Fergus County Democrat., 1916-12-07


patton should be obliged by law to
continue in an employment which he
desired to leave. To pass law which
forbade or prevented the individual
workman to leave his work before re-
ceiving the approval OF society in
doing so would be to adopt new prin-
ciple into our Jurisprudence which !
take it 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 pubic
investigation shall lhave been lnsti-
tuted which shall make the whole
question at issue plain for the ludg
ment of the opinion of the nation is not
to propose any such principle. II IS
| based upon the very different prln-
ciple that the concerted action or
powerful bodies of men shall not be
permitted to stop the industrial pro-
cesses of the nation, at any rate De-
fore the nation shall have had an op'
portunity to acquaint itself with the
merits of the case as between employe
and employer, time to form its opinion
upon an impartial statement OF the
merits, and opportunity to consider
all practicable means OF conciliatlon
or arbitration | can see nothing III
that proposition but the justitiable
safeguarding by society of the neces
sary processes OF it's very life. There
is nothing arbitrary or unjust in 1t un-
less it be arbitrarily and unJustly
done. 1t can and should be done with
full and scrupulous regard for the
, interests and liberties of all concerned
as we'll as for the permanent interests
of society itself.
, 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
i of combination to those engaged III
t promoting the foreign commerce ol
f the country than is now thought BY
o some to be legal under the terms o.
9 the laws against monopoly; the bill
Y amending the present organic law o
e Porto Rico, and the bill proposing
t. more thorough and systematic regula
n ton OF the expenditure of money II
/. elections. commonly called the corrup
g practices act l need not labor m!
It advice that these measures be enacted
into law. Their urgency lies In tn
% manifest circumstances which rende
!. their adoption at this time not onl.
4. opportune but necessary. Even della
!. would seriously leopard the interest
9. of the country and of the government
Al Immediate passage OF the Dill !
y. regulate the expenditure OF money |
=. elections may seem to be less nece:
n sary than the immediate enactment c
=. the other measures to which | refer
because at least two years will elaps
IN before another election in which fet
m eral offices are to be filled; but
u. would greatly relieve the public min
q. if this important matter were dea
IA with while the circumstances and tn
II. dangers to the public morals OF tn
re present method OF obtaining and spen
of ing campaign funds stand clear undt
recent observation and the methoo
of expenditure can be frankly studle
~ -. in the light of present experience; an
y. a delay would have the further vel
~. serious disadvantage of postponing a
q, ton until another election was at har
nu and some special object connects
"a. with it might be thought to be in II
',e mind of those who urged it. Actit
~ can be taken now with facts for gul
ue ance and without suspicion Of partiss
- purpose.
-. shall not argue at length the 9
~, as STABILITY OF giving freer hand IN Il
ea matter of combined and concerted
loa on fort to those who shall undertake q
on W.. essential enterprise of building up
zoo zoo export trade. That enterprise W
no nv presently, will Immediately assun
~, ~. has indeed already assumed, mag
~ tude unprecedented in our experieh'
~ ~ We have not the necessary instrume
aas aas talities for it's prosecution; 1t Is dee
.es ., ed to be doubtful whether they cot
Cd ea be created upon an adequate scale
Gu GU, der our present laws. We should Gle
,nu aa away all legal obstacles and create
'e 90 basis OF undoubted law for 1t VIM
VI will give freedom without permittl
.hs' .n' unregulated license. The thing mi
.ne .i be done now, because the opportun
.ie is here and may escape us II we he
Ivy tate or delay.
on The argument for the propos
amendments to the organic law
anu Porto Rico is brief and conclusi
ate The present laws governing the isla
q and regulating the rights and prl