The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-05

The Appointment Of Nesrosa.
But II may well admit Of doubt
whether In case Of any race an ap-
polntment Of one of their number 10
a local Office IN a community IN which
the race feeling 10 30 widespread and
acute as to interfere.with the ease and
facility with which the local govern
ment business can be done By the ap-
polntee Is OF sufficient benefit BY way
OF encouragement to the race to out
weigh the recurrence and increase Of
race feeling which such an appoint
ment Is likely to engender. Therefore
the executive In recognizing the negro
race by appointments must exercise d
careful discretion not thereby to do IT
more harm than good. On the other
hand, we must be careful not to en-
courage the mere pFetense Of race feel
Ing manufactured in the interest OK In.
dlyiduaI political ambition.
No Race Feeling In White Hcuse.
Personally | have not the slightest
race prejudice or feeling, and recogni-
tion Of its existence only awakens in
my heart deeper sympathy for those
who have to bear It or suffer from It,
and question the wisdom Of a policy
which Is likely to increase It. Mean
time, II nothing ID done to prevent
better feeling between the negroes and
the whites In the south VIII continue
to grow, and more and more OF the
white people win come to realize that
the future Of the south Is to be much
benefited by the Industrial and intel
lectual progress Of the negro. The ex-
ercise Of political franchises by those
Of his race who are intelligent and
well to do win be acquiesced in, and
the right to vote win 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 dnring the cleo
tion and calls for at least passing
reference now Ny 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 bis instance
congress has passed the bill fixing the
liability Of interstate carriers to their
employees for injury sustained in the
course Of employment, aboIishing 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 the application Of safety
devices to save the lives and limbs Of
employees Of interstate railroads had
been passed. Additional legislation Of
this kind was passed by the outgoing
congress.
l wish to say that, in so far as can,
l hope to promote the enactment Of
further legislation Of this character.
/ 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 lniunetlens 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
lnjunctions in 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
a privileged class among the laborers
and save the lawleas among their num-
ber 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
or pecuniary right which can
be protected by equitable injunction is
utterly without foundation in prece-
1ent or reason. The proposition is
usually linked with one to make the
boycott lawful Such a
Is at variance with the
American instinct and will find no
support, in my Judgment, when submit
led 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 It's incon-
slderate exercise, and to remedy this
the platform upon which | was elect
ed recommends the formulation in a
statute Of the conditions under which
such temporary restraining order
ought to issue. A statute can and
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