Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-26

RooS evelt issued an open letter TO-DAY
to Simon Baldwin, eX-chief justice OF
Connecticut ard Democratic candl-
date for governor of that state, IN re-
ply TO Mr.. P&ldWins demand for re
traction Of statements made regarding
him by Col. Roosevelt in his speech
at Concord, \. H.. on Saturday. COL
Roosevelt in that speech SAD tha'
Baldwin stood in r"trD2resslVe at1-
tude toward workingmen's compensa-
ton laws Justice Baldwin IL his let
ter said he never had held the view
attributed to him.
Col Roosevelts letter is in part "a
follows:
Il had stated the attitude of the
Democratic candidate for governor III
the state of New York in UNFOLDING
the view that it was unconstitutional
ter the state to enact legislation pro-
hibiting laboring men from being re
CURED to work an excessive number
Of hours under conditions which the
Legislature deemed unhealthy.
stated that the Republican party, in
contradiction to these retrogresSlVe
views, locked in the strongest fashion
a progressive position on these mat
tiers that he held it was the right of
the Legislature to interfere with the
conditions of labor whenever the hours
of labor were so excessive that under
The actual hygenic conditions in any
business they amounted to menace
to the health and welfare of the work
I.,. ,-i,,sy JDt NJ. NV
judges in the past and some Judges
even in the present had held Or were
holding the view that legislative bodies
could not interfere with what | re-
;5arded as the utterly miscalled lib
erty of lahoring men and women to
contract for the performance of work
under conditions which ieopardized
|their welfare and their lives of limbs
continued by saying that the Demo
cratic candidate for governor of Con
necticut also occupied Il retrOgreSSivr
attitude in this matter | again con-
tinued, stating that we on the con
trary stand for what ! regard as tn"
only proper progressive attitude. which
is, that it is not competent for tn"
workman who may be driven by dire
need to accept any employment in
spite of the conditions imposed upon
his acceptance, to bind himself or to
be bound in any way by any action of
his not to be compensated if his health
is dana gcd or if he loses life or limb
in that occupation
NoI say in your letter as printed
that the view of which | speak would
be opposed to the settled principles
of law and no competent lawyer could
Ct would take il, and that To ascriho
Su"h = position t. YOU is calculated
t" affect Your standing as 4 lawyer
II you "ill tilrn to- Mr.. Ayers Iittln
Nnluri" called Moral GVe"2train" and
reH the chapter in which he deals
with the decisions of the courts w
holdin" this so-called liberty of the
la"oring man tn make 4 contract tn
hls Disadvantage YOU will soc that
very many judges have taken the posi-
ton TO which / object.
II have not with me the printed
transcript of enc of YOUR opinions
which was handed I" me prior to my
making the speech in question: bl''
# The newspaper account Of your let
tor is correct YOU hold therein that
railroad employees who accept benefits
from the 2cCident inguranc" which you
SAYS the railroads oftcu style a relief
department. cannot look 10 tie com
rany in case Of accidents If YOU AZ"
correctly reported by the press in this
matter I hold that this position il
,e:rogrc,;sive and not progressing to
n"rrit that the STATE mas absolutely
the right t. enact laws refusing TO
permit. and mat existing laws should
ir accordance With tt" opinion of very
many proGI eSSive Judges. he construed
as not oer!1ittiuG any man, directly or
ihdirectl'. by any action If his OWE.
to stop himself from the right to haV"
Il railroad OF, other corporation force
to compensate him fr any injury dOn"
to him in the performance of his duty.
If VOur letter is CORE city quoted il,
the press in this matter, YOU hoiG that
the acceptance Of a very small bone
fit from the accident insurance com
pany h 9 railroad employee would
stop him from recovering q substantial
amount which he otherwise would be
entitled to recover fer On injury re
ceived. mold that such Il view is
most emphaticaliy nnl progressive.
Very Respectfully Yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"