The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-07

/ er at the same time that they have
brought great aggregations of wage
workers together.
| "Of course, fundamentally each man
| will yet find that the chief factor in
determining his success or failure in life
is the sum of his own individual quail
| ties. He can not afford to lose his in
| dividual initiative, his individual will
and power; but he can best use that
rover if for certain objects he unites
| with his fellows. Much can be done hv
organization, combination. union among
| the wage workers.; finally something can
| be done by the direct action of the State.
1.-THE line of demarcation between un-
| healthy over-interference and unhealthy
| lack of regulation is not always well
| defined, and shifts with the change in
our industrial needs. Most certainly We
should never invoke the interference of
| the State or Nation unless it is abso-
lutely necessary; but it is equally true
| that when confident of it's necessity, We
should not on academic grounds refuse it..
Wise factory laws, laws to forbid the en-
ployment of child labor and to safeguard
the employees against the effects of cul-
pable negligence by the employer, are
necessary, not merely in the interest of
the wage worker, but in the interest Of
the honest and humane employer, who
should not be penalized for his honesty
and humanity by being exposed to un-
checked competition with an unscrupu-
lous rival. 1t is far more difficult to
deal with the greed that works through
cunning than with the greed that works
through violence. But the effort to deal
with it must be steadily made.
VERY much of our effort in reference
to labor matters should be by every de-
vice and expedient to try to secure con-
stantly better understanding between
employer and employee. Everything
possible should be done to increase the
sympathy and fellow-fe feeling between
them and every chance taken to allow
each to look at all questions especially at
questions in dispute somewhat through
the others eyes. A Cancellation
committee can do best work when the
trouble is in its beginning, or at least
has not come to head
when we deal with such subject we
are fortunate in having before us an adj
mirable object lesson in the work that
has just been closed by the Anthracite
Coal Strike Commission This was the
commission which was appointed last fall
at the time when the coal strike in the
anthracite regions threatened our nation
with a disaster second to none which has
befallen us since the days of the Civil
War. Their report was made just before
the Senate adjourned at the special ses-
sion; and no government document of re-
cent years marks a more important piece
ic
which teaches sounder social morality to
our people The commission consisted of
seven as good men as were to be found
in the country, representing the bench,
the church, the army, the professions,
the employers, and the employed. They
acted as unit, and the report which they
unanimously signed is a masterpiece of
sound common sense and of sound doc
trine on the very questions with which
our people should most deeply concern
themselves. The immediate effect of this
commissions appointment and action
was OF vast and incalculable benefit to
the nation; but the ultimate effect will be
even better, if capitalist, wage-worker,
and law-maker alike will take to heart
and act upon the lessons set forth in the
report they have made.
"Of course the national government
has but a small field in which it can
work in labor matters. Something it can
do however, and that something ought
to be done Among other things l should
like to see the District of Columbia,
which is completely under the control of
the national government, receive a set of
model labor laws. Washington is not a
~
has some. Wise labor legislation for the
city of Washington would be a good
thing in itself, and it would be a far bet
ter thiag-a1 because standard would
thareby be set for the country as whole.
In the field of general legislation re-
atlng to those subjects the action of
Congress is necessarily very limited.
Still there are certain ways in which we
can act. Thus the Secretary of the Navy
has recommended, with my cordial and
hearty approval, the enactment of
strong employers liability law in the
navy yards of the nation. 1t should be
extended to similar branches of the gov
eminent work Again, sometimes such
laws can be enacted as an incident to the
nations control over interstate commerce.
In my last annual message to Congress
advocated the passage of law in refer
ence to car couplings-to strengthen the
features of the one already on the statute
books so as TO minimize the exposure to
death and manning of railway en-
ployees. An admirable law was passed
to promote safety of employees and trav-
elers upon railroads by compelling com
mon carriers engaged in interstate com
merce to equip their cars with automatic
couplerS and continuous brakes and their
locomotives with driving wheel brakes 3"
This law received my signature a couple
of days before Congress adjourned. 1t
represents real and substantial advance
in an admirable kind of legislation
At the conclusion of his address, the
Presidential party was driven to the
Great Northern depot and the special
train left for Yankton...
Bingham Defeats Elon.