The National tribune., 1902-12-04

RSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1902.
same end-to secure reciprocity-should
be met by direct legislation.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that q needed change cannot with adyan-
tage be made by the application of the
reciprocity idea. then il can be made out
right by lowering of duties on a given
product. If possible. such change should
he made only after the fullest considera-
ton by practical experts, who should ap-
preach the subject from business stand
point. having in view both the particular
interests affected and the commercial we'll
being of the people as a whole. The ma
chinery for providing such careful inveSti-
CATION can readily be supplied. The
executive department has already at its
disposal methods of collecting facts and
figures: and if the Congress desires addi-
tional consideration to that which will he
given the subject by its own committees,
then commission of business experts can
he appointed. whose duty il should be to
recommend action by the Congress after
deliberate and scientific examination OF
the various schedules as they are affected
by the changed and changing conditions.
The unhurr:ed and unbiased report of TINS
commission would show what changes
should be made in the various schedules
and how far these changes could 60 with
out also changing the great prosperity
which this country is now enjoying, OF
upsetting its fixed economic i'olicy.
The cases i'll which the tariff can pro
drce Il monopoly are so few as 10 constr
tute an inconsiderable factor in the ques-
ton; but of course il in any case. it be
found that given rate of duty does pro
mote monopoly which works i'll. no pro
tectionist would object to such reduction
Of the duty as would equalize competition
I'm my judgment. the tariff on anthra
cite coal should be removed. and anthra-
cite put actually. where it is now nom
inally. OH the free list. This would have
no effect ut all save in crises: but in crises
ii might be of service to the people.
The financial question is disposed of by
recommendation for legislation to in
crease the fexibility of the currency, and
make all sorts of money interchangeable
at the will of the holder, with gold.
A long paragraph. full of good sense
and cogent statement, is devoted to the
relations between capital and labor:
How to secure fair treatment alike for
labor and for capital, how to hold i'll check
the INSCRIPTIONS man, whether employer
or emplOye, without weakening individual
initiative, without hampering and cramp-
ing the industrial development of the coun-
try, is a problem fraught with great diff
culties and one which it is of the highest
Importance to solve on lines of sanity and
far-Sighted common sense as well as oil
devotion to the right. This is an era OF
federation and combination. Exactly as
business men find they must often work
through corporations. and as it is con-
slant tendency of these corporations to
grow larger. so it is often necessary for
labOring men to work in declarations, and
these have become important factors OF
modern Industrial life. Both kinds of fed
Grafton, capitalistic and labor, can do
much good. and as necessary cOrollary
they can both do evil. Opposition to each
kind of organization should take the form
of opposition to whatever Is bad IN the
conduct of any given corporation or union
not of attacks upon corporations as such
nor upon unions as such, for some OF the
most far-reaching beneficent work for our
people has been accomplished through both
corporations and unions. Each must re-
frain from arbitrary or tyrannOus inter-
ference with the rights of others. Organ
lied capital and organized labor alike
should remember that i'll the long run the
interest of each must be brought into mar
mony with the interest of the general pub
lie: and the conduct of each must conform
to the fundamental rules of obedience t.
the law, of individual freedom. and of JUS
tice and fair dealing toward all. Each
should remember that in addition to power
If must strive after the realization OF
healthy. lofty. and generous ideals. Every
employer. every wage-worker, must be
guaranteed his liberty and his right to 90
as he likes with his property or his labor
so long as he does not infringe upon the
rights of others. 1t is of the highest I'M
portance that employer and employe ailke
should endeavor to appreciate each the
viewpoint of the other and the sure dlsas-
ter that will come upon both IN tue long
run if either grows to take as habitual an
attitude of sour hostility and dlstrust To-
ward the other.
Few people deserve better of the coun.
try than those representatives both OF
capital and labOr-and there are many
sucb-who work continually to bring about
n good understanding of this kind, based
upon wisdom and upon broad and kindly
sympathy between employers and en-
nloyed. Above all, we need to remember
that any kind of class luminosity IN the
political world is. if possible, even more
wicked, even more destructive TO natlohhi
welfare. than sectional. race. or religious
onimosity. We can get good government
only upon condition that we keep true 10
the principles upon which this Nation was
founded, and Judge each man not as part
of a class. but upon his individual merits.
An that we have right to ask of any
man. rich or poor whatever his creed, his
occupation. his birthplace. or his resi-
dence. is that he shall act well and honor
ably by his neighbOr and by his country.
We are neither for the rich man as such
Il