Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-03-11


will certainly be completed early in
the next administration, il not before
Some type of canal must be con-
structed. The lock type has been Sc
lected. We are all in favor of having
it built as promptly as possible. We
must not now, therefore, keep up a
fire in the rear of the agents whom
we have authorized to do our work on
the isthmus. We must hold up their
hands, and speaking for the incoming
administration, l wish to say that l
propose to devote all the energy pos
sible and under my control, to the
pushing of this work on the plans
which have been adopted, and to
stand behind the men who are doing
faithful hard work to bring about the
early completion of this, the great
est constructive enterprise of modern
times.
| look forward with hope to increas-
ing the already good feeling between
the South and the other sections of
the country. My chief purpose is not
to effect a change in the electoral
vote Of the Southern states. That is
a secondary consideration. What l
look forward to is an increase in the
tolerance of political views of all
kinds and their advocacy throughout
the South, and the existence of -e-
spectacle political opposition in every
state; even more than this, to an in
creased feeling On the part of all the
people in the South that this gov
eminent is their government and that
its officers in their states are their
officers.
The consideration of this question
can not however, be complete aad
full without reference to the negro
race, its progress and its present con-
dition.
The negroes are now Americans.
Their ancestors came here yeas age
against their will, and this is their
only country and their only flag. They
have shown themselves ANXIOUS 10
live for it and to die for it. In
countering the race feeling against
them, subjected at times to cruel in
justice growing out of it, they may
well have our profound sympathy and
aid in the struggle they are making.
We are charged with the sac ed duty
of making their path as smooth and
easy as We can. Any recognition OF
their distinguished men, and appoint
ment to office from among Their NUM-
Der, is properly taken as an en-
couragement and an appreciation of
their progress, and this just rolicy
shall be pursued.
Meanwhile, If nothing is done 10
prevent, better feeling between the
negroes and the whites in the South
tn nd
more Of the white people will come
to realize that the future Of the South
is to be much benefited by the IN
dustrial and intellectual progress CT
the negro The exercise Of political
franchises by those of his rae who
are intelligent and well-to-do will be
acquiesced in, and the right to vote
will be withheld only from the ig-
norant and irresponsible of both races.
There is one other matter to which
| shall refer. 1t was made the SUBJECT
of great controversy during the cleo.
ton, and calls for at least a passing
reference now. My distinguished
predecessor has given much attention
to the cause of labor, with whose
struggle for better things he has
shown the sincerest sympathy. At mis-
instance, congress has passed the bill
fixing the liability of interstate car
riers to their employees for injury sus-
tanned in the course OF employment,
abolishing the rule of fellow servant
and the common law rule as TO con-
tributory negligence, and substituting
therefor the so-called rule of compar-
ative negligence. 1t has also passed a
Cnfi IF
eminent employees for injuries sus-
tanned in the employ of the govern
ment. 1t also passed a model child
labor law for the District of Columbia.
In previous administrations an arbi-
tration law for interstate commerce
railroads and their employees, and
laws for the application of safety de-
vices to save the lives and limbs of
employees of interstate railroads had
been passed. Additional legislation Of
this kind was passed by the outgoing
congress.
I wish to say that in so far as l
can, I hope to promote the enactment
of further Legislation of this kind.
Another labor question has arisen
which has awakened the most excited
discussion. That is in respect to the
power of the federal courts to issue
iniunctions in industrial disputes. AS
to that my convictions are fixed. Take
away from courts, if it could be taken
away, the power to issue injun ctions
in labor disputes, and it would create
privileged class among the laborers
and save the lawleSS among their
number from a most needful remedy
available to all men for the protection
of their business against lawless in
vasion. The proposition that business
is not property or pecuniary right
which can be protected by equitable
Injunction is utterly without founda-
ton in precedent or reason. The
proposition is usually linked with one
to make the secondary boycott lawful.
Such a proposition is at variance with
the American instinct and will find no
support in my judgment when sub
mitted to the American people. The
secondary boycott is an instrument of
tyranny, and ought not to be made
legitimate.
The issuing of temporary restrain
ing order without notice has in sew
eral instances been abused by its in
considerate exercise, and to remedy
this, the platform upon which l was
elected recommends the formulation
in a statute of the conditions under
which such a temporary restraining
order ought to issue. A statute can
and ought to be framed to embody the
best modern practice, and bring
the subject so closely to the attention
of the court as to make abuses of the
process unlikely in the future. Ameri-
can people, if I understand them, in