The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-04-04
RoosEvELr's LATEST MESSAGE.
earry's interesting Comment on the
Latest White House Paper.

President Roosevelt sent TO con-
gress last Wednesday a needed and
timely message. He does not forget
to romind congress that ne has ere
pcatedly suggested action" on most
of the matters now urged upon the
attention of the republican majority.
Thus, perhaps inadvertently. he sug-
gcsts to the country that if repub-
lican majority will not enact needed
legislation, the people should elect a
democratic congress.
Child labor should be prohibited
throughout the nation says the presi-
Gent. That is. child labor is a moral
wrong against the children and against
the nation; but it is not legal wrong
throughout the country.
The president renews his recon-
mendation for a good, "court-proof" If
possible. employers liability law.
and another law giving compensation
to public employees for injury or death
incurred in the public service.
In regard to the matter of in
functions in labor disputes, the presi-
dents recommendation Is unsa tisfac-
tory. He says that mo temporary
restraining order should be issued by
airy court without notice." The fact
is. there should be no temporary or
permanent restraining order affecting
free speech. free writing and free
publication, either with OF without
rctice, in labor disputes or in any
circumstances. The president and the
labor unions are discussing labor dis
rutes. The Star is speaking of con-
stitutional rights.
Speaking of sentences for contempt
the president suggests that 1.-The issue
should be decided by another Judge
than the one issuing the Injunction.
except when the contempt is commit
ted in the presence Of the court or in
ether cases Of urgency"
II the injunction be wrongfully IS
sued, IL by its terms the injunction
deprive a person of his right TO speak,
write or publish freely-a right given
by the Constitutional makes no diff
ference what judge sends the 'of-
fender" to jail. 1t is unnecessary to
dispute over those cases in which Il
contempt is committed in the imme-
date presence of the court. or so near
thereto as to interfere with the ad-
mini q r f{0., nf Inc Jc, oAv
ted that such oifenses should be sum-
marily punished.
But 1t Is not and should never be
admitted that one judge, or any num-
Der of judges. should have the power
for they have not the right-to pun.
ish a person for exercising consti
tutional right.
The president is right in asking
that the Sherman antitrust act be
amended in certain particulars-no-
tably In giving the interstate com.
merce commission power to make pub
he and pass upon the issuance Of all
securities hereafter issued by roads
Going an interstate busines. The law
should be amended, also, so that the
federal courts cannot use 1t to break
up labor unions and loot their treas
uries.
Strikes themselves are and SHOULD
be recognized to be entirely legal.
says the president. That Is correct
But we do not know at what time {
federal court may issue ukase tina
strikes are Illegal" not because
they are violations of law, but because
the court says they are illegal.
In saying that nothing should bt
cott." the president appears to forge
that the federal courts have judicial,
legalized" the blacklist during the
past sixty days, and have "judicially
iiogalized' or outlawed the boycott
The president has not dug deel
enough into federal court usurpation
How much attention will congress,
give to the recommendations of tn
president?
Isn't 1t rather a reflection on th'
federal judges when President Roose
vtlt suggests in his message thi
week that, when a federal court az
points a receivership for a railroad
the attorney general should have tn
right to name one of the receivers
This right should be given to the al
torney general, he says, so that tn
same crowd that wrecks the road ma
not choose the receiver! But the al
pointing power rests with the fedora
Judge. Is it possible that federa
judges are still as careless in thi
matter as they were in 1895, whe
Judge Jenkins appointed a band O
fr.ohOOf ORG as receivorS Of the NORTH