Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-06

More and more in our great industrial CEN
ters men have come to realize that they
cannot live as Independently of one an
other as in the old days was the case every
where and as is now the case in the coun-
try districts.
"Of course fundamentally each man will
yet find that the chief factor in determining
his success failure in life is the sum OF
his own individual qualities. He cannot af-
ford to lose his individual initiative. his In
dividual will and power; but he can best
use that power II for certain objects he
unites with his fellows Much can 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 interference of the state should be
deemed legitimate and when illegitimate.
The hne of demarcation between un-
healthy overinterference- and unhealthy
lack of regulation is not always we'll de-
fined and shifts with the change In our
industrial needs. Most certainly we should
never invoke the interference of the state
nation unless it is absolutely necessary;
but it is equally true that when confident
of its necessity we should not on academic
grounds refuse II.
Effort Toward Harmony.
VERY much of our effort in reference to
labor matters should be by every device
and expedieut to try to secure a constant
ly better understanding between employer
and employe. 1 suppose every thinking
man rejoices VIXEN by mediation or arht-
tration It proves possible to settle troubles
in time to avert the suffering and bitter
ness caused by strikes. Moreover,
conciliatton committee can do best work
when the trouble is in it's 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 1t is difficult
to get them together.
When we deal with such a subject we
are fortunate in having before us an ad-
has just been closed by the anthracite
coal strike commission. This tha
commission which was appointed last fall
at the time when the coal strike in the
anthracite regions threatened our nation
with d 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
of work better done. and there is none
which teaches sounder social morality to
our people.
Governments Powers Limited.
"Of course the national government has
but a small field in which it can work in
labor matters. Something it can do. how
ever, and that something ought to be done.
Among other things 1 should like TO see the
District of Columbia. which is completely
under the control of the national govern
ment, receive set of model labor laws.
Washington is not a city of very large in
duStries, but still 1T has some. Wise labor
legislation for the city of Washington
would be a good thing in itself, and it
would be a far better thing because a
standard would thereby be set for tire
country as a whole.
I'm the field of general legislation re-
lating to these subjects the action of Con-
gress 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 a strong en-
the nation. 1t should be extended to sim
liar branches of the government 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 1 advocated the pas
to strengthen the features Of the one al
ready on the statute books SO as to mini
miZe the exposure to death and manning
of railway employees. Much opposition had
to be overcome. In the end an admirable
law was passed to promote the safety of
employees and travellers upon railroads by
compelling common carriers engaged in in
terstate commerce to equip. their cars with
automatic couplers and continuous brakes
and their locomotives with driving-wheel
brakes This law received my signature
couple of days before Congress adjourned.
1t represents real and substantial ad-
vance in an admirable kind of legislation"
At the conclusion of his address the presi
Dental party was driven to the Great
Northern depot. and at 9:30 am. the special
train left for Yankton.