Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-05

the end Of the eighteenth century. no hui
man wlsGom could foretell the sweeping
changes alike in Industrial and political
conditions, which were 10 take place by
the beginning OF the twentieth century.
At that timc II was accepted as n matter
of course that the several states were tho
proper authorities 10 regulate go 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 believe that law
can be framed which will enable the ma
tional government to exercise control
along the lines above indicated, profting
by the experience gained through the pas
sage and administration of the interstate
commerce act, II, however tho judgment
of the congress Is that Il lacks the consti-
tutional power 70 pass such an act, then
n constitutional amendment should be
submitted to confer the power
There should be created cabinet off,
Ger, to be known as secretary of COM
Elerce and industriea as provided in the
bill introduced at the last session OF the
congress-, 1t should be his province 10
deal with commerce IN It's broadcast sense.
including. among many other things,
whatever concerns labor. and Nil matters
affecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine.
The course proposed Is one phase of
what should be comprehensive and far
reaching scheme of constructive states
manship for the purpose of broadening
our markets. securing our business inter.
csts on n safe basis and making firm our
now position In the International indus
trial world, while scrupulously safeguard
ing the rights of wageworker and capi-
tallst of investor and private citizen SO
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 of such vital
moment TO our whole people as the well
fare of the wngeworkers. II the farmer
and the waGsworker are well off. II is alb
solutely certain that all others will be
well of too. 1t Is therefore a matter for
hearty congratulation 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 permanenoy Of this condition of
things and its improvement wherever pos
slhle. Not only must our labor be protect
ed by the tariff. butit should also be pro-
tected so far as 1t is possible from the
presence IN this country OF any laborers
brought over by contract or of those who,
coming freely, yet represent standard
OF living so depressed that they can I'M
dersell our men in the labor market and
drag them to n lower level | regard Il as
necessary. with this end In view. to re-
enact Immediately the law excluding Chi
nese laborers and to strengthen II
wherever necessary in order TO make its
enforcement entirely effective
The national government should demand
the highest quality of service from It's
employees and in return It should be a
good employer. II possible. legislation
m ma In 4E,,, .,,ftl Al.
interstate commerce law which will rem
der effective the efforts of different states
to do away with the competition OF con-
Wet 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 protected
from excessive hours of labor. from nigh.
work and from work under unsan!tary
conditions. The government should pro.
vide in its contracts that all work should
be done under fair" conditions and, in
addition 10 setting high standard. should
uphold 1t by proper inspection, extending
" necessary to the subcontrnctors The
government should forbid all night work
for women and children as well as exces.
sive overtime. For the District of Colum.
bia q 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 OF
which is reproach to our Capital City.
into minor streets. where the Inhabitants
can live under conditions favorable. to
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 10 turn out perfect Job This
10 the great secret OF our success In COM
petition with the labor of foreign coun-
tries.
Labor.
The most vital problem with which this
country, and for that matter the whole
civilized world, has to deal is the prob.
lem which has for one side the betterment
OF social conditions. moral and physical,
in large cities and for another side the eff
fort to deal with that tangle of farreach-
ing questions which we group together
when we speak of labor" The chief
factor in the success OF each man-wage-
worker, farmer and capitalist alike-must
ever be the sum total of his own indiyid-
ual qualities and abilities. Second only TO
this comes the power of acting In COM
blnation or association with others Very
great good has been and will be accom-
plished by associations or unisns of wuge.
workers when managed with forethought
ana when they combine insstence upon
their own rights with law abiding respect
for the rights of Others The display of
these qualities in such bodies is a duty
TO the nation no less than TO the associa-
lions themselves Finally there must also
IN many cases be action by the govern
ment In order to safeguard the rights and
interests of all. Under our constitution
there Is much more scope for such action
" the state and the municipality than by
Tlttt ~, 1tr,fH,
toucned on above the national govern
ment can act
When all is said and done. the rule OF
brotherhood remains as the Indispensable
prerequisite to success In the kind of mas
tiohal HE Tor which We strive. Each man
must work for himself, and Unless he SO
works no outside help can avail him. But
each man must remember also that he is
indeed his brothers. keeper. and that while
no man who refuses to walk can be car
ried with advantage TO himself or any one
else, yet that each at times stumbles or
halts, that each at times needs to have
the helping hand outstretched to him, To
be permanently effective aid must always
take the form of helping a, man to help
himself, and we can all best help our
selves by Joining together in the work
that is of common interest to all.
immigration.
Our present immigration laws are un-
satisfactory. We need every honest and
efficient immigrant, fitted 10 become an
American citizen, every immigrant who
comes here to stay who brings hero a
strong body, n stout heart. good head
and resolute purpose to do his duty well
In every way and 10 bring up his children
as law abiding and God fearing members
of the community. But there should be a |
comprehensive law enacted with the OBJ
Ject OF working threefold Improvement
over our present system First we should |
aim to exclude absolutely not only all per-
sons who are known to be believers in an |
archistic principles or members of anarch- |
istlo EnCinliea hut also II s..i.s. !