ge Billings in New Orleans, that strikes which interfere with
interstate commerce, are illegal?

_Answer_. As a rule, men have a right to quit work at any time
unless there is some provision to the contrary in their contracts.
They have not the right to prevent other men from taking their
places. Of course I do not mean by this that strikers may not use
persuasion and argument to prevent other men from filling their
places. All blacklisting and refusing to work with other men is
illegal and punishable. Of course men may conspire to quit work,
but how is it to be proved? One man can quit, or five hundred men
can quit together, and nothing can prevent them. The decisions of
Judge Ricks and Judge Billings are an acknowledgment, at least, of
the principle of public control or regulation of railroads and of
commerce generally. The railroads, which run for private profit,
are public carriers, and the public has a vested interest in them
as such. The same principle applies to the commerce of the country
and can be dealt with by the courts in the same way. It is unlikely,
however, that Judge Billings' decision will have any lasting effect
upon organized labor. Law cannot be enforced against such vast
numbers of people, especially when they have the general sympathy.
Nearly all strikes have been illegal, but the numbers involved have
made the courts powerless.

_Question_. Are you in favor of the annexation of Canada?

_Answer_. Yes, if Canada is. We do not want that country unless
that country wants us. I do not believe it to the interests of
Canada to remain a province. Canada should either be an independent
nation, or a part of a nation. Now Canada is only a province--with
no career--with nothing to stimulate either patriotism or great
effort. Yes, I hope that Canada will be annexed.

By all means annex the Sandwich Islands, too. I believe in
territorial expansion. A prosperous farmer wants the land next him,
and a prosperous nation ought to grow. I believe that we ought to
hold the key to the Pacific and its commerce. We want to be prepared
at all points to defend our interests from the greed and power of
England.

We are going to have a navy, and we want that navy to be of use in
protecting our interests the world over. And we want interests to
protect.

It is a splendid feeling--this feeling of growth. By the annexation
of these islands we open new avenues to American adventure, and
the tend