Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-02-14
PRESIDENT SCORES
CORPORATE ABUSES
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
Calls tor Legislation Against Ills
to Which Country Is
Heir.
NOT TO BLAME FOR PANIC
policies Of Administration Are Earnest
iy Defended Against Critics-Docu-
ment One of Most Striking
State Papers of History.

washington, Feb. B. President
Roosevelt today sent to congress a
ously defen-s the course OF the ad-
.nnistration in It's correction OF cor
porate abuses, and recommends legts-
iatlon along various lines. The mes
sage. which is In many respects one
a. the most remarkable state papers
ever submitted, follows:
The recent decision OF the supreme
court in regard 10 the employers liability
act. the experience OF the Interstate Com
merce commission and OF the department
Of Justice In enforcing the interstate com
merce n antitrust laws, and the grave
(y significant attitude toward the law and
it's administration recently adopted by
certain heads of great corporations, rem
der It desirable hat there should be adj
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 Its immediate re-enactment
limiting It's scope 30 that II shall apply
only TO the class OF cases as TO which the
court says Il can constltutionally apply,
but strengthening fits provisions within
this scope Interstate employment being
thus covered by an adequate rational law,
the field OF interstate employment will
With this clear definition OF responsibility
the states viii undoubtedly give the per-
Torrance OF their duty within their field
III COiiSliSA dAlpH NbIS lHlpOl dllC VI INC
subject demands.
I also very urgently advise that a com
~prehensive act be passed providing for
oompensa 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 help
tess man, his wife, and his young chill
dren. This is an outrage. II Is a matter
OF humiliation 10 the nation that there
nhnplA not br on nIiY Sfatnta hnnkc nro-
vision TO meet and partially to atone for
cruel misfortune when it comes upon a
man through no fault OF his own while
faithfully serving the public,
The same broad principle which
should sSSs ! Sai'ii@aafely nl be made :, s eepiis E:
Where the nation has the power It should
enact laws TO this effect. Where the
states alone have the power they should
enact the laws. It is to be observed that
an employers liability law does not really
mean mulctlng employers i'm damages. 1t
merely throws upon the employer the bur-
den OF accident insurance against injur-
les which are sure TO occur.
As to Iniunctions.
I again call your attention TO the neoh
OF Some action In connection with the
ebuse OF tnjunctions In labor cases. As
regards the rights and wrongs OF labor
and capital, from blacklistinG 10 boycott
ding the whole subject Is covered I'm ad-
mirable fashion by the report OF the
anthracite coal strike commission, which
report should serve. as a chart for the
guidance Of both legislative and executive
officers. AS regards iniunCtions. I can do
little but repeat what | have said In my
last message 10 tho congress. Even
though II were possible. | should consider
Il most unTise to abolish the use OF the
process OF injunction. 1t is necessary In
order that the courts may maintain their
own dignity and in order that they may
in effective manner check disorder and
violence. The judge who uses Il cautious.
iy and conservatiyely. but who, when the
need arises. use IT fearlessly. confers thu
greatest service upon our people, and his
pre-eminent usefulness as a public serv-
ant should he heartily recognized. But
there Is no question In my mind that It
hex sometimes been used heedlessly and
un,ustly, and that some Of the intunc-
tions issued inr!ct grave and occasionally
~TreDarable wrong upon those e~nioined
This matter L iaily becoming OF graver
importance and ! can not too urgently
recommend that the congress give careful
consideration TO the subject If some
way OF ren1edyinG the abuses IS not
tJund the feeling Of indignation against
them among large numbers OF our
citizens will tend to grow so extreme as
90 produce a revolt against the whole
use OF the process Of Injunction. The
ultra-conservatives who object to cutting
out the abuses will do well to remember
that II the popular feeling does become
strong many OF those upon whom they
rely TO defend them will be the first to
turn against them. Men of property can
NOT afford TO trust TO 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, VIII, the moment they
xhink their Interest changes. take the
lead IN just such a matter as this and
pander to ma they esteem popular feel
Ing by endcavoring. for instance, effec-
in matters OF injunction; and will even
geek 10 render nugatory the power 10
punish for contempt, upon which power
The very existence OF the orderly admin
tstrstion Of Justice depends.
II 10 my purpose ss soon AS may be
TO submit some further recommended
tons In reference to our Avs reGu-