The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-02-17
THE VALUE or STATISTICS.
What Should Be Done by the Labor
Bureaus,

What should Be Done by the Labor
Bureaus.
! The first demand en- the law-mak-
ing power for the welfare of labor
by the Knights Of Labor was: The
establishment of bureaus of labor
statistics, that we may arrive at a
correct knowledge of the education,
moral and financial condi ton of the
laboring masses. =
Through the persistent efforts of
i the organization a national bureau
has been established, and over thirty
states have labor bureaus.
/! Much good has already resulted,
though they have been greatly handi-
capped through the influence of
partisan politics and their control by
men not thoroughly in sympathy
with the objects intended.
A correct knowledge of the educa-
tional, moral and financial condition
of the people is what is wanted, for
by it alone can proper steps be di-
rected to improve the condition of
| the masses, says the Union Pacific
Employees Magazine.
Much that is to be done for the
elevation of the laboring classes
must be assisted by the enactment of
laws. The arguments in favor of
such enactments when coming from
the masses were found to have little
weight, the statements advanced in
proof, being so startling in many
{ cases, were laughed at as altogether
too improbable. For that reason in
formation gathered by authority of
the state was seen to be necessity
if any Roadway was to be made. Or
CARNATIONS like the Knights of Labor,
seeking to improve the conditions of
the masses by governmental and edu-
cational means, could make no better
beginning than to cause the estab-
]ishment of bureaus of labor statis-
| tics, and, if the order does nothing
more, the work already done in this
direction will make it be blessed by
future generations.
But where they are established
workingmen should speedily interest
themselves in seeing that they do the
work intended of them. They are
intended to obtain correct informa-
ton, bare facts, uncolored nor in
| favor of any particular theory, to be
used by all citizens.
Every bill proposed for legislative
enactment should have the necessity
for it, supported by information re-
liable beyond question of doubt.
Since the labor question has been
forced so prominently into our
| political life there is nothing more
valuable to the state. What is right
is wanted, what is wrong should be
righted. Representative of the
masses, on introducing measures into
legislative assemblies, find them
selves faced with the strongest OPP
position. The cry is raised that to
pass it would work an injury in
certain directions, and in alarm sup
porters desert it. Right can wrong
no man. Such representative
! backed by an official collection of
facts have the advantage, and if the
facts are against them they will re-
frain from introducing the measure.
The result is in favor of justice to all.
1t creates a protection against ex-
element and undue prejudice work.
ing an injury to any one. 1t is for
the good of the state
! In our social life, which must be
improved by educational means, moth
ing can be more valuable than infor
nation that shows what is necessary
and where the greatest efforts should
be directed. There can be no better
support to every form of social re-
form organizations than our bureaus
| of labor statistics can be made. As
far as social conditions have been in
vestigated to date, much has been
done to raise the stigma attached to
the poor and unsuccessful in life, by
showing that those conditions were
due, principally, to environments out
side of the control of the individual.
1t has done much to direct the or
gained efforts of the masses from
att empts to alleviate effects through
charity, to the destruction of the
causes by demanding justice and
right where injustice and wrong in
our social atmosphere bring such
dire effects.
We have got to delve deeper than
has yet been attempted. The senti-
mentalism expressed in the words,
'you are inquiring into private af-
fairs" has hindered such work in the
past. That will be greatly lessened
as the good is discovered, as more
and more we realize our utter de-
pendence as social beings and that
the welfare of the individual is the
concern of the state, and that the aid
of the state depends on the knowl-
edge of the Individual; that by it
alone can justice be assured one
without injuring another.