his money in
stocks. There must be prohibition or
child labor, diminution Of woman la
Dor, shortening Of hours Of all me
chanical labor. Stock watering should
be prohibited, and stock gambling. SO
far as is possible, discouraged. There
should be progressive inheritance
tax on large fortunes. Industrial edu-
cation should be encouraged.
Protection For Wageworkers.
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 given business
The object sought for could be achiev-
ed TO a measurable degree, as far rs
those killed or crippled are concerned,
by proper employers liability laws.
As far as concerns those who have
been worn out, l 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 a thoroughgoing invesuga-
ton and action there is certain legis-
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 TO include all employees Of
the government and should be made
more liberal in It's terms. In this re-
spect the generosity Of the United
States toward its employees compares
most unfavorably with that OF 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. It is inevitable that daily IA
miiiarity with danger will lead men to
take chances that can be construed
into negligence.
renew my recommendation made
in q previous message that half hoii-
days be granted during the summer to
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.
It 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 pccul-
lar severity against persons Of small
means and favor only the very crimi-
nails whom 1t Is most desirable to pun
ish.
At the last election certain leaders
Of organized labor made a violent and
sweeping attack upon the entire jul
dietary Of the country, an attack
couched in such terms as TO include
the most upright, honest and broad
minded judges no less than those OF
narrower mind and more restricted
outlook. Last year before the house
committee on the judiciary these same
labor leaders formulated their de
mands, specifying the bill that con-
tanned them, refusing all compromise,
stating they wished the principle Of
that bill or nothing. They insisted on
a provision that I'm a labor dispute no
Injunction should issue except to pro
tect a property right and specifically