Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-07

absolutely necessary; but it is equally
true that when confident of it's neces-
sity we should not on academic
grounds refuse it.
Wise Laws Necessary.
Wise factory laws, laws to forbid the
employment Of child labor and to SAFE
guard the employees against the effects
of culpable negligence by the employ
er, are necessary, not merely in the
interest of the wage worker, but in the
interest of the honest and humane en-
ployer, who should not be penalized
for his honesty and humanity by being
exposed to unchecked competition with
an INSCRIPTIONS 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.
Need Better Understanding.
Very much of our effort in reference
to labor matters should be by every
device and expedient to try to secure
a constantly better understanding be-
tween employer and employee. Every
| thing possible should be done to in
crease the sympathy and fellow-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. If
met with sincere desire to act fairly
by one another, and il there is, fur
thermore, power by each to appreci-
ate the others standpoint, the chance
for trouble is minimized. I suppose
every thinking man rejoices when by
mediation or arbitration it proves
possible to settle troubles in time to
avert the suffering and bitterness
caused by strikes. Moreover, concili-
alton committee can do best work
when the trouble is in its beginning,
| or at least has not come to head.
When the break has actually occurred,
damage has been done, and each side
! feels sore and angry; and it Is diff
cult to get them together-difficult to
make either forget its own wrongs and
remember the rights of the other. If
possible. the effort at Cancellation or
mediation or arbitration should be
made in the earlier stages, and should
be marked by the wish on the part of
both sides. to try to come to COM
mon agreement, which each shall
think in the interest of the other as
we'll as of itself
The Coal Strike Commission.
| When we deal with subject we are
fortunate in having before lis An ad-
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 adj
| iourned at the special session; and no
government document of recent years
makes more important piece of work
better done, and there is none 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 pro-
LESSONS, the employers and the en-
ployed. They acted as unit, and the
report which they unanimously signed
Is masterpiece of sound common
sense and of sound doctrine on the
very questions on which our people
should most deeply concern them.
selves 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 lawmaker alike will take
to heart and act upon the lessons set
forth in the report they have made.
Protection of Railway Employees.
~ c,1o lou non he
enacted as an incident to the nations
control over interstate commerce. In
my last annual message to congress
advocated the passage of law in ref
erence 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 employees. Much opposition
had TO be overcome. In the end ar
admirable law was passed ito promote
the safety of employees and travellers
upon railroads by compelling common
carriers engaged in interstate COM
merce to equip their cars with auto
matte couplers and continuous brake:
and their locomotives with driving
: wheel brakes" This law received m,
signature couple of days before con
gress adjourned. 1t represents rea
and substantial advance in an admira
BILE kind of legislation.
Government Can Do Little.
Of course the national government
! has but a small field in which it car
work in labor matters. Something /
can do, however, and that something
,, ought to be done. Among other things
! should like to see the district o
Columbia, which is completely unde
: the control of the national government
receive set of model labor laws
Washington is not city of very larg,
industries but still it has some. Wis
labor legislation for the city of Wash
!, ington would be good thing in Itself
and it would be a far better thing, be
cause a standard would thereby be Sc
!, for the country as a whole.
Laws for Navy Department.
In the field of general legislation re
lating to these subjects the action Q
congress is necessarily very limited
Still there are certain ways in whic
! we can act. Thus the secretary of tn
: navy has recommended, with my col
: dial and hearty approval, the enact
: ment of strong employers -liabilit