The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-12
ing manufactured in the interest o, in.
dividual political ambition.
No Race FEELING In Whita House.

Personally l have not the slightest
race prejudice or feeling, and recogni.
ton OF Its existence only awakens In
my heart a deeper sympathy for those
who have to bear 1t or suffer from 1t,
and question the wisdom of policy
which is likely to increase it. Mean
time, If nothing is done to prevent a
better feeling between the negroes and
the whites in the south will continue
TO grow, and more and more Of the
white people will come to realize that
the future OF the south is to be much
benefited b. the industrial and intel
lectual progress of the negro The ex-
ercise OF political franchises by those
or 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. 1t was made the subject
OF great controversy during the cleo
ton and calls for at least 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
slncereSt 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 so 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
the superior. 1t also passed 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 tie application of safety
devices TO save rhe' lives and limbs of
employees Of interstate railroads had
been passed. Additional legislation of
this kind was passed by the outgoing
congress.
IL
/ hope TO promote the enactment of
further legislation Of this character.
l am strongly convinced that the gov
ernment should make itself as respon-
sible to employees injured in its EN-
ploy as an interstate railway corpora
ton 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 lnjunctions 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 i'm Industrial disputes. AS
to that, my convictions are fixed. Take
away from courts, If 1t could be taken
away, the power TO issue injunctiOns
In labor disputes. and 1t would create
privileged class among the laborers
and save the lawless among their num-
Der from a most needful remedy avail
able TO all men for the protection OF
their business against lawless invasion.
The proposition that business is not
property or pecuniary right which can
be protected by equitable injunction is
utterly without foundation in prece-
dent or reason. The proposition is
usually linked with one TO make the
secondary boycott lawful. Such
proposition Is at variance with the
American instinct and will find no
support. in my judgment, when submit
ted to the American people. The Sec
ondary boycott is an instrument Of
tyranny and ought not to be made
legitimate
The issuing OF temporary restrain
ing order without notice has in several
instances been abused by its incon-
siderate exercise, and to remedy this
the platform upon which l was elect
ed recommends the formulation in q
statute Of the conditions under which
such temporary restraining order
ought to issue. A statute can and
ought to be framed to embody the best
modern practice and can bring the sub
ject so closely to the attention Of the
court as to make abuses of the process
unlikely in the future American peo-
pie, If l understand 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 court may be weakened
and the fearless and effective admin
istration Of justice be interfered with.
Having thus reviewed the questions
likely to recur during my administra-
ton and having expressed In a sum-
mary way the position which l expect
to take In recommendations to con-
gress and In my conduct as an execu-
tive, l invoke the considerate SYM
Ipathy and support Of my fellow citf-
zens and the aid Of Almighty God in
the discharge Of my responsible duties.