The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-12-05
Pres. Wilson's Message to Congress
Of
RemehaRa abroad DeemedN to
effected a an administrative instru.

caSuTcS OccIlcQ INcCcSSdTy u
perfected - an administrative instru.
ment.
The country cannot and should not
consent to remain any longer exposed
to profound Industrial disturbances for
lack of additional means of arbitration
and Cancellation which the congress
can easily and promptly supply. And
all will agree that there must be no
doubt as to the power of the Executive
to make immediate and uninterrupted
use Of the railroads for the concentra-
ton Of the military forces of the ma
ton wherever they are needed and
whenever they are needed.
Needs Senate Concurrence.
This Is a programme of regulation.
prevention, and administration effic-
iency which argues its own case In the
mere statement Of 1t. With regard to
one of its items, the increase In the
efficiency Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the House Of Representa-
tives has already acted; its action
needs only the concurrence Of the
Senate.
would hesitate to recommend, and
I dare say the Congress would hest
tate to act up the suggestion should I
make 1t, that any man in any occupa-
ton should be obliged by law to con-
tinue in an employment which he de-
sired to leave. To pass law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval Of society in do
ing SO would be to adopt new prin.
take 1t for granted we are not prepared
to introduce. But the proposal that
the operation of the railways Of the
country shall not be stopped or inter
rupted by the concerted action of or
ganized bodies of men until publk
investigation shall have been insti-
tuted which shall make the whole
question at issue plain for the judg-
ment Of the opinion of the nation is
not to propose any such principle. 1t
is based upon the very different prin-
ciple that the concerted action of pow
erful bodies of men shall not be per-
mitted to stop the industrial processes
of the nation. at any rate before the
nation shall have had an opportunity
to acquaint itself with the merits Of
the case as between employee and en-
ployer, time to form its opinion upon
an impartial statement Of the merits,
and opportunity to consider all prac-
ticable means Of Cancellation or arbi-
tration. l can see nothing in that
proposition but the justifiable safe
guarding by society of the necessary
processes of its very life. There is
nothing arbitrary or unjust in 1t I'M
less it be arbitrarily and .unjustly
done. 1t can and should be done with
a full and scrupulous regard for the
interests and liberties of all concerned
as we'll as for the permanent interests
Of society itself.
Other Legislation.
Three matters of capital Importance
await the action of the Senate which
have already been acted upon by the
House of Representatives: the bill
which seeks to extend greater freedom
of combination to those engaged in
promoting the foreign commerce of
the country than is now thought by
some to be legal under the terms of
the laws against monopoly; the bill
the present organic law OF
Porto Rico; and the bill proposing a
more thorough and systematic regula-
ton of the expenditure Of money in
commonly called the Cor
rupt Practices Act. I need not labor
my advice that these measures be en-
acted into law Their urgency lies in
the manifest circumstances which rem
der their adoption at this time not
only opportYne but necessary. Even
delay would seriously leopard the in
terests of the country and OF the gov
eminent.
Immediate passage Of the bill to
regulate the expenditure of money In
elections may seem to be less necess-
airy than the immediate enactment OF
the other measures to which | refer:
because at least two years will elapse
before another election In which fed
eral offices are to be filled; but it
would greatly relieve the public mind
Il this important matter were dealt
with while the circumstances and the
dangers to the public morals Of the
present method of obtaining and
spending campaign funds stand clear
under recent observation and the
of expenditure can be frank
ly studied in the light of present ex-
perience; and a delay would have the |
Purther very serious disadvantage OF
action until another elect
lon was at hand and some special OBJ
|ect connected with 1t might be
thought to be In the mind Of those who
urged it. Action can be taken now
with facts for guidance and without
suspicion of partisan purpose.
Needs Export Trade.
I shall not argue at length the de-
STABILITY of giving freer hand In
he matter Of combined and concerted
sffort to those who shall undertake
he essential enterprise of building up
our export trade. That enterprise will
presently, will Immediately assume,
has indeed already assumed, mag
1itude unprecedented in our exper-
ence. We have not the necessary in.
for its prosecution; 1t
8 deemed to be doubtful whether they |
could be created upon an adequate |
scale under our present laws. We
f.f1ifnls ollie 4nvv