The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-02-07
LAW in inter-
EST OF LABOR.
Demanded by Roosevelt in a
Special Message.
Great Political Significance At
tached 10 His UtteranceS
on This Question.


Roosevelt sent a special message 10
Congress today that promises 10 be
historic. IL deals at the out set with
the principle of the liability of en-
ployers for accidents to employees
and calls for the enactment Of law
that will avoid the technicalities of
the act recently declared unconstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court. Since
the Court knocked out the liability
law enacted by the last Congress the
President has Informed persons with
whom he has dicussed the subject
that he desires the employers liabili-
ty principle extended so as 10 take in
the thousands of laborers employed
In the dangerous work of constructing
the Panama Canal. The liability 10
damages for injury or death in the
event of the passage of law of that
kind would attach to the government
of the United States, which in the case
of the Panama work, is the employ
ing corporation
The message was written and ad-
vance proofs sent. to the newspapers
before the United States Supreme
Court day or two ago declared UNI
constitutional a Kentucky case the
law prohibiting the dismissal of an
employ for belonging 10 labor or
ganization, and The President in an
amendment made today in the cop
les sent TO Congress announces that
he will send in another message on
the labor question making recommen-
dations growing out of this particular
decision. This amendment TO the mes
sage is as follows:
II is my purpose as soon as may be
to submit some further recommended
lions in reference 10 our laws regu-
lating labor conditions within the
sphere of federal authority. A very
recent decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States, rendered since
this message was written in the case
of Adair VS.. United Stares, seemingly
of far reaching import and of very Sc
rious possible consequences,h has modi-
fled the previously entertained views
on the powers of the Cnogress in the
premises TO such degree as to make
necessary careful consideration of the
opinions therein filed before it is pos
sible definitely 10 decide in mhat way
to call the matter to your attention.
To-day's special message in It's re-
ferences TO labor legislation is regard
ed as the Presidents challenge TO the
reactionary influences throughout The
country which have been taking fully
as much interest in the employers la
bility and contributory negligence mat
ter as the agents or leaders of the Ia
Dor organizations. When former Gov
ernor Black recently made his bitter
attack on President Roosevelt in a
public speech and announced mis- sup
port of Governor Hughes for the Pres
idential nomination, some interesting
charges followed from administration
circles. 1t was declared that Black
had been interested in opposing liabil-
ity legislation and that his antipathy
to the national administration was
because of the administrators stand
on this important question. u was
asserted that he was out for Hughes
because the New York Governor had
refused to sign an employers liability
bill such as Roosevelt, had signed and
because it was thought his a titude
against such legislation had been de-
termined.
Heer. then may lie some of the poll
tics that is likely to play part ia The
consideration of this capital and labor
question, aside from the consideration
accorded to the matter in Congress
this winter. II is said reactionary in
terests are bent on preventing legis-
lation at this session. holding that II 1t
can be STAYED off until after election
they will then have the whip hand
absolutely. 1t is declared the reaction
aries fear q law such as has been pro-
posed-one that will stand the consti-
tutional test-more than they feared
rate regulation when that subject was
first preached. and more than they
fear any other proposition involving
the demand of labor that is likely to
arise in serious way.
Before long It is probable that the
things regarding the reactionaries Will
be pointed out to the leaders of labor
throughout the country, together with
some other matters of much signifi-
canoe. There is belief here that the
reactionary influence has had some
thing to do with the effort to arouse
antagonism to the administration and
the probable administration candidate
for the Presidency. II this charge be
correct, It is plain to see that the OBJ
lection sought is 10 compfcate the