Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-03-11

savings deposits which private enter
prise cannot supply. and at such q low
rate Of interest as not to withdraw
custom from existing banks.
Panama Canal All Right.
The Panama canal will have a most
important bearing upon the trade be-
tween the eastern and the far western
sections of our country, and viii great
ly increase the facilities for transport
! tation between the eastern and west
| ern seaboard, and may possibly revo-
lutionize the transcontinental rates
with respect to bulky merchandise. IL
will also have q most beneficial eject
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 .
lock canal was fixed by congress after
a 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 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 n
the nature Of newly revealed evil
dence which should change the views
once formed in the original discussion.
The construction will go on under q
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.
looA forward with hope to inereas-
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 Sec
ondary consideration. What 1 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 It's 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 qualiica-
lions which shall square with that
amendment.
9 Laws for Labor's Benefit.
s There is one other matter to which
l shall refer. 1t was made the subject
of great controversy during the cleo
0 ton and calls for at least a passing
reference now. My distinguished prede-
e cessor has given much attention to the
n cause of labor, with whose struggle
p for better things he has shown the sim
n cerest sympathy. At his instance, con-
gress has passed the bill fixing the La
bility of interstate carriers to their
4 employees for injury sustained In the
a. course Of employment, a%bolishing the
\ rulo of fellow-servant and the common
~ law rule as, to contributory negligence.
" 1t has also passed a law fixing the
"a compensation Of government employees
n for injuries sustained in the employ
Z 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
II istrations an arbitrary law for inter
u 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
"a roads had been passed. Additional
legislation Of this kind was passed by
the outgoing congress.
ID ! wish to say that in so far as ]
" can, ! hope to promote the enactment
Is of further legislation of this charac
ter. I an strongly convinced that the
government should make itself as re
80 sponsible to employees injured in its
id employ as an interstate railway cor
1e poration is made responsible by fed
eral law to its employees.
id In conclusion the president dis
ly cussed the question Of the power Of
federal courts to issue injunctions In
Is. labor disputes, reiterating forcibly hil
Id belief that to take away this power
te- from the courts would result In the
er creation of a privileged class among
ot the laborers and a v the lawlesI
m. among their number from a mos
n needful remedy for the protection o.
to business against illegal invasion.