Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05

future Of the south Is TO be much benefited
by the industrial and intellectual progress
OF the negro. The exercise Of political fran
chises by those Of his race who are in
t~elligent and well-to-do will b.. aCquiesced
in. and the right to vote will be withheld
only from the ingnorant and irresponsible
OF both races.
Protection for Workers.
There is one other matter to which l shall
refer. 1t was made the subject OF great
controversy during the election, and calls
for at least a passing reference new. My
distinguished predecessor has given much
attention to the cause of labor, with whose
struggle for better things he has shown the
s~incerest sympathy. At his instance, con-
gress has passed the bill fixing the liza
bility of interstate carriers to their en-
ployes for injury sustained in the course
Of employment, abolishing the rule of fell
low-servsnt and common Jaw rule as to
contributory negligence, and substituting
therefor the so-called rule of comparative
negligence. 1t has also passed a law fiNins
the compensation OF government employees
or injuries sustained in the employ of the
government through the negligence of the
superior. 1t also passed a model child labor
law Abt WV 10 -
vious administrations ar arbitration law
for interstate railroads and their
employees. and laws for the application OF
safey devices 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.
1 wish to say that in so far as | can,
hope to promote the enactment of further
IaufeIaf fnp nf tb{e character nm strongly
convinced that the government should make
itself as responsible to employees injured in
its employ as an interstate railway cor
p~oration is made responsible by federal
law to its employees; and 1 shall be glad
whenever any additional reasonable safety
device can be invented to reduce the loss
OF life and limb among railway employees,
to urge congress to require its adoption by
interstate railways.
Courts and the Unions.
Another labor question has arisen which
has awakened the most excited discussion.
That is in respect to the power of the fed
eral courts to issue injunctions in industrial
disputes. AS to that, my convictions are
fixed. Take away from courts, II 1t could
be taken away. the power to issue injunc-
lions in labor disputes. and it would create
n pIlNlltktu NldcG NV N"N ~
save the lawless among their number from
n most needful remedy available to all men
for the protection of their business against
la wless invasion. The proposition that
business is not a property or pecuniary
right which can be protected by equitable
injunction is utterly without foundation in
precedent or reason. The proposition Is
usually linked with one to make the sec
ondary boycott lawful. Such a proposition
Is at variance with the American instinct
and will find no support in my judgment
when submitted to The American people.
The secondary boycott is an instrument OF
tyranny, and ought not 10 be made legiti-
mate.
The issuing OF a Temporary restraining
order without notice has in several in
stances been abused by it's nconsiderate
exercise. and to remedy this. the platform
upon which 1 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 can bring the subject
so closely to the attention of the court as
to make abuses Of the process unlikely In
the future. American people. II 7 under
stand them. insist that the authority OF the
courts shall be sustained and are opposed
to any change in the procedure by which
the powers OF a court may be weakened
and the fearless and effective adminisIra-
ton of justice be interefered with.
Having thus review the questions likely
TO recur during my administration, and
having expressed in a summary way the
position which I expect to take in recon-
mendatlons to congress and in my conduct
as an executive, l invoke the considerable
sympathy and support OF my fellow citi-
zens and the aid Of Almighty God in the
discharge of my responsible duties.