The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-26
A Duty OF THE STA TE.


tempted furtivs revival of the old con-
troyersy over the right OF the State 10
yate business, but 1t is not to te feared
that, at this day, any protest against such
interference" will De more than spas
modic or In any way tend TO secure re-
troactive legislation, as, for instance. In
the matter Of the barriers fixing the hours
of labor.
In these days one need not DO declared
a socialist or an anarchist who holds that
II is public poll ;y TO raise the standard
OF life among those Of us commonly re-
ferred to as "workingmen. The meth
DDS now notable I'm Southern mill In
dustries demonstrate anew that private
enterprises cannot always be depended
upon to consider the demands OF what
most people profoundly believe to be- q
factor in our higher civilization. New
England industries once taxed the La
bcrer quite as severely In the matter OF
hours OF work as do those OF the South
today-just as New England hnd its
slaves before IL condemned slavery In the
South. And that social conditions here
with us are far better than they are In
the South OF In Asia, for instance, is en-.
tirely due 10 state interferenco prompted by
the appeal OF organized labor and backed
by public sentiment. There Is no call to
go backward. The position OF the state is
In line with the progress of civilization.
Indeed, we have so far advanced along this
line that II may as we'll he stated
a. settled public policy thas
the State should do anything and
everything which will really promote
or contribute to the best interests of the
nation--and that means the people. This
may involve protective tariffs, restriction
lection Of the sanitary condition OF
workshops, labor insurance, the educa-
tion Of working children. better sanitary
Surroundings of laborers' homes clean
streets, public parks. kindergartens reoog-
milton of trade unions. free public libra
ries, economic education OF labor leaders.
In short, whatever will contribute di-
rectly or indirectly to protecting present
riety in the social lie OF tho people
properly becom6s part Of wise and
comprehensive public policy.
As Professor Gunton has reeentIy
pointed out, the cost of production theory
of the value OF commodities and the So
cial instead Of the commodity" theory
of the value of labor. lead directly to an
opposits doctrine or public policy. With
this view We recognize at oncs that cheap
labor and cheap production are not inter-
dependent but incompatible facts and
that low prices and profitable production
are the accomplishments Of high wages,
and since competition is only the distrib-
utor of profit margins created by i'm
proved methods Of production, it becomes
clear that public policy should not rely
upon competition as the infslliple sol
vent Of economic problems, but on the
contrary It shorld be directed toward
creating the conditions which naturally
set in motion social forces that bring i'm
proved methods ana thus lesson the cost
OF production. As the prior fact necessary
to this is large consumption, chiefly by
the laboring class. it is obvious that the
objective point OF public policy should
be to encourage sll the Industrial oppor
tunities ana social incentives that tend
to raise the standard Of social life among
the laboring class.
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