Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1908 — ROOSEVELT WARNS OF NATIONAL PERIL [ARTICLE]

ROOSEVELT WARNS OF NATIONAL PERIL

( ' «*>- H IV •' Special Message Declares Attempt Is Being Made in High Places to Block Legislation. BAND TO DEFEAT REFORMS. President Replies to Those Individuals and Have Attacked the Administration. An organized effort by certain wealthy meh to discredit the administration in its crusade against unlawful methods of trusts is charged by President in a special message sent to Congress. The President says the purpose of these men is to cause a reaction of sentiment and prevent the legisiatidn needed to carry out the reforms sought. “The only way to counteract the movement,” says the message, "Is to make clear to the public just what they [the men referred tp] have done in the past and what they are seeking to accomplish in the present.” 1 As If to give point to these statements the President refers to the recent heavy fines inflicted on the Standard Oil Company and the Santa Fe Railroad Company for rebating and then discusses at length the statements issued by both concerns denouncing the aetioq of the courts, which were scattered broadcast. Answer is made to the criticism that fines are inflicted against wealthy individuals and corporations Instead of prison sentences. The President says the wrong-doer is sent to prison where it is possible to do so. He refers to the Cnynor and Greene case and “the misapplication of funds in connection with certain great banks in Chicago,“ where this has been done.

In reply to the cry that his policy hurts business, Mr. Roosevelt says: “The business that is hurt by the movement for honesty is the kind -of business It pays the country to have hurt.” In vliscussing remedies for corporation abuses the President says the common law is not enough and the national and State work together to attain the results needed. He asserts Jhat the apologists and defenders of corporate wrong-doing who oppose Federal action are proving false to the people and laying up a day of wrath for the interests they seek to protect. On the subject of railroad rates and control of Interstate commerce, the President urges that authority be given the Interstate Commerce Commission to pass upon ;rates of its own initiative and to stop a proposed advance in rates pending an investigation. The remedy for stock watering the President sees in a law giving Federal government supervision over the Issuing of stock. A suggestion beyond anything the President formerly made is that the Federal government should assume control over the physical operation of railways to the extent of fixing schedules for perishable commodities. While these reforms are asked in the interest of the public and the shipping, the message says the restrictions proposed should not prevent capital from paying liberal —returns. —Amendment Los -4he~ Sherman law on a comprehensive plan to include the operations of other concerns than railroads doing an interstate business Is recommended. The first part of the message is devoted to the relations of capital and labor, chief attention being given to the employers’ liability law and labor Injunction?. A sen .employers’ liability bill to avoid the defects of the law recently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court is urged. In this connection the President recommends tha passage of a comprehensive act providing for compensation by the government to employes who are injured on duty. Suits to compel payment of damages, the message says, should be unnecessary. Abuses of labor injunctions are discussed by the President, who takes th« position that while abolishing the process of Injunction would he unwise the “heedless and unjust” ÜBe of such court orders occasionally works wrong and Congress should give careful study to the subject with a view to amending the law.

- Paragrapki from the H«««ngr. Kven though it were possible, I should consider it most unwise to abolish the use of the process of injunction. The "business" which is hurt by lbs movement for honesty is the kind of bush ness which, in the long run, it pays the country to hurt. Apologists- for great corporations lhat oppose federal action are false to th« people and are laying up a day of wrath .for the corporations themselves. Aa regards the employers’ liability law, I advocate Its immediate re-enactment, limiting its scope so that it shall apply only to the class of cases as to which the court says it can constitutionally apply, but strengthening its provisions within this scope. _______ It is all wrong to use the injunction to prevent the entirely proper and legitimate actions of labor, organisations in their struggle for Industrial betterment or under the guise of protecting property rights unwarranted!/ to invade the fundamental rights of the individual.