Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11
No Race Feeling In White House.

Personally have not the slightest
roce prejudice or feeling. and recogni-
ton Of its existence only awakens In
my heart deeper sympathy for those
who have to bear 1t or suffer from It,
ana question the wisdom Of Z policy
which is likely to increase It. Mean.
time. II nothing is done to prevent, a
letter feeling between the negroes and
The whites in the south will continue
white people will come to realize that
the future Of the south is to be much
benefited by the industrial and intel
iectual progress Of the negro. The ex-
ercise Of political franchises by those
Of his race who are intelligent and
we'll to do will be acquiesced in. and
the right to vote will be withheld only
from the ignorant and irresponsible Of
both races.
The Labor Question.
There Is one other matter to which
shall refer. It was made the subject
Of great controversy during the cleo
ton and calls for at least a passing
reference now. My distinguished pred
ecessor has given much attention to
the cause Of labor. with whose strug.
gle for better things he has shown the
sincerest sympathy. At his instance
congress has passed the bill fixing the
liability 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
and substituting therefor the 80 called
rule Of comparative negligence. 1t has
also passed law fixing the compen.
sation Of government employees for
injuries sustained in the employ Of the
government through the negligence Of
tho superior. 1t also passed a model
child labor law for the District Of Co.
lumbia. In previous administrations
an arbitration law for interstate com.
merce railroads and their employees
and laws for the application Of safety
devices to save the lives and limbs Of
employees Of Interstate railroads had
been passed. Additional leGis> ton Of
This kind was passed by the outgoing
congress.
! wish to say that, in so far rs I can,
hope to promote the enactment Of
further legislation Of this character.
| am strongly convinced that the gov
eminent should make itself as respon.
sible TO employees injured In its EN-.
rloy as an interstate railway corpora
tlon Is made responsible by federal
law to Its employees, and shall be
glad, whenever any additional reasona.
Bile 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.
Use Of injunetions Necessary.
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
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 injunct!ons
~ labor disputes. and 1t would create
PA"'eScO CIdbS uulOuS tuo iuOotSiS
and save the lawless among their num-
Der from most needful remedy avail
able TO all men for the protection Of
their business against lawless invasion.
The proposition that business Ia not
property or pecuniary right which can
be protected by equitable injunction Is
utterly without foundation In prece-
dent or reason. The proposition IL
usually linked with one to make tho
secondary boycott lawful. Such u
proposition Ia at variance with the
American instinct and will hnd no
support, In my Judgment, when submit
ted to tho American people. The Sec
ondsry boycott IL an instrument Of
tyranny and ought not to he made
legitimate.
The issuing Of temporary restrain.
ing order without notice has h several
instances been abused by IT. incon.
sideyate exercise. and to remedy this
the platform upon which I was elect.
Cd recommends the formulation in q
StatufA Of the copdittoNs NcAef XAAet