Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-07

the circumstances may require lot
their safe and efficient use"
The renewed recommendation for
compulsory investigation of labor dis
putes on railways before strikes or
lockouts are allowed, which has
aroused the opposition of the railroad
brotherhoods, and Of the American
Federation of Labor, was defended in
the presidents message. He declared
he would hesitate to recommend law
which would force individual workmen
to continue in an employment which
they desired to leave, but that no such
principle was involved in the sugges-
tion that the operation of the railways
of the country should not be stopped
NV the concentrated action of bodies
of men until public investigation for
the benefit of the public has been in
stituted.
1T is based upon the very different
principle" he continued, that the
concentrated action of powerful bodies
of men shall not be permitted to stop
the industrial processes OF the nation,
al auy rate before the nation snail
have had an opportunity to acquaint 1t,
self with the merits OF the case De-
tween employe and employer, time to
form its opinion upon an Impartial
statement of the merits. and opportun
itN to consider all practicable means
Of conciliation or arbitration. ! can
see nothing in that proposition but the
iustifiable safeguarding by society OF
the necessary processes of It's very
life. There is nothing arbitrary or
nniust in 1t unless it be arbitrarily
and unjustly done. 1t can and should
be done with full and scrupulous re.
gard for the interests and liberties OF
all concerned as we'll as for the per
manent interests of society itself.
Gentlemen of the Congress:
l., In fulfilling at this time the duty
laid upon me by the cOnstltu
tion Of communicating to yot
from time to time information O.
the state of the Union and recon
mending to your consideration sucl
legislative measures as may be 1udgee
necessary and expe lient ! shall con
tinue the practice, which ! hope ha
been acceptable to you, OF leaving Y
the reports of the several heads Q
the executive departments the elar
Grafton of the detailed needs OF tn
public service and confine myself 7
those matters of more general publ
policy with which it seems necessar
and feasible to deal at the presen
session of the congress.
| realize the limitations OF time VI
der which you will necessarily az
at this session and shall make my su,
pestions as few as possible; but tnef
were some things left undone at IN
last session which there will now {
time to complete and which 1t seen
necessary in the interest OF the pupl
to do at once.
In the first place, 1t seems 10 II
imperatively necessary that the eal
lest possible consideration and actlt
should be accorded the remainii
measures of the program or settl
ment and regulation which hau 9
casion to recommend to you at u
close of your last session IN we"
the public dangers disclosed by q
nnaccommodated difficulties whl
then existed, and which still unha
pily continue to exist, between I
railroads of the country and th'
locomotive engineers. conductors
trainmen.
| then recommended:
First-Immediate provision Tor I
enlargement and administrative
organization of the interstate co
merce commission along the lines g
bodied In the bill recently passed
the house of representatives ana
awaiting action by the senate; IN or
that the commission may be enap
to deal with the many great and '
ious duties now devolving upon
with a promptness and thoroughn
which are, with its present const'
tion and means of action. practlca
impossible.
Second-the establishment OF
eighthour day as the legal basis al
of work and wages in the employm
of all railway employees who are
tually engaged in the work OF OF
ating trains in interstate transpo
tiOn.
Third-The authorization OF the
pointment by the president OF sn
body OF men to observe the actual