The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-04-28
Asks Congress to Pass Anti
Trust Legislation at
This Session.
STRONG Plea FOR LABOR
Discusses in Detail Iniunctions,
Employers Liability and
Various Other Matters.

Roosevelt to Congress late yesterday
afternoon reads in part as follows:
To the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives:
In my message to the Congress Of
March 25, 1908. / outlined certain
measures which believe tho MAJOR
lty of our countrymen desire to have
enacted into law at this time. These
measures do not represent by any
means all that ! would like to see
done If thought It possible, but they
do represent what believe can now
be done If an earnest effort toward
this end is made.
Since wrote this message an em-
ployers' liability law has been en-
acted which, 1t Is true, comes short
of what ought to have been done.
but which does represent real adj
vance. Apparently there Is good
ground to hope that there will be fur
ther legislation providing for re-
compromising all employees who suffer
injury while engaged in the public
service; that there will be a child
labor law enacted for the District OF
Columbia; that the Waterways Com
mission will be continued with sufflc-
lent financial support to increase the
effectiveness Of its preparatory work; /;
that steps will be taken to provide
for such Investigation into tariff con-
ditioDs, by the appropriate committee
of the House OF Representatives and
by Government experts in the Execu-
tive service, as will secure the full
Information necessary for immediate
action In revising the tarIff at the
hands OF the Congress elected next
fall; and finally. that financial legis-
lation win be enacted providing for
temporary measures for meeting any
trouble that may arise in the next
year or two, and for commission OF
experts who shall thoroughly investi-
gate the whole matter. both here and
lin the great commercial countries
abroad, so as to be able to reeom-
mend legislation which will put our
financial system on an efficient and
permanent basis. 1t is much to he
wished that one feature OF the finan-
cial legislation OF this session should
he the establishment of postal saw
ings banks. Ample appropriation
aAlOuAu bI AAhuG W NhG AhtGA-
state Commerce Commission to carry
out the very important feature OF the
Hepburn law which gives to the Com
mission supervision and control over
the accounting systems of the rail-
ways.
There seems, however, much doubt
about two of the measures j have
recommended: the measure to do
away with abuse OF the power OF In
junction and the measure or group
Of measures to strengthen and rem
der both more efficient and more
wise the control by the National Gov
ernment over the great corporations
doing an interstate business.
First, as to the power Of injunc-
tion and Of punishment for contempt.
In contempt cases, save where i'm
mediate action is imperative, the
trial should he before another judge,
As regards injunctions, some such
legislation as that have previously
recommended should be enacted,
They are blind who fail to realize the
extreme bitterness caused among
large bodies OF worthy citizens by the
use that has been repeatedly made OF
the power Of injunction in labor dis
iputes. Those in whose judgment we
have most right to trust are OF the
opinion that while much of the com.
plant against the use Of the iniunc.
| tion is unwarranted, yet that 1t is un-
questionably true that in number
OF cases his power has been used tC
the grave injury OF the rights of lab
i thnf - 1fVft1fni
In some such way as that | have al
ready pointed out in my previous
messages. for the very reason that
do not wish TO see an embittered eff
fort made 10 destroy it. 1t is un.
wise stubbornly to refuse to provide
against a repetition OF the abuses
which have caused the present un'
rest. In a democracy like ours Il Is
idle to expect permanently to thwari
the determination of the great body
OF our citizens.
The process OF injunction in labor
disputes, as well as where State law'
are involved, should be used sparing'
ly, and only when there is the clear
est necessity for It; but II is one sc
necessary to the efficient perform.
Il huEE VI uuAg " AAC ApAAA VII bIh9Ai
OF the Nation that 1t is in the high
est degree to lie regretted that Il
should be liable to reckless use; fol
this reckless use tends to make hon
est men desire so to hamper its exc
eution rs to destroy its usefulness.
Every farsighted patriot should
protest first OF all against the growth
in this country OF that evil thinl
which is called -eIass Consciousness.
The demagogue. the sinister or fool
ish socialist visionary who strives tC
arouse this feeling OF class conscious
ness in our working people, does &
foul and evil thing; for he is no true
American, he is no seli-respecting
citizen OF this Republic. he forfeitI
his right to stand with manly self
reliance on a footing OF entire equal
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