Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-03-04

10 Increase the trade between the 60
ern seaboard Of the United States an4
the western coast of South America.
and. indeed. with some Of the I'M
portant ports on the east coast q
South America reached by rail from
the west coast. The work on the
canal n 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 II was supposed to be
when the reports were made and the
policy determined on, led to a 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 iu
the nature Of newly revealed evil
dence which should change the views
once formed in the original discussion.
The construction will 90 on under q
most effective organization controlled
by Col. Goethals and his fellow army
engineers associated with him, and
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 a change In the electoral vote
Of the southern states. That Is q Sec
ondary consideration. What look for
ward to is an increase in the tolerance
Of political views of all kinds and their
advocacy throughout the south. and
the existence Of 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 II ought to
be observed, and the tendency OF
southern legislation to-day is toward
the enactment of electoral quali6ca-
tons which shall square with that
amendment
Laws for Labors Benefit.
There is one other matter to which
l shall refer. II was made the subject
of great controversy during the cleo
ton and calls for at least passing
reference now. My distinguished prede
cessor has given much attention b the
cause of labor, with whose struggle
for better things he has shown the sin
cerest sympathy. At his instance con
gress has passed the bill fixing the liza
bility of interstate carriers to theil
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 employer
for injuries sustained in the emplo,
of the government through the negli
gence of the superior. II 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 theil
employees, and laws for the application
of safety devices to save the lives an,
limbs of employees of interstate rail
roads had been passed. Additional
legislation Of this kind was passed b.
the outgoing congress.
/ wish to say that In so far as
can, hope to promote the enactmen
Of further legislation of this charac
ter. l am strongly convinced that tn,
government should make itself az re
sponsible to employees injured In u
employ as an interstate railway cor
poration is made responsible by fed
eral law to it's employees
Injunotions In Labor Disputes.
Another labor question has arfsel
which has awakened the most excite,
discussion. That is in respect to tn,
power of the federal courts to issue In
functions In industrial disputes. Al
to that, my convictions are fixed. TAX,
away from the courts, II II could b,
taken away, the power to issue In
functions in labor disputes, and II
would create a privileged class amoni
the laborers and save the lawlesi
among their number from a most need
full remedy available to all men fol
the protection of their business agains
lawless invasion. The proposition
that business is not a property or pc
cuniary right which can be protected
by equitable injunction is utterly
without foundation in precedent OF
reason. The proposition is usually
linked with one to make the second
airy boycott lawful. Such a PROPOSE