The new era., 1909-03-25

ern Beaboard OF the-lnlteQ STATES ana
the western coast of South America,
and, indeed, with sore Of the i'm
portant ports on the east coast OF
South America reached by rail from
the west coast. The work on the
canal Is making most satisfactory
progress The type Of the canal as
lock canal was fixed by congress after
full consideration of the conflicting
reports OF the majority and minority
Of the consulting board, and after the
recommendation of the war depart
ment and the executive upon those
reports. Recent suggestion that some
thing had occurred on the isthmus to
make the lock type OF the canal less
feasible than 1t was supposed to be
when the reports were made and the
policy determined on, led to visit to
the isthmus of a board of competent
engineers to examine the Gatun dam
and locks which are the key Of the
lock type. The report Of that board
shows that nothing has occurred in
the nature of newly revealed eevi-,
dence which should change the views
once formed in the original discussion.
The construction will go on under a
most effective organization controlled
by Col Goethals and his fellow army
engineers associated with him, and
will certainly be completed early in
the next administration. II not before.
South and the Negroes.
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 change in the electoral vote
of the southern states. THAT is sec
ondary consideration. What l look for
ward to is an increase in the tolerance
of political viewsof all kinds and their
advocacy throughout the south. and
the existence of a respectable political
opposition in every state; even more
than this, to an increased feeling on
the part of all the people In the south
that this government is their govern
ment, and that its officers in their
states are their officers.
The consideration of this question
cannot, however, be complete and full
without reference to the negro race,
its progress and its present condition.
The 18th amendment secured them
freedom; the 14th amendment due
process of law, protection of property
and the pursuit OF happiness: and the
18th amendment attempted to secure
the negro against any deprivation Of
the privilege to vote, because he was
a negro. The 18th and 14th amend
ments have been generally enforced
and have secured the objects for
which they were intended. While the
18th amendment has not been gener-
ally observed in the past it ought to
be observed, and the tendency Of
southern legislation to-day is toward
the enactment of electoral qualifica-
tions which shall square with that
amendment
Laws for labor's Benefit.
There is one other matter to which
shall refer. 1t was made the subject
of great controversy during the elec-
ton and calls for at least a passing
reference now. My distinguished prede-
cessor has given much attention to the
cause Of labor. with whose struggle
for better things he has shown the sin
gress has passed the bill fixing the liza.
bility of interstate carriers to their
employees for injury sustained in the
course OF employment, abolishing the
rule OF fellow-servant and the common
law rule as to contributory negligence
1t has also passed a law fixing the
compensation of government employees
for injuries sustained In the employ
Of the government through the negli-
gence of the superior. 1t also passed
a model child labor law for the Dis.
trict of Columbia. In previous admin
istrations an arbitrary law for inter
state commerce railroads and their
employees, and laws for the application
Of safety devices to save the lives and
limbs OF employees Of interstate rail-
roads had been passed. Additional
legislation of this kind was passed by
the outgoing congress.
l wish to say that in SO far as I
can, l hope to promote the enactment
of further legislation OF this charac-
ter. am strongly convinced that. the
government should make itself as re-
sponsible to employees injured In its
employ as an interstate railway cor
poration is made responsible by fed.
eral law to its employees.
lnjunctions in Labor Disputes.
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 in
functions in industrial disputes. AS
to that my convictions are fixed Take
away from the courts, if it could be
taken away, the power to issue in
functions in labor disputes, and it
would create privileged class among
the laborers and save the lawless
among their number from most need