The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-12-05

| Ine cdpthlus OF INDUSTRY VINO nave uriN
en- the railway systems across this cont
nent, who have built up our commerce
who have developed our manufactures
have on the whole done great good Il
our people. Without them the materia
| development Of which We are so justly
proud could never have taken place
Moreover. We should recognize the i'm
mense Importance to this material devel
opment Of leaving as unhampered as is
compatible with the public good the
strong and forceful men upon whom the
| success Of business operations inevitably
| rests.
An additional reason for caution in
dealing with corporations is to be found
| in the international commercial condi-
tions of to-day. The same business con
ditions which have produced the grea,
aggregations of corporate and Individual
wealth have made them very potent fac
tors in international commercial compt IT,
tion. America has only just begun 10
assume that commanding position in the
| international business world which we
believe will more and more he hers. 1t
is of the utmost Importance that this po-
si;ion be not jeopardized. especially at a
time when the Overfiowing abundance Of
our own natural resources and the skill,
business energy. and mechanical aptitude
| of our people make foreign markets es-
sential. Under such conditions il would
he most unwise to cramp or to fetter the
| youthful strength of our nation.
Moreover. il cannot too often be point
| cd ont that To strike with ignorant vio-
lencc at the interests of one set of men
almost inevitably endangers the interests
Of all. Disaster 10 great business enter
prises can never have its effects limited
To the men at the top. Ii spreads
throughout. and while it is bad for every
body. ii is worst for those farthest down.
The capitalist may be shorn df his lux
uries: but the wage worker may be de-
prived of even bare necessities.
In facing new industrial conditions. the
whole history OF the world shows that leg
islation will generally be both unwise aud
Ineffective unless undertaken after calm
inquiry and with sober self restraint.
Much Of the legislation directed at the
trusts would have been exceedingly mis-
chievous had il not also been entirely in
effective. The men who demand the I'M
possible or the undesirable serve as the
allies Of the forces with which they are
nominally AT war, for they hamper those
who would endeavor to find out in ra-
tiOnal fashion what the wrongs reall< are
and 10 what extent and in what manner
il is practicable to apply remedies. Yet
il is true that there are real and grave
evils, one Of the chief being over-capital-
ization because of its many baleful con-
sequences: and a resOlute and practical
effort must be made TO correct these
evils.
Publicity q Cure for Trusts.
There is widespread conviction in the
minds of the American people that the
great corporations known as trusts are in
certain OF their features and tendencies
hurtful to the general welfare. Combina-
tion and concentration should be. not pro-
hibited, but supervised and within rea-
sonable limits controlled.
The first essential in determining how
to deal with the great industrial combina-
tions is knowledge Of the facts-publicity.
In the interest Of the public, the govern
ment should have the right to inspect and
examine the workings Of the great cOrpo-
rations engaged in interstate business.
Publicity is the only sure remedy which
We can now invoke. What further rem
edies are needed In the way of govern
mental regulation. or taxation, can only
be determined after publicity has been
obtained. by process of law. and in the
course of administration.
The large corporations, commonly call
ed trusts. though organized in one State.
always do business in many States, often
doing very little business in the State
where they are Incorporated. There is
utter lack of uniformity In the State laws
about them: and as No State has any ex-
elusive interest in or power over their
acts. it has in practice proved impossible
TO get adequate regulation through State
action. Therefore, in the interest of the
whole people. the nation should. without
interfering with the power of the Ssates
in the matter itself. also assume power
of supervision and regulation over all cor
pOrations doing an interstate business. l
believe that a law can be framed which
will enable the national government to
exercise control along the lines above in
dicated. There should be created a cab
met officer. to be known as Secretary Of
Commerce and Industries, rs provided in
the bill introduced at the last session of
the Congress. 1t should be his province
to deal with commerce in its broadest
sense: including among many other things
whatever concerns labor and all matters
affecting the great business corporations
and our merchant marine.
Would Exclude Chinese.
With the sole exception G: the farming
interest. no one matter is Of such vital
moment TO our whole people as the wei
fare Of the wage workers. II the farmer
and the wage worker are well of, it Is
absolutely certain that all others will be
well off. too. 1t is therefore 4 matter for
hearty cOngratulatiOn that on the whole
wages are higher to-day in the United
States than ever before in our history.
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 Of
things and its improvement wherever
possible. Not only must our labor be pro-
tected by the tariff, but it should also be
protected SO far as it is possible from
the presence in this country Of any labor
ers brought over by contract, or Of those
who. coming freely, yet represent a stand
ard Of living so depressed that they can
undersell our men in the labor market
and drag them to lower level. regard
il as necessary. with this end in view, 10
re-enact Immediately the law excluding
Chinese labOrers and to strengthen it
wherever necessary in order to make its
entirely effective.
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 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 better |
ment of social conditions. moral and ply !
steal, in large cities, and for another side |
the effort TO deal with that tangle OF far
reaching questions which We group to-
geiher 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 |
individual qualities and abilities. There |
must in many cases be action by the gov |
ernment in order 10 safeguard the rights |!
and interests of ALL
Inn migration Laws Unsati factory.
Our present immigration laws are un- |
We need every honest and !
efficient immigrant fitted TO become an |
American citizen. But there should be a |
law enacted with the OBJ |
ject of working a threefold improvement |
over our present system. First, We should |
aim to. exclude absolutely not only all |
persons who are known to be believers |
in anarchistic principles or members of |
societies, but also all persons |
who are of low moral tendency OF OF |
unsavory reputation. The second object |
Of proper immigration law ought to be |
20 secure by Il careful and not merely \
eIu..n fioual test some iufelli- /