, 1908-01-31
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TO SENATE AND HOUSE
Continued from page IL

Continued from page IL
of their wages which is received be-
of the risk of injury to secure
accident insurance. But as a matter
of fact, it is not practical to expect
that this will be done by the great
body of employees. An employers Ii
ability law makes 1t certain that it will
be done. in effect, by the employer,
and 1t will ultimately impose no real
additional burden upon him.
The Taft Measure.
There is a special bill to which
coll your attention. Secretary Taft
has urgently recommended the i'm
mediate passage of a law providing for
compensation to employees Of the gov
eminent injured in the work of the
Isthmian canal, and that 100000 be
appropriated for this purpose each
year. l earnestly hope this will be
done; and that a special bill be passed
covering the case of Yardmaster Ban,
ton, who was injured nearly two years
ago while doing his duty. He is now
helpless to support his wife and his
three little boys.
Abuse of lnjunctions.
| again call your attention to the
need of some action in connection with
the abuse of injunctions in labor cases
AS regards the rights and wrongs o.
labor and capital, from blacklisting tc
t~oycotting, the whole subject is GOV
cred in admirable fashion by the re
port of the anthracite coal strike com
mission, which report should serve a;
C chart for the guidance of both leg
~islative and executive officers. AS re
CARDS injunctions, I can do little but
repeat what l have said in my las
message to the congress. Even though
it were possible, l consider it most un
wise to abolish the use of the process
of Injunction. 1t is necessary in ordel
that the courts may maintain their OWL
dignity and in order that they ma!
in effective AM check disorder AMI
violence.
The Just and Fearless Judge.
The judge who uses it cautiousl.
and conservatively, but who, when the
need arises. uses it fearlessly, confer,
the greatest service upon our people
and his pre-emipent usefulness as
public servant should be heartily re
cognized. But there is no question il
my mind that it has sometimes beer
used heedlessly and unjustly, and tina
some of the injunctions issued inlic'
grave and occasionally irreparablt
wrong upon those enjoined.
Wrongful Use OF Power.
1t is all wrong to use the injunction
to prevent the entirely proper and lie
climate actions of labor organization.
in their struggle for industrial better
ment, or under the guise of protecting
property rights unwarrantably to in
wade the Fundamental rights of thu
individual, 1t is futile to concede, a!
We all do, the right and the necessity
of organized effort on the part of wage
earners and yet by injunctive process
to forbid peaceable action to accom-
plish the lawful objects for which they
are organized and upon which theii
success depends.
A Dangerous Practice.
The fact hal the punishment for the
violation of an injunction must. tC
make the order effective, necessarily
be summary and without the interven
ton of a jury makes its Issuance in
doubtful cases a dangerous practice
and in itself furnishes a reason why
the process should be surrounded with
safeguards to protect individuals
against being enjoined from exercising
their proper rights. Reasonable notice
should be given the adverse party.
Remedy for the Abuses.
This matter is daily becoming oil
graver Importance and l can not toe
urgently recommend that the congress
give careful consideration to the sub
ject. If some way of remedying the
abuses is not found the feeling of in.
dignation against them among large
numbers of our citizens will tend to
grow so extreme as to produce a revolt
against the whole use of the process
of Injunction. The ultra-conservatives
who object to cutting out the abuses
will do well to remember that If the
popular feeling does become strong
many of those upon whom they rely
TO defend them will be the first to turn
against them.
Spirit of Justice and Fair Play.
Men of property a not afford to
trust to anything ave the spirit of JUS
tice and fair play; for those very pub
lie men who, while it is to their inter
est, defend all the abuses committed
by capital and pose as the champions
of conservatism, will, the moment they
think their interset changes, take the
lead in just such a matter as this AMI
pander to what they esteem popular
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