The Tucson citizen., 1902-10-09
SEEKING A REMEDY.

Mr. Carroll D. Wright, United States
commissioner of labor, in an address
at, the West Virginia University few
days ago, suggested that religion is ul-
timately to settle the problems of cap
ital and labor. Mr.. Wright argued
that 1.-The single tax, nationalism and
socialism, the most ambitious remedies
which are offered, all fall short in
application" ''In religion" he con-
Guided, I'VE find the highest form of
solution-a religion which shall hold
in it's power the church, industry, COM
merce and the whole social fabric 1t
is an interesting coincidence that while
Mr. Wright, the publicist and econ
omist, finds in religion the only solu-
tion of economic problems, the North
Western Christian Advocate, an influ-
entail organ of Methodist opinion, in
vokes the aid of the federal govern
ment and the enforcement of extreme
measures to solve the coal strike prob
lem. Says the Christian Advocate:
So great and widespread will be the
suffering and distress if this strike is
not settled soon, and the mining of
coal resumed before winter sets in,
that, If it is within the power of the
federal government, the President
would be justified in taking possession
Of the mines on the ground of public
welfare and operate them until the
operators and miners come to an
agreement Such action, if seriously
attempted, would quickly result in a
settlement
The President of the United States
has no authority to seize the mines
in Pennsylvania. But, according to
some experts in law, the State of Penn
sylvania might take action of the kind
proposed by our religious contempo-
rary. Still, this would be very des-
perate remedy, and one which conser-
vative men would not approve except
no d AdoC A6oOIA, WuSA oil OCHCA AOLA-
edies had failed. The proposition ad-
vanced by the Christian Advocate
shows, however, that the churches are
beginning to realize the gravity of the
situation. THE anthracite coal trust" "
says our Methodist contemporary, ''is
putting the price of coal at a figure
which hundreds of thousands of con-
sumers are unable to pay, and will,
therefore, suffer from cold. 1t is put
ting an unjustifiable burden of expense
on churches, schools, factories, COM
merce and private families. 1t has
shown that a monopoly has no regard
for the public welfare" Since in the
opinion Of the Advocate, Legislation
would not meet the present emergency,
our contemporary proposes the adop-
tion of measures which would be revo-
lutionary. This indicates that if the
religious sentiment of which the Ad-
vocate is an exponent could have it's
way, it would make short work of the
coal combination, by extra-legal meth
ods if necessary.
1t is a, good sign that the churches
are realizing the danger of monopoly.
They can, if their influence is exer-
cised with wisdom and moderation, do
much to create healthy public senti-
possible in the future. Laws" says
Mr.. Wright, can never serve as a So
luton of social and economic prob
lems' Is this the fact, or is it the
assumption of man who finds much
to discourage him in the failures of
the past, and has no faith in selfish
human nature? 1t ought to be prac-
ticable to devise laws which will pro-
tect the public from monopoly and
compel men who enjoy many privi-
Ieges from the state to respect their
obligations. Perhaps the failures of
the past are due not so much to the
inability of lawmakers to frame
statutes which can not be evaded as
to the ignorance and carelessness of
many legislators and to the purpose Of
some shrewd politicians to make laws
inadequate and ineffective by clothing
them In vague and confusing terms.
The monopolies against which statutes
are framed are able to command the
services of the most skilled lawyers to
find flaws in legislation. There are,