The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-03-11

pointment of one of their number to
a local Office in a community IN which
the race feeling is so widespread
and acute as to interfere with the
ease and facility with which the local
government business can be done py
the appointee, is of sufficient benefit
by way of encouragement to the race
to outweigh the recurrence n IN
crease of race feeling which such
an appointment is likely to engen-
der. Therefore, the Executive, IN
recognizing the negro race by APP
pointments must exercise a careful
discretion not thereby to do it more
harm than good. On the other hand
we must be careful not to encourage
the mere pretense of race feeling
manufactured in the interest of IN
dividual political ambition.
Personally I have not the slight
est race. prejudice or feeling, and
recognition Of its existence only
awakens in my heart a deeper SYM
pathy for those who have to bear it
or suffer from it, and I question the
wisdom of a policy which is likely
to- increase it. Meantime, if moth
ing is done to prevent, a better feel
ing 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 by the Industrial and in
tellectual progress of the negro. The
exercise of political franchises by
those of his race who are intelligent
! and well-to-do will be acquiesced in,
and the right to vote will be withheld
only from the ignorant and ire
sponsible of both races.
Labor, and Protection Of Employees.
There is one other matter to which
I shall refer. 1t was made the sub
ject Of great controversy during the
election, and calls for at least a pass
ing reference now. Ny distinguished
predecessor has given much attention
to the cause of labor, with whose
struggle 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 employ
ment, a%bolishing the rule of fellow
servant and the common law rule as
to contributory negligence, and sub
shutting therefor the so-called rule
of comparative negligence. It has
also passed a law fixing the compen-
sation of government employees for
injuries sustained in the employ of
the government through the regli-
gence of the superior. It also passed
a model child labor law for the Dis
trict of Columbia. In previous ad-
ministrations an arbitration law for
interstate commerce railroads and
their employees, and laws for the ap-
plication of safety devices to save
the lives and limbs of employees of
interstate railroads had been passed.
I wish to say that in so far as I
can, I hope to promote the enactment
of further legislation of this char
acter.. I am strongly convinced that
the Government should make itself
as responsible to employees injured
in its employ as an interstate rail-
way corporation is made responsible
by federal law of its employees; and
/ shall be glad whenever any addi-
tional reasonable safety device can
be invented to reduce the loss of life
and limb among railway employees,
to urge Congress to require its adop-
ton by interstate railways.
The Injunction.
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 dis
putes. AS to that, my convictions
are fixed. Take away from courts,
if it could be taken away, the power
to issue iniunctions in labor disputes
and it would create a privileged class
among the laborers and a V the law
less among their number from a most
needful remedy available to all men
for the protection of their business
against lawless invasion. The pro-
position that business is not a pro-
perty or pecuniafy right which can
be protected by equitable injunction
is utterly without foundation in pre-
cedent or reason. The proposition is
usually linked with one to make the
secondary boycott lawful. Such a
proposition is at variance with the
American instinct and will find no
support in my judgment when sub
mitted to the American people. The
secondary boycott is an instrument
of tyranny, and ought not to be made
legitimate.
The issuing of a temporary re-
straining order without notice has in
several instances been abused by it's
inconsiderate exercise, and to remedy
this, the platform upon which I was
recommends the formulation
in a statute Of the conditions under
which such a temporary restraining
order ought to Issue. A statute can
and ought to be framed to embody
the best modern practice, and can
bring the subject so closely to the
attention of the court as to make
abuses Of the process unlikely in the
future. American people. if I under
stand 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 a
court may be weakened and the fear
,ess and effective administration Of