The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-09-18

rected, to lapse from good into evil. If
only our people can be thrown to-
gether where they act on common
ground with the same motives and
have the same objects, we need not
have much fear of their failing to ac-
quire Il genuine respect for one anoth-
er; and with such respect there must
finally come fair play for all.
Work In Combination.
In the country districts the surround
ings are such that a man can usually
work out his own fate by himself to
the best advantage. In our cities, or
where men congregate in masses, 1t is
often necessary TO work in combina-
ton, that is through associations, by
trade unions. OF course, if managed
unwisely, the very power of such a
union or organization makes it capa-
Bile of doing much harm, but, on the
whole, it would be hard to overesti-
mate the good these organizations have
done in the past, and still harder to
estimate the good they can do in the
future If handled with resolution, fore
thought, honesty and sanity.
1t is not possible to lay down hard
and fast rule, logically perfect, as to
where the state shall and where the
individual shall be left unhampered
and unhelped.
We have exactly the same right to
regulate the conditions of life and work
in factories and tenement houses that
we have to regulate fire escapes In our
houses. In certain communities the eX-
istence of n thoroughly efficient de-
partment of factory inspection is just
as essential as the establishment or
n fire department. How far we shall
At 81, 1a1 1NIr ar.
the liabilities of employers is n matter
of expediency and each case must be
determined ON its own merits, exactly
as it is a matter of eNpediency to de
termine what so-called public utili-
ties" the community shall itself own
and what ones it shall leave to private
or corporate ownership securing to it
self merely the right TO regulate. Some
times one course is eXpedient, some
times the other.
In addressing an audience like this
do not have to say that the law OF Ire
is work, and that work in itself, so far
from being any hardship. is n great
blessing, provided always that it is car
ried on under conditions which pre-
serve n mans self-respect, and which
allow him to develop his own character
and rear his children so that he and
they, as well as the whole community
of which he and they are part, may
steadily march onward and upward.
The idler, rich or poor. is at best use
less, and is generally noXious men,
Der of the community. To whom much
has been given. from him much is
rightfully expected: and n heavy bur
den of responsibility rests upon the
man of means to justify by his actions
thn .Gnaia1 conditions which have rem
dered it possible for him or his fore
fathers to accumulate and to keep the
property he enjoys. He is not to be
excused IL he does not render full
measure of service to the state and
community at large. There are many
WAYS in which this service can be rem
dered; in art, in literature, in philan-
thropy, as n statesman and soldier,
but in some way he is in honor bound
to render 1t so that benefit may accrue
to his brethren who have been less ia
vored by fortune than he has been. In
short, he must work not only for him
self, but for others. If he does not
work he fails not only In his duty to
the rest of the community. but he fails
signally in his duty to himself. There
is no need of envying the idle. Ordi-
narily we can afford to treat them
with impatient contempt; for when
they fail to do their duty they fail to
get from life the highest and keenest
pleasure that life can give.s
To do our duty: that is tle summing
up of the whole matter. We must do
our duty by ourselves, and we must
do our duty by our neighbors.
industrial Problems.
Before us loom Industrial problems.
yaSt N thpir. imnprtuura and rpmnlpy-
ity. The last half century has been
one of extraordinary social and indus
trial development. The changes have
been far-reaching, some of them for
good and some of them for evil. 1t is
not given to the wisest of us to see into
the future with absolute clearness. No
man can be\certain that he has found
the entire solution of this infinitely
great and intricate problem, and yet
each man of us. if he would do his
duty, must strive manfully so far as
in him lies, to help bring abor- that So
luton.
1t is not as yet possible to say what
shall be the exact limit of influence al
lowed the state, or what limit shall be
set to that right of individual initiative
so dear to the hearts of the American
people. All we can say is that the need
has been shown on the one hand for
action by the people in their collective
capacity through the state in many
matters that in other matters much
can be done by associations of different
groups of individuals, as in trades
unions and similar organizations, and
that in other matters 1t remains now
MS true as ever that final success will
be for the man who trusts in the strug-
gle only to his cool head, his brave
heart and his strong right arm. There
are spheres in which the state can
properly act, and spheres in which n
comparatively free field must be given
to Individual initiative.
Though the conditions of life have
grown so puzzling in their complexity,
though the changes have been so vast
yet we may remain absolutely sure of
one thinp-thnt NOW rs in the mast