The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-01-19
Special.
(By willis j. Abbott


revision aud codification Of federal
statutes has been under discussion
in the house of representatives. The
discussion has offered an opportunity
for members on both sides of the
house 10 put themselves on record
ON certain matters Of law which it|
Is now proposed by the majority TO
newly approve. one of these ques-
lions Is this. A clause In the federal
code adopted In the year 1900 pro-
yides that any man who shall induce
an cmploye in any United Stties ar
spnal or armory T. give up his EN-
ploymcnt or any man who shall eh-
ploy man so induced. shall be siiity
of "A misdcmoanOr and subject t. fine
and imprisonment That section sceils
to have passed through the committee
on revision with attention. The CHAR
man of the committee insisted that It
had been given full discus ion, but
under the active questioning of Rep
rcsentatiyc Burke Cochran, John
sharp williams, John Wesley Gaines
and other democrats, was compelled
to subsidc into his seat without be
ing able to demonstrate the truth OF
his assertion.
The proposition, which was ap-
proved by e unanimous vote of the
republicans In the house, taken by
tellcrs, dates back to the year $500.
The argument made In its behalf Is
that H. IL has lasted SO long, there
Is mo- reason now to attack IT. l}ut
in 1900 people were hanged for
trivial thefts: the system was then
In vogue by which men and women
and children coming to the United
States could sell themselves into a
term Of service as bondsmen, ap-
prcntices or rcdcmptioners. In 1900
slavery was recognized as a benev-
olent aud useful institution. The ar
gument that the things that We're
done In 1900 should still exist Is
one now difficult to maintain.
II workmcn in arsenals and armo-
ries are not permitted to accept Of
fers of higher salary In private en-
ploy. why not workmen in navy po-
sitions by federal statute, why should
not a federal statute assure them
| Il their positions. More than eight
thousand workmen In navy yards
| along the Atlantic coast have lost
their Jobs because the president took
IL into his head to send practically
all the ships of the Atlantic fleet
around to the Pacific side of the
American continent. II the employe in
an arsenal. armory or navy yard Is
to be held to his job by federal stat
ute. why should he not also be as
sured OF II?
And more the proposition for which
the republican side of the house vot'
ed as a unit was designed only TO
prevent the mere workingman, the fell
low who handles the machinery and
gets into the CRIME and the ruck Of
| actual work from getting better
place. II does not prevent the army
/ officer educated at West Point and
At public expense, from accepting n
proposition from the United States
steel trust to supervise the making
OF cannon, more than going To the
Colts Arms company, in Connecticut,
whore great quantities of small arms
are manufactured for the United
States army. 1t would not prevent
a man educated at public expense
from leaving the navy to become an
cmploye OF the Cramp ship yards
the Newport News ship building com
pany. or the Bethlehem Steel com
pany. all OF which are engaged in
government work
II is worth noting that this clause
in the new code OF federal laws
was approved by every republican
IN the house and voted AGAINST b,
every democrat save one. Mr. Macor
Of Arkansas. What It cans is tn,
suhjection of labor employed b.
the United states to a regulation
that prevents any possibility OF ad
vancement. 1t Is well enough to tall
about the man In an arsenal or II
an armory in time OF peace beinl
engaged In preparing for war Bu
when repeated amendments were OF
rered fro the democratic side ash
ing that either the prohibition O
such man seeking better employment
should be limited to time OF war. o
70 such time as the president 4
his own judgment should by procls
nation declare war imminent, wer
voted down by a solid republican m;