The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-03-26

ognized by law, and the right OF Ia
boring people TO combine for all
lawful purposes was formally recog-
nized, this right including combina'
lions for mutual protection and bene,
fits. the regulation OF wages, hours
and conditions OF labor, and the pro
lection OF the Individual rights of the
workmen In the prosecution OF their
trade OF trades; and In the act OF
June /, 1898, strikes were recognized
as legal in the same provision that for.
babe participation in or instigation OF
force or violence against persons or
property. or the attempt to prevent
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 combina'
ton for all lawful purposes should be
explicitly recognized.
objects to Boycott.
The right OF employers to combine
and contract with one another and
with their employees should be explic-
lilly recognized; and SO should the
right OF the employees to combine and
to contract 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
peaceably obtaining from employers
satisfactory terms for their labor
Nothing should be done to legalize
either a blacklist or boycott that
would be Illegal 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 right TO
expect action before the close Of the
session. II is urgently necessary that
there should be such action. Moreover,
action should he taken to establish
postal savings banks. These postal
savings banks are imperatively needed
for the benefit of the wageworkers and
men Of small means, and will be val
liable adjunct to our whole financial
system.
Tariff Revision.
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. II
is peculiarly the province Of the con-
gress and not 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 II
seems to me that before the close Of
this session provision should be made
for collecting full material which
will enable the congress elected next
fall TO act Immediately after 1t 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 IL the facts which
would permit IL to act with prompt
and intelligent fairness. These govern.
ment agents. IL 1t is not deemed wise
to appoint individuals from outside the
public 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 II,
am Of the opinion, however, that
one change In the tariff could with
advantage 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
Waterways Commission.
Ample provision should be made
for a permanent waterways commits.
sion, with whatever power is required
to make 1t effective. The reasonable
expectation of the people will not be
met unless the congress provides at
this session for the beginning and
prosecution Of the actual work Of wa.
terway improvement and control. The
congress should recognize in fullest
fashion 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.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
The White House, March %, 1908.