vote will be withheld only from the ignorant and irresponsible of both
races.

There is one other matter to which I shall refer. It was made the
subject of great controversy during the election and calls for at least
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
employees for injury sustained in the course of employment, 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 employees for injuries sustained in the
employ of the Government through the negligence of the superior. It has
also passed a model child-labor law for the District of Columbia. In
previous administrations an arbitration law for interstate commerce
railroads and their employees, and laws for the application of safety
devices to save the lives and limbs of employees of interstate
railroads had been passed. Additional legislation of this kind was
passed by the outgoing Congress.

I wish to say that insofar 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 responsible to employees injured in
its employ as an interstate-railway corporation is made responsible by
federal law to its employees; and I shall be glad, whenever any
additional reasonable safety device can be invented to reduce the loss
of life and limb among railway employees, to urge Congress to require
its adoption by interstate railways.