The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-12-06

Changes, alike in Industrial and political
conditions which were to take place by
the beginning OF the twentieth century.
At that time 1t was accepted as matter
of course that the several states were the
proper authorities to regulate so far as
was then necessary the comparatively IN
significant and strictly localized corporate
bodies of the day The conditions are now
wholly different. and wholly different ac-
ton is called for. I believe that law
can be framed which will enable the ma
tional government to exercise control
along the lines above Indicated, Fronting
by the experience gained through the pas
sage and administration of the interstate
commerce act. If. however, the Judgment
of the congress is that IL lacks the consti-
tutionaI power to pass such an act, then
a constitutional amendment should De
submitted to confer the power.
There should be created cabinet OIL
GER to be known as secretary or COM
merce and industries, as provided in the
bill introduced at the last session of the
congress It should be his province to
deal with commerce in its broadcast sense
including, among many other tnings
whatever concerns labor. and all matters
affecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine.
The course proposed is one phase or
what should be a comprehensive and far-
reaching scheme of constructive states
manship for the purpose of broadening
our markets securing our business inter
ests on a safe basis and making nrm our
new position in the international INDUS
trial world while scrupulously safeguard
ing the rights of wageworker and capt.
talist Of investor and private citizen, 50
as to secure equity as between man and
man in this republic.
Chinese Exclusion.
With the sole exception Of the farming
interest. no one matter Is or such vital
moment to our whole people as the vel
fare of the wageworkers. If the farmer
and the wageworker are well on, IT Is ap-
solutely certain that all others Will De
well of too. It is therefore q matter Tor
hearty Generalization that on the whole
wages are higher today in the United
States than ever before in our history
and far higher than in any other country
The standard of living is also higher than
ever before. Every effort OF legislator
and administrator should be bent to Sc
cure the permanency of this condition or
things and its Improvement wherever pos
sible Not only must our labor be protect
ed by the tariff but 1t should also be pro-
tected so far as IL is possible from the
presence in this country of any laborers
brought over by contract or or those VINO.
coming freely, yet represent standard
of living so depressed that they can I'M
derselI our men in the labor market and
drag them to a lower level. / regard IL as
necessary with this end in view, TO re-
enact Immediately the law excluding chi
nese Iaborers and to strengthen lt|
wherever necessary in order to make us
enforcement entirely effective.
The national government should demand
the highest quality of service from It's
employees and in return 1t should De
good employer. If possible. legislation
should be passed in connection with tne
interstate commerce law which Will rem
der effective the efforts Of different states
to do away with the competition or con-
vict contract labor in the open labor mar
ket. So far as practicable under the con-
ditions of government work provision
should be made to render the enforcement
Of the eight hour law easy and certain
In all industries carried on directly or IN
directly for the United States government
women and children should be protested
from excessive hours Of labor. from night
work and from work under unsanitary
conditions The government should pro-
vide in it's contracts that all work should
be done under fair conditions and, in
addition to setting high standard, should
uphold it by proper inspection, extending
IL necessary to the subcontractors. The
government should forbid all night work
for women and children as well as excess
alive overtime For the District OF Column
bia a good factory law should be passed,
and, as a powerful indirect aid to such
laws, provision should be made to turn
the inhabited alleys, the existence or
which is a reproach to our Capital City.
into minor streets. where the Inhabitants
can live under conditions favorable 10
health and morals.
American wageworkers work with their
heads as well as their hands. Moreover.
they take a keen pride in what they are
doing, so that. independent Of the reward.
they wish to turn out perfect job. This
IL the great secret of our success In conn
netition with the labor of foreign coun-
tries.
Labor.
The most vital problem with which this