The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-02-06
Calls for Legislation Against Ills
to Which Country Is
Heir.
NOT TO BLAME FOR PANIC
Policies Of Administration Are Earnest-
ly Defended Againot critics-Docu-
ment One Of Most Striking
State Papers of History.

Washington, Feb. Presidcn.
Roosevelt today sent to congress q
| 60 'nf r~rns~age. in which he vigor-
! ously defends the course of the ad-
lI..-.ik uauon in it's correction of cor
porate abuses, and recommends legis-
lation along various lines. The meg
sage, which is in many respects one
| OF the most remarkable state papers
ever submitted, follows:
The recent decision Of the supreme
! court in regard to the employers liability
act, the experience of the Intersta re Corn.
merce commission and of the department
of justice in enforcing the Interstate COM
merce and antitrust laws, and the grave
its adrninistration recently adopted by
certain heads of great corpora tions, rem
der 1t desirable that there should be ad.
ditional legislation as regards certain Of
the relations between labor and capital,
and between the great corporations and
the public. ..'' -,
As regards the employers liability law,
| advocate It's immediate re-enactment, l.,
limiting its scope so that Ii shall apply
only to the class Of cases as to which the
court says it can constitutionailv opply,
but strengthening its provisions within
this scope. Interstate employment being
thus covered by an adequate rational 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
subject demands.
also very urgently advise that a com
prehensive. act be passed providing for
compensa ton by the government to all
employees injured in the government SER
vice. Under the present laws an injured
workman in the employment Of the gov
burden of the accident falls on the HELM
less man, his wife. and his young chill
dren. This is an outrage. 1t Is a matter
of humiliation to the nation that there
hnN Ike fNwn
vision to meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when 1t comes upon
faithfully serving the pablic.
The, The sane same, bread principle which
sRRpd sbis ultimately al private BE made eS62sS: s8P
Where the nation has the power it should
enact laws to this effect. Where the
states alone have the power they should
an employers liability law does not really
mean mulcting employers in damages. 1t
merely throws upon the employer the bur
fes which are sure to occur.
VS. As to Injunctions.
again call your attention to the neeG
of some action in connection with the
abuse of injunctions in labor cases. As
regards the rights nd wrongs of labor
and capital from blaS1listing to boycott
ting, the whole subject is covered in ad-
mirable fashion by the report of the
az thracite coal strike commission, which
report should serve as chart for the
guidance of both legislative and executive
officers. AS regards injunctions. can do
little but repeat what have said in my
last message to The congress Even
II most unwise to abolish the use of the
process of injunction. 1t is necessary in
order that the courts may maintain ~ ir
own dignity and in order that they may
In effective manner check disorder and
violence. The judge who uses il cautious.
ly and conservatively, but who, when the
need arises, use ii fearlessly, confers the
greatest service upon our people and his
pre-eminent usefulness as a public sery-
ant should be heartily recognized But
there is no question in my mind that It
has sometimes been used heedlessly and
unjustly, and that some of the iniunc-
tions issued inflict grave and occasionally
trreparable wrong upon those enjoined
This matter is daily becoming of graver
importance and | can not too urgently
recommend that the congress give careful
consideration to the subject. If 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 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
rely to defend them will be the first TO
turn against them. Men of property can
NOT auOru 10 trust 10 anything save the
spirit of justice and fair play; for those
very public men who. while II Is to their
interest, defend all the abuses committed
by capital and pose as the champions of
| conservatism, will, the moment they
think their interest changes, take the
lead In just such a matter as this and
pander to what they esteem popular feel
ing by endeavoring, for instance. efrec-
| lively to destroy the power of the courts
In matters of injunction: and will even
seek to render nugatory the power to
punish for contempt, upon which power
| the very existence of the orderly admin
istration of justice depends.