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The Commoner.
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greater elasticity In the forms of currency aratt
able for trade, and to prevent tho limitations of
law from operating to increase the embarrass
ments of a financial panic. The monetary com
mission lately appointed is giving full consider
ation to existing conditions and to all proposed
remedies, and will doubtless suggest one that
will meet the requirements of business and of
public interest. We may hope that the report
will embody neither the narrow view of those
who believe that the sole purpose of the new
system should be to secure a large return on
banking capital or of those who would have
greater expansion of currency with little regard
to provisions for its immediate redemption or
ultimate security. There is no subject of eco
nomic discussion so intricate and so likely to
evoke differing views and dogmatic statements
as this one. The commission in studying the
general influence of currency on business and
of business on currency, have wisely extended
their investigations in European banking and
monetary methods. The information that they
have derived from such experts as they have
found abroad will undoubtedly be found helpful
in the solution of the difficult problem they havo
in hand.
POSTAL SAVINGS BANK
On the postal savings bank Mr. Taft said:
The incoming congress should promptly fulfill
the promise of the republican platform and pass
a proper postal savings bank bill. It will not
be unwise or excessive paternalism. The promise
to repay by the government will furnish an In
ducement to savings deposits which private en
terprise can not supply, and at such a low rate
of Interest as not to withdraw custom from ex
isting banks. It will substantially Increase the
funds available for investment as capital in use
ful enterprises. It will furnish absolute security
which makes the proposed scheme of govern
ment guaranty of deposits so alluring without
its pernicious results.
SHIP SUBSIDY, CANAL, ETC.
Mr. Taft gave a boost to ship subsidy through
the endorsement of Mr. Root's proposition to
establish a line of steamers between North and
South America. He -expressed the hope that
"the use of the maximum and minimum feature
of our tariff law to be soon passed" will be
effective to remove many of the restrictions
.noticeable against American products in Euro
pean markets. He paid a high compliment to
the work on the Panama canal and said that
the original plan of a lock type is all right.
"OUR DEPENDENCIES"
Concerning "our dependencies," Mr. Taft said:
The government of our dependencies' in Porto
Hico and the Philippines are progressing as
"favorably as could be desired. The prosperity
of Porto Rico continues unabated. The business
conditions in the Philippines are not all that
yre could wish them to be, but with the passage
of the new tariff bill permitting free trade be
tween the United States and the archipelago,
with such limitations in sugar and tobacco as
shall prevent injury .to the domestic interests on
those products, we can count on an improvement
In business conditions in the Philippines and the
development of a mutually profitable trade be
tween this country and the islands. Meantime
our government in each dependency is upholding
the traditions of civil liberty and Increasing pop
ular control which might be expected under
American auspices. The work which vwe are
doing there redounds to-our-credit as-a-nation.
"THE NEW SOUTH"
Mr. Taft said that he hoped to Increase the
already good feeling between the south and
other sections. He said his chief purpose was
not to effect a change in tho electoral vote in
the southern states. That he declared1 is "a
secondary consideration." He said he looked
forward to an increase in the tolerance of po
litical views of all kinds, and -their? advocacy
throughout the. south. In this connection he
declared that the negroes were entitled to all
their rights. He advocated, by implication at
least, the adoption of educational qualification
for black and white voters alike. He said that
the fifteenth amendment would never be re
pealed and never ought to be repealed and he
said it was the duty of their white fellows to
make their path as smooth and easy as possible.
But evidently Mr. Taft did not desire to be
misunderstood on this point, so he added:
Any recognition of their distinguished men,
any appointment to office from among their
number, is properly taken as an encouragement,
and an appreciation of their progress, and this
just policy shall bo pursued.
But it may well admit of doubt whothor, In
the case of any race, an appointment of ono of
their number to a local office in a community
in which tho race feeling is so widespread and
acute as to interfere with tho ease and facility
with which tho local government business can
bo done by tho appointco, is of sufficient bonefit
by way of encouragement to the race to out
weigh the recurrence and increase of race feel
ing which such an appointment is likely to en
gender. Therefore, tho executive, in recogniz
ing the negro race by appointments must ex
ercise a careful discretion not thereby to do it
more harm than good. On the other hand wo
must be careful not to encourage tho mere
pretense of race feeling manufactured in tho In
terest of individual political ambition.
Personally I havo not the slightest race preju
dice or feeling, and recognition of its existence
only awakens in my heart a deeper sympathy
for those who have to bear it or suffer from it,
and I question the wisdom of a policy which is
likely to increase it. Meantime, if nothing is
dono to prevent, a better feeling between tho
negroes and the whites in tho south will con
tinue to grow, and more and more of the white
people will come to realize that the future of
the south is to be much benefited by the indus
trial and intellectual progress of the negro. The
exercise of political franchises by those of his
race who are intelligent and well-to-do will be
acquiesced in, and the right to vote will be
withheld only from the Ignorant and Irrespon
sible of both races.
ON LABOR
Concerning labor Mr. Taft said:
There is one other matter to which I shall
refer. It was made the subject of great con
troversy during the election, and calls for at
lest a passing reference now. My distinguished
predecessor has given much attention to the
cause of labor, with whose struggle for better
things he has shown the sincerest sympathy. At
his Instance, congress has passed the bill fixing
the liability of interstate carriers to their em
ployes for injury sustained in the course of em
ployment, abolishing the rule of fellow-servant
and the common law rule as to contributory
negligence, and substituting therefor the so
called rule of comparative negligence. It has
also passed a law fixing the compensation of
government employes for injuries sustained in
tho employ of the government through the negli
gence of the superior. It also passed a model
child labor law for the Dist-ict of Columbia. In
previous administrations an arbitration law for
interstate commerce railroads and their em
ployes, and laws for the application of safety
devices to save the lives and limbs of employes
of interstate railroads had been passed. Addi
tional legislation of this kind was passed by
the outgoing congress.
