Woodruff County news., 1909-03-11

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 inn 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 it 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 in the nature of newly revealed evi- dence which should change the views once formed in the original discussion. The construction will go on under a 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, if not before.
 South and the Negroes.
 I look forward with hope to increas- ing the already good feeling between the south and the other sections of the country My chief purpose is not to effect change in the electoral vote of the southern states. That is a sec ondary consideration. What look for ward to is an increase in the tolerance of political views of all kinds and their advocacy throughout the south, and the existence of 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, it's progress and it's 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 fo 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 today is toward the enactment of electoral qualifica- tions which shall square with that amendment.
 Laws for Labors Benefit.
 There is one other matter to which 1 shall refer. It was made the subject of great controversy during the cleo tion and calls for at least a passing reference now. My distinguished prede- cessor has given much attention to the cause of labor, with whose struggle for better things he has shown the sin cerest sympathy. At his instance, con- gress has passed the bill fixing the lia- bility 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 It has also passed a law fixing the compensation of government employees for injuries sustained in the employ of the government through the negli- gence of the superior. It also passed model child labor law for the Dis trict of Columbia. In previous admin istrations an arbitrary law for inter- 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- roads had been passed. Additional legislation of this kind was passed by the outgoing congress.
 1 wish to say that in so far as I can, l hope to promote the enactment of further legislation of this charac- ter. l am strongly convinced that the government should make itself as re- sponsible to employees injured in it's employ as an interstate railway cor poration is made responsible by fed, eral law to it's employees.
 lnjunctions in Labor Disputes.
 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 in- functions in industrial disputes. As to that, my convictions are fixed. Take away from the courts, if it could be taken away, the power to issue in functions in labor disputes, and it would create privileged class among the laborers and save the lawless among their number from most need full remedy available to all men for the protection of their business against To-