The Glenwood post., 1909-03-06

to increase the trade between the east.
ern seaboard of the United States and
the western coast of South America,
and, indeed, with some 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 a
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 visit to
the isthmus of 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 evi-
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, if 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 a Sec
ondary consideration. What look for
ward 10 is an increase in the tolerance
of political viewsof 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 agains. 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 today 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 cleo
tion 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
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
i legislation Of this kind was passed by
the outgoing congress.
| wish to say that in SO far as |
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 10 Its employees.
!njunctions 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 1t could be
taken away. the power to issue in
functions in labor disputes. and 1t
would create privileged class among
the laborers and save the lawless
among their number from q most need
ful remedy available to all men for
| the protection of their business against
| laWless invasion. The nrnnnsitinn