The sun., 1901-12-04

which were to take place by the beginning
OF the twentieth century. AZ that time y
was accepted a. q matter Of course that
the several States were the proper authori-
ties to regulate, so far as was then neces,
cary, the comparatively Insignificant and
etrfctly localized corporate bodies OF the
day. Tho conditions are now wholly dif-
ferent and wholly different action is called
for. believe that law can bs framed
which will enable the National Govern ,'.II-
above indicated; prohtlng by the experiences
gained through the passage and admnie-
tration of the Interstate Commerce act.
II, however, the judgment Of the Congress
is that It lacks the cqnstitutional power 70
amendment should be submitted to confer
the power.
PROPOSED NEW CABINET OFFICE.
There should be created Cabinet officer,
TO be known as Secretary Of Commerce and
Industries, as provided In the bill intro
duced et the last session OF the Congress
1t should be his province TO deal with COM
merce In its broadest sense: including among
many other things whatever concerns labor
and all matters affecting the great business
corporations and our merchant marine.
The course proposed is one phase OF What
should be q comprehensive and far-reach-
ing scheme OF constructive statesmanship
for the purpose OF broadening our mar
kets, securing our business interests on
safe basis, and making firm our new posi-
tion in the International industrial world;
while scrupulously safeguarding the rights
of wage worker and capitalist, OF investor
and private citizen, 40 as TO secure equity
as between man and man In this Republic
TO IMPROVE LABOR CONDITIONS.
With the sole exception Of the farming
interest, no one matter Ia Of such vital
moment to our whole people as the welfare
Of the wage workers. II the farmer and
ha y.4
absolutely certain that all others VIII
be well of too. II IL therefore a matter
for hearty congratulation that on the
whole wages are higher to-day in the nited
States than ever before In our history
and far higher than In any other country.
The standard Of living II also higher than
ever before. Every effort Of legislator and
administrator should he bent 20 secure
the permanency Of this condition OF things
and It's Improvement wherever possible.
Not only must our labor be protected by
the tariff, but h should also be protected
40 far as il is possible from the presence
in this country of any laborers brought
over by contract. or OF those who. coming
freely, vet represent a standard Of living
so depressed that they can undersell our
men In the labor market and drag them
TO a lower level. regard II as necessary.
with this end in view, TO reensct imme-
diately the law excluding Chinese laborers
and 20 strengthen II wherever necessary
IN ofOer 10 Hlahe ils elioiccihehV ch''ev
effective.
The National Government should demand
the highest quality OF service from it's en-
ployees and in return 1t should be good
employer. II possible legislation should
be passad. in connection with the Inter-
state Commerce law. which will render
effective the efforts Of different States
To do away with the competition of convict
contract lnbor in the open labor mar ket.
So Far as is practicable undor the conditions
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 indirectly for the
United States Government women and
children should he protected from excessive
hours Of labor, from night work and from
work under unsanitary conditions. lhe
Government should provide III its con-
tracts that all work should he done under
fair" conditions and in addition 10 setting
a high 81 andSrd should uprold II by proper
inspection. extending If necessary to the
subcontractors The Government should
forbid all night work for women and chill
dren, as vol as excessive overtime. For
the Dis, riot Of Columbia a good factory
law should he passed; and, a. powerful
indirect aid to such laws. provision should
be made 10 turn the inhabited alleys, the
existence Of which Is reproach 10 our
Capital City. into minor streets, where the
inhabitants can live under conditions favor
able to health and morals.
American Wage-workers work with their
heads as well as their hands. Moreover.
they take a keen pride in what they are
doing 80 that, independent Of the reward.
they wish Ia turn out perfect job. This
il the great secret Of our succnss in COM
petition with the labor Of foreign countries
Tie most vital problem with which thls
country. and for that matter the whole
civilized world, has Ia deal, l. the problem
which hns for one side 'he bctterment of
social conditions, moral and physical.
in large cities. and for another side the effort
10 deal with that tangle Of far-roaching
questions which we grog6 togel her ~hcn
in the SUCCESS Of each man-wngc gc-worker,
farmer and capitalist alike-must ever h
the sum total o' his own ind yidual qualities
and abilities Second only 10 this comes
tho power 81 acting Ia combination or
association with others. Very great good
has hecn and will he accomplished hy
associations or unions OF wage workers,
when managed with forcthuughi, and
when they combine iusistvnCe upon their
own rights with b~-abidlug respect for
the nghts 81 other. The display OF thee"
Qualities In such bodies l. duty 70 the
nation no less than 70 the associations
thcin-clve- Finally there muS' also In
many cases h. action toy th" Government
in order 20 safeguard the righ's and Interests
e all Under our Constitution lh"r" i
much more scoop. for such action by the
state and th' municipality than 10y u'"
nation But on points such a. 'hnsr
touched on above tho National Govern
meut can sct
Mheu oil 10 said ahd done ths mi" -
hfOthe. bod n,Insins as tn indsp"n-ahie
PREREQUISITE 10 rtlfs,Nss ~ tltt klud ~ ma
tlonAl lie lot which We striy" zach man
must work f,r hm-.lf. and unl"ss 10" 80
works nO OUTSIDE hsip eau avail nm, hui
each mau must TenFmb"f Al-o thai 10" u
iud,-,d biz lrothsr'- kDrp'r, AMI that Mil"
IL. H.. ..#a "FH a