I wish to say that in so far as I can, I hope
to promote the enactment of further legislation
of this character. I am strongly convinced that
the government should make itself as responsi
ble to employes Injured in its employ as an in
terstate railway corporation is made responsible
by federal law to its employes; and I shall bo
glad, whenever any additional reasonable safety
devices can be invented to reduce the loss of
life and limb among railway employes, to urge
congress to require Its adoption by interstate
railways.
-Another labor question has arisen which has
awakened the. most excited discussion. That -is
in respect to the power- of 'the federal courts
to issue injunctions in industrial disputes. As
to that, my convictions are fixed. Take- away
from courts, if it could be taken away, the
power to issue injunctions) in labor disputes, and
it would create a privileged class among the
laborers and save the lawless among their num
bers' from a .most needful remedy available to
all- men for the protection of their business
against lawless invasion. The proposition that
business, is not a. .property or pecuniary right
which, can: be protected by equitable Injunction
is utterly without foundation in precedent or
reason. The proposition is usually linked with
one to make the secondary boycott lawful. Such
a proposition is at variance with the American
Instinct and will find no support in my judg
ment when submitted to the American people.
The secondary boycott Is an instrument of
tyranny, and ought not to be made legitimate.
INJUNCTIONS
On the subject of injunctions Mr. Taft said:
The issuing of a temporary restraining order
without notice has In several Instances been
abused by its inconsiderate exercise, and to
remedy this, tho platform upon which I was
elected recommends tho formulation in a statute
of tho conditions undor which such a temporary
restraining order ought to issue. A statute can
and ought to bo framed to ombody tho best
modern practice, and can bring tho subjoct so
closely to tho attention of tho court as to mako
abuses of tho process unlikely in the future.
Amorican people, if I understand thorn, insist
that tho authority of the courts shall bo sus
tained and aro opposed to any chango in tho
procedure by which tho powors of a court may
bo weakened and tho fearless and effective ad
ministration of justlco bo interfered with.
Mr. Taft concluded his Inaugural address in
thoso words:
Having thus reviewed tho questions likely to
recur during my administration, and having ex
pressed in a summary way the position which I
expect to take in recommendations to congress
and in my conduct as an executive, I invoko tho
considerate sympathy and support of my follow
citizens, anc: tho aid of Almighty God in tho dis
charge of my responsible duties.
Letters From the People
Harry Boarman, Ghesaw, Wash. Mr. Roose
velt has been advocating how to make farm life
more attractive. I am a faTmor. I wish to seo
an article on this subject, i. e., how the .'armors
could ubo tho money they pay tho manufacturers
for tariff on their farms and make them more
attractive, and do tho people in general more
good. I do not undorstard tho tariff question
thorough enough to wrlto an article. I suggest
you write on tho following: This tariff money
that is given to build colleges and libraries, and
what is also given to campaign funds to corrupt
the election and legislation and society, seems
to mo the farmer should know what per cent of
tho tariff burden they have to pay. Had tho
farmers thlc tariff money it Kcomg they could us
it, by building good roads, modern dwellings,
sanitary outbuildings, for our stock, havo libra
ries and music in our homes same as the manu
facturers, easy access to good schools away from
the corruption of the city. Wo could afford to
hire more labor and take better care of our
crops, soil, stock, implements, be able to supply
a superior quality of farm products to tho public.
Why not the producer of the people's living bo
released from paying tariff? Why not tho gov
ernment tax all foreign goods that comes to our
markets enough to mako them worth as much
or more than our manufactures aro nblo to
supply the same goods for. If the farmers were
enlightened along these lines they would cer
tainly fall In line with the democrats.
A. M. Warden, Washburn, Wis. Democracy
should not be discouraged or disheartened over
the results of last election, but rather rejoiced.
It is proof conclusive that all panics and soup
houses are not attributable to tho democratic
party. Had Mr. Bryan been elected the bread
lines and all the 30up houses would have been
laid on the democratic party. Mr. Taft and his
trust backers will now have to make good. The
vicious systems so well intrenched and endorsed
by executive sanction can not long exist In this
country when the people once get thoroughly
awakened to their true condition. They will
tolerate oppression just so long and then they
will either accomplish their freedom and liberty
hy the ballot or by -the bullet. Tho former pre
ferable. . The colonies' withstood- the tyrannies
of George HI., many of which were not so op
pressive as those we now tolerate, and at last
that spirit of I77G, which is still alive In the
heart of every true American, Is now smoulder
ing but can bo easily fanned into flame. The
imperial tendencies of this country by the spe
cial privileged class is now almost unbearable.
Chattel , slavery existed after that until it be
came a stench in the nostrils of every liberty
loving individual north and south, and was only
defended by thoso who were directly interested.
Tho world knows what went with that. The
people of this nation know what to do with
those who are not satisfied with the plans of
government established by the fathers. Tho
interests tell the wage slave he must vote as ho
is told or go without bread. Such argument
was used at the polls and before election last
fall or Mr. Taft would not now be president.
The increased bread lines are encouraging to
democracy in this way: It proves that such may
come even under republican unparalleled pros
perity, and that where there was an increase In
the independent vote, In manufacturing dis
tricts, that the plants still remain idle.
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