Evening journal., 1908-03-25

right including combine u for mutual
protection and benefits. the regulation
Of wages, hours and conditions of labor
and the protection Of the Individual
rights of the worlrmen in the prosecu-
ton OF their trade or trades; and in the
act of June /, 1898. strikes were recog-
nized as legal in the same provision
that forbade participation in or insti-
cation of force or violence against per-
sons or property, or the attempt to pre-
vent others from working, by violence,
threat, or intimidation. The business
man must be protected in person and
property, and so must the farmer and
the wageworker; and as regards all
alike, the right of-Peaceful combination
foS all lawful purposes should be ex-
plicitly recognized.
The right of employers to combine
and contract with one another and
with their employees should be explicit
ly recognized; and so should the right
of thee mployes to combine and to con-
tract with one another and with the
employers, and to seek peaceably to
persuade others to accept their views,
and to strike for the purpose of peace
ably obtaining from employers satis-
factory terms for their labor. Nothing
should be done to legalize either a
blacklist or a boycott that would be IL
legal at common law; this being the
type Of boycott defined and condemned
by the Anthracite Strike Commission.
The question Of financial legislation
is now receiving such attention in both
Houses that we have a right to expect
action before the close of the session.
1t is urgently necessary that there
should be such action. Moreover. ac-
ton should be taken to establish postal
savings banks. These postal savings
banks are imperatively needed for the
benefit Of the wageworlSers and men of
small means. and will be a valuable
adjunct to our whole financial sys-
tenn.
The time has come when we should
prepare for a revision of the tariff.
This should be, and indeed must be.
preceded by careful investigation. 1t
is peculiarly the province Of the Con-
gress and mot of the President, and in
deed peculiarly the province of the
House of Representatives, to originate
a tariff bill and to determine upon its
terms; and this fully realize Yet
it seems to me that before the close of
this session provision should be made
for colIaptinR fun material which will
enable the Congress elected next fall
to act Immediately after it comes into
existence. This would necessitate
some action by the Congress at its
present session. perhaps in the shape
Of directing the proper committee to
gather the necessary information, both
through the committee itself and
through Government agents who should
report to the committee and should
lay before it the facts which would per-
nit It to act with prompt and intelli-
gent fairness. These Government
agents, If it is nc4 deemed wise to ap-
point individuals from outside the pub
lie service, might with advantage be
members Of the Executive Depart
ments. designated by the President, on
his own motion or on the request Of
the committee. to act with it.
I am Of the opinion, however, that
one change in the tariff could with adj
vantage be made forthwith. Our
forests need every protection, and one
method of protecting them would be
to put upon the free list wood pulp.
with a corresponding reduction upon
paper made from wood pulp, when
they come from any country that does
not put an export duty upon them.
Ample provision should be made for
a permanent Waterways Commission,
with whatever power is required to
make It effective The reasonable ex-
pectation of the people will not be met
unless the Csggress provides at this
session for the beginning and prosecu-
tion Of the actual work Of waterway
improvement and control The Con-
gress should recognize in fullest fash
ion the fact that the subject Of the
conservation Of our natural resources,
with which this commission deals, is
literally vital for the future Of the ma
ton.
Numerous bills granting water-power
rights on navigable streams have been
introduced. None Of them give the
Government the right TO make a rea-
sonable charge for the valuable privi-
leges so granted, in spite of the fact
that these water-power privileges are
equivalent to many thousands of acres
Of the best coal lands for their pro-
duction Of power. Nor is any definite
time limit set. as should always be
done in such cases. shall be obliged
hereafter, in accordance with the policy
stated in a recent message, to veto any
water-power bill which does not pro-
vide for a time limit and for the right
Of the president or secretary concerned
to fix and collect such a charge as he
may find to be just ana reasonable in
each case.
Theodore Roosevelt.
The White House. March %, 1908.