Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-02-05
SHARP MESSAGE
FROM PRESIDENT

The message in part. is as follows:
"To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:-The recent decision of the
Supreme Court in regard to the employ
ers' liability act, the experience OF the
interstate commerce commission and of
the Department of Justice in enforcing
the interstate commerce and antitrust
laws, and the gravely significant atti-
tude toward the law and its adminstra-
tion recently adopted by certain heads
of great corporations. render it desir-
able that there should be additional
legislation as regards certain Of the
relations between labor and capital and
between the great corporations and the
public.
'The Supreme court has decided the
employers liability law to be unconsti-
tutional because its terms apply to en-
ployes engaged wholly in interstate
commerce as well as to employees en-
gagged in interstate commerce BY a
substantial majority the court holds
that the Congress has power to deal
with the question in so far as interstate
commerce is concerned.
GAS regards the employers liability
law, l advocate its immediate re-enact-
ment, limiting it's scope so that it shall
apply only to the class of eases as to
which the court says it can constitution
ally apply, but strengthening its provi-
sions within this scope.
Protects Nations Employees.
"I also very urgently advise that
comprehensive act be passed providing
for compensation by the government to
all employees injured in the government
service. Under the present law an in
jured workman in the employment of
the government has no remedy, and the
entire burden of the accident falls on
the helpless man, his wife and his young
children. This is an outrage. 1t is
matter of humiliation to the nation that
there should not be on our statute books
provision 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 President urges that the same
broad principles which should apply to
the government should ultimately be
made applicable to all private employ
ers. and points out the manner in which
such measures might be made operative
without becoming burden on the em
ployer.
Safeguard the Injunction.
al again call your attention to the
need of some action in connection with
the abuse of injunctions in labor eases.
AS regards the rights and wrongs of
labor and capital. from blacklistinS to
boycOtting, the whole subject is covered
in admirable fashion by the report %
the anthracite coal strike commission,
which report should serve as chart for
the guidance of both legislative and
executive officers. As regards iniunc-
tions. ! can do little but repeat what
! have said in my last message to Con-
gress. Even though il were possible,
l should consider il most unwise to
abolish the use of the process of in
junction. 1t is necessary in order that
the courts may maintain their own dig
nifty and in order that they may in eff
fective manner check disorder and vio-
HC .IuuSS VIM uotS II Cdullouo-
ly and conservatively, but who, when
the need arises, uses it fearlessly, con-
fers the greatest service upon our peo-
pie, and his pre-eminent usefulness as
public servant should be heartily rec
ogniZed. But there is no question in
my mind that il has sometimes been
used heedlessly and unjustly, and that
some of the injunctions issued infict
grave and occasionally irreparable
wrong upon those enioined.
"Ths matter is dady becoming of
graver Importance, and cannot too ur-
gently recommend that the Congress
give careful consideration to the sub
Urges Check on Rates
"Not only should there be action on
certain laws affecting wage earncrs,
there should also be such action on laws
better TO secure control over the great
business concerns engaged in interstate