Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-04-06
PRESIDENT AT
SIOUX L


man who tills his own farm, whether
on the prairie or in the woodland, the
man who grows what we eat and the
raw material which is worked up ints
what we wear, still exists more nearly
under the conditions which obtained
when the ~"embattied farmers" of 76
made this country a nation than is
true of any others of our people.
But the wage workers in our cities,
like the capitalists in our cities, race
totally changed conditions. The de-
velopment of machinery and the ex-
traordinary change in business condi-
tons have rendered the employment
of capital and of persons in large ag-
g~regations not merely profitable but
often necessary for success, and have
specialized the labor Of the wage
worker at the same time that they
have brought great aggregations OF
wage workers together. More and
more in our great industrial centers
men have come to realize that they
can not live as independently of n
another as in the old days was the
case everywhere, inc as is now the
case in the country districts.
OF course, fundamentally each man
will yet find that the chief factor in
determining his success or failure in
life is the sun of his own individual
qualities. He can lot afford to lose
his individual initiative, his individual
will and power; but he can best use
that power If for certain objects he
unites with his fellows. Much car be
done by organization, combination,
union among the wage workers;
finally something can be done by the
direct action of the state. 1t is not
possible empirically to declare when
the inference of the state should be
deemed legitimate and when illegiti-
mate.
The line of demarcation between
unhealthy interference and un-
healthy lack of regulation is not al
ways well defined, and shifts with the
change in our industrial needs. Most
certainly we should never invoke the
interference of the state or nation un-
less it is absolutely necessary; but ii
is equally true that when confident of
its necessity we should not on acad'
emic grounds refuse 1t.
Wise factory laws, laws to forbid
the employment of child labor and tC
safeguard the employees against thu
effects of ~cuipable negligence by thu
employer, are necessary, not merel.
in the interest of the wage wokrer, bu
In the interest of the wage worker, blu
name employer, who should not b
penalized for his honesty and human
ity by being exposed to unchecke
competition with an unscrupulou
rival. 1t is far more difficult to dea
with the greed that works through cul
ming than with the greed that work
through violence. But the effort I
deal with 1t must be steadily made.
Very much of our effort in referenc
to labor matters should be by ever
device and expedient to try to ecu
constantly better understanding b.
tween employer and employe. Ever,
thing possible should be done to il
crease the sympathy and fellow fee
ing between them, and every chanC
taken to allow each to look at all que
tions, especially at questions in di
pute, somewhat through h other
eyes. If met with a sincere desire
act fairly by one another, and if the
is, furthermore, power by each to a
preciate the others standpoint, Il
chance for trouble is minimized. | su
pose every thinking man r~ejoices WHIT
by mediation or arbitration it prov
possible to settle troubles in time
avert the suffering and bitterne
caused by strikes. Moreover, a &C
ciliation committee can do best wo
when the trouble is in les beginning,
at least has not come to a head. VIII,
the break has actually occurred, dal
& has been done, and each side fee
sore and angry; m it is difficult
get them together-difficult to maxi
either forget its wi wrongs n r.
member the rights of the other.
possible the effort at Cancellation {
mediation or arbitration should
marked by the wish on the part
both sides to try to come to a commo
agreement which each shall hin
the interests of the other as we'll
of itself.
When we deal with such a subje
we are fortunate in having before
an admirable object lesson in the wo
that has just been closed by the A
thracite Coal Strike Commission. tt
was the commission which was
pointed last fall at the time when I
coa strike in the anthracite regio
threatened our nation with a disasl
second To none which has befallen
since the days of the civil war. Tn
report was made just before the sem
adjourned at the special session; a
no government document of rece
years marks a more important piece