The Washington times., 1901-12-04


with the sole exception Of the farming
interest, no one matter is of such vital
moment to cur whole people as the well
fare Of the wage workers II the farmer
and the wase-worker are well off. 1t is
absolutely certain that all others will be
well off, too
1T is therefore a matter for hearty con-
graduation that on the whole wages are
| higher today in the United States than
ever before in our history. ani far higher
| than in any other country. The standard
| OF living is also higher than ever before.
! Every effort of legislator and administ-a-
| tor should be bent to secure the perma-
nency OF this condition of things and its
| improvement wherever possible
Exclusion of Chinese Labor.
Not only must our labor be protected
by the tariff, but 1t should also be pro-
tected so far as it is possible from the
presence in this country of any laborers
brought over by contract, or of those who,
coming freely, yet represent a standard
| OF living so depressed that they can un-
| derseil our men in tie labor market and
| drag them to a lower level.
| Il regard it as necessary. with this end
: in view. to re-enact Immediately the law
/ excluding Chinese laborers and to
| strengthen 1t wherever necessary in order
I to make its enforcement entirely effec-
| tive.
| Convict Labor.
| 'If possible legislation should be passed
| in connection with the. interstate COM
merce law which will render effective the
| efforts of different States to do away
| with the competition of convict contract
| labor in the open labor market.
The EiGbt-Hour Day.
so far as practicable under the condi-
tions of Government work, provision
should be made to render the enforce
ment OF the eight-hour law easy and GER
tain In all industries carried on directly
or indirectly for the United States Gov
ernment women and children should be
protected from excessive hours of labor,
from night work. and from work under
unsanitary conditions.
Wnshington's Siums.
For the District of Columbia a good
factory law should be passed, and, as a
powerful indirect aid to such laws, pro-
vision should be made to turn the in
habited alleys, the existence of which is
a reproach to our Capital City, into
minor streets where the inhabitants can
live under conditions favorable to health
and morals.
a Mans Strength Is In Himself
"The chief factor in the success of each
man-waSe worker. farmer and capitalist
alike-must ever be the sum total OF his
own individual qualities and abilities.
Each man must work for himself. and un-
less he 50 works no outside help can avail
him. To be permanently effective, aid
must always take the form Of helping
man to help himself; and we can all best
help ourselves by joining together in the
work that is OF common interest to all.
The Value OF Unions.
Very great good has been and will be
accomplished by associations or unions cf
wage workers. when managed with fore
thought, and when they combine insist
ence upon their own rights with law
abiding respect for the rights of othars
The display of these qualities in such
bodies is a duty to The nation no less than
to the associations themselves. Finally,
there must also in Iaauy cases be action
by the Government il order to safeguard
the rights and interests of ALL
Unsatisfactory immigration Laws.
"Our present immigration laws are un-
satisfactory
First. we should aim to exclude ahso-
lutely not only all persons who are known
to be believers in anarchistic principles
or members of anarchistic societies, but
also all persons who are of low moral
tendency or OF unsavory reputation.
The second object Of proper imnigra-
ton law ought to be to secure by a care
full and not merely perfunctory educa-
tionaI test some intelligent capacity to
appreciate American institutions and act
oifiuaDs
Finally. all persons should be excluded
who are below certain standard of
economic fitness to enter our industrial
field as competitors with American labor.
The Tariff.
There is general acquiescence in our
present tariff system as a national policy.
Nothing could be more unwise than to
disturb the business interests of the coun-
try by any general tariff change at this
time. Doubt, apprehension. uncertainty
are exactly what We most wish to avoid
in the interest OF our commercial and
material welI-being.
Reciprocity in Trade.
Reciprocity must be treated as the
hardmaiden of protection. Our first duty
is TO see that the protection granted by
the tariff in eyery case where it is needed
is maintained. and that reciprocity be
sought so far as II can safely he done
without injury to our home Industries.
Every application of our tariff policy to
meet our shifting national needs must be
conditioned upon the cardinal fact that
the duties must never be reduced below
the point that viii cover the difference
between the labor cost here and abroad.
The we'll being OF the wage worker is Il
prime consideration OF our entire policy
OF economic legislation.
THE customers to whom we dispose of
our surplus products in the long run, di-
rectly or indirectly, purchase those sur
plus products by giving us something in
return. Their ability to purchase our
products should as far as possible be
secured by so arranging our tariff as to
enable US to take fIOm them those prod
ucts which we can use without harm to
our own Industries and labor, or the use
OF which will be of marked benefit to US.
THE natural line of development for
policy of reciprocity will be in connec-
ton with those of our productions which
no longer require all OF the support once
needed to establish them upon sound
basis, and with those others where either
because of natural or of economic causes
we are beyond the reach of successful
competition.
The Need of n Merchant Marine.
'The condition OF the American mer-
chant marine IS such as to call for i'm
mediate remedial action by the Congress. |
1t should be made advantageous to carry
American goods in American ships. |
The Gold Standard.
''Thc act of March IA, 1850, intended un-