The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-02-06
PRESIDENT SCORES
CORPORATE ABUSES
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
Calls for Legislation Against Ills
TO Which Country Is
Heir.
NOT TO BLAME FOR PANIC
Policies CT Administration Are Earnest
Iy Defended Against critica-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 defene.s the course of the adj
A.u1stration in its correction of cor
/ porate abuses, and recommends legis-
iation along various lines. The mes
cage, which is in many respects one
cs the most remarkable state papers
ever submitted, follows:
Tn recent decision of the supreme
court in regard to the employers liability
act. the experience of the Intersta tie Com
merce commission and of the department
of Justice in enforcing the interstate COM
merce and anti-trust laws. and the grave
~ significant attitude toward the law n
ITS administration recently adopted by
certain heads OF great corporations. rem
der It desirable that there should be ad.
the relations between labor and capital,
and between the great corporations and
AS regards the employers liability law,
advocate Its immediate re-enactment
limiting its scope SO that 1T shall apply
only to the class Of cases as to which the
court says 1t can Cohstitutionally apply,
but strengthening it's provisions within
thus covered by an adequate national law.
the. field of intrastate employment will
be left to the action of the several states.
With this clear definition of responsibility
the states will undoubtedly give the per-
formance of their duty within their field
the consideration the Importance of the
subject demands.
1 also very urgently advise that 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
ernmcnt 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
should not be on our statute books pro-
vision to meet and partially to atone for
man Trough no fault of his own While
faithfully serving the public.
.h The sa ans,v broad "a pr PnrincipIe which 4 da
shsuia a aRP1S be 'hs maa ssVss appiies
able to all private employers
Where the nation has the power t should
states alone have the power they should
enact the laws, It is to be observed that
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 lniuncticrs.
I again call your attention to the neea
Of some action in connection with the
abuse of injunctions In labor cases. AS
regards the rights and wrongs OF labor
and capital; from b!acklisting to boycott
mirable fashion by the report of the
anthracite coal strike commission. which
guidance Of both legislative and executive
officers. AS regards injunctiors, I can do
little but repeat what / have said in my
1 though il were possible, / should consider
1t 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.
iy and conservatively. but who, when The
need arises. use 1t fearlessly, confers the
greatest service upon our people, and his
~pre-enincnt usefulness as a. public serv-
ant should be heartily recognized. But
has sometimes been used heedlessly and
untustly, and that some Of the iniu1ln-
tions issued in1ict grave and o~ccasionaiiy
trIsparable wrong upon those e%njoined
Importance and | can not too urgently
recornmscu that the congress give careful,
consideration to the subject. II some
way of remedying the abuses is not
found the feeling OF indignation against
them among large numbers Of our
citizens will tend to grow so extreme as
use Of he process of Injunction. ~H The
ultra-conservatives who object to cutting
cut. the abuses VIII do well to remember
shat II the po y ! feeling does become
rely to defend them will be the first to
turn agatnst them: Men of property can
nor afiard 70 trust TO anything save the
very public men who, while ii is to their
interest, defend all the abuses committed
oy eapitai ana Pose as the ~chalnpions of
think their interest changes, take the
lead In Just such a matter as this and
Pander to what they esteem popular feel
lively to destroy the power of the courts
in matters Of Injunction; and will even
seek to render nugatory the power to
the Very existenee oi the hpo1 orderly In.Sn a eaqMini
tstration of justice depends.