New-York tribune., 1903-04-07

through refrigeration and through methods OF
handling and packing. on the Gulf coasts or
Louisiana and Texas, thanks TO the Department
of Agriculture a rice suitable TO the region
was imported from the Orient and the rice crop
is now practically equal to our needs in TINS
country, whereas few years ago il supplied
only one-fourth of them. The most important
of our farm products is the grass crop; and to
show what has been done with grasses need
only aiude TO the striking change mace in the
entire West by the extended use of alfalfa
FOREST PRESERVATION.
Moreover the department has taken the lead
in the effort to prevent the deforestation of the
country. Where there forests we seek to
preserve them: and on the once ueeless plains
and the prairies we doing our best to foster
the habit of tree planting among our people IN
my own lifetime have seen wonderful changes
brought about by this tree planting here in your
own State and in the states 1mmeolates
around il.
There are a number Of very important ques-
tions, such as that of good roads. with which
the States alone can deal. and where all that the
haaonai government can 90 ~ 70 za1o.inn
with them The same is true or the educatoI
OF the American farmer A number OF the
States have themselves started TO help in TINS
work. and the Department OF Agriculture ooes
immense amount which is in the proper sense
Of the word educational. and educational in the
most practical way
HELPING MEN TO HELP THEMSELVES
It is therefore clearly true that great ad-
vance has been made in the direction OF hnding
ways by which the government can help the
farmer TO help hiniself-the only kind Of help
which a self-respecting man viii accept. or, L
may add which viii in the end do him any good.
Much has been done in these ways, and farm
life and farm processes continually change Tor
the better
surroundings and the nature of his work, TO a
pre-eminent degree the qualities which we like
to think Of as distinctly American in considering
our early history The man who tills ms own
farm. whether on the prairie in the wood
land; the who grows what we eat and
the raw material which is worked up into what
We wear still exists more nearly under the con-
ditions which obtained when the 'embattled
farmers" of &c MADE this country nation than
is true of any others Of our people.
CHANGED CONDITIONS OF LABOR.
But the wageworBers in our cities, like the
capitalists IN our cities. face totally changed
conditions. The development Of machinery and
the extraordinary change in business condi-
fions have rendered the employment Of capital
and of persons in large aggregations not merely
profitable but often necessary for success. and
have specialized the labor Of the wageworker
at the same time that they have brought great
aggregations OF wageworkers together. More
and more in great industrial centres men
have come TO realize that they cannot live as in
oependently Of one another as in the old days
was the case everywhere. and as is now the
case in the country districts.
OF course fundamentally. each will Yet
find that the chief factor in determining his
success or failure in life is the sum Of his own
individual qualities. He cannot 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
can he done by organization combination. union
among the wageworkers: finally, something
can be done by the direct action of the State It
IS not possible efnpirically to declare when the
Interference of the State should be deemed
legitimate and when illegitimate
THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
The line OF demarcation between unhealthy
overinterferenca and unhealthy Lack Of regula-
tion is not always well defined, and shifts with
the change in our industrial needs. Most GER
tainly should never invoke the interference
OF the State or nation unless il is absolutely
hut hat --xbn
fdent OF its necessity should not aca-
demic grounds refuse il Wise factory laws.
laws TO forbid the employment Of child labor and
10 safeguard the employees against the effects Of
culpable negligence by the employer. are neces-
sary. 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 ex-
posed TO unchecked competition with an un-
scrupuIous rival It 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
ARBITRATION ADVOCATED.
Very much effort En reference to
labor matters should be by every device and
expedient TO try to secure a constantly bet
understanding between employer and
empIoye. Everything possible should
done increase the sympathy and fellow
feeling between them and every chance
tnken to allow ca ch TO look at all questions.
especially 4 questions in dispute, somewhat
through the Others eyes.
If met with sincere desire TO act fairly by
one another. and if there is. Furthermore, power
by each appreciate the others standpoint, the
chance for trouble is minimized. 1 suppose
every thinking man rejoices when by mediation
or arbitration it proves possible 10 settle trou-
bles in time avert the suffering and bitterness
caused by strikes Moreover. a conciliation COM
nittee can DO best work when the trouble is in
its beginning. or, least. has not come to q
head. When the break has actually occurred
damage has been done, and each side feels sore
and angry, and il is difficult TO get them to-
III 1ip71i- -n lZp eft
wrongs and remember the rights of the other
II possible the effort at conCiliatiOn mediation
stages, and should be marked by the wish on
the part OF both sides TO try 10 come to a COM
mon agreement which each shall think in the
interests Of the other well as OF itself.
THE COAL STRIKE SETTLEMENT.
When we deal with such a subject are
Y fortunate III having before admira bic OBJ
ject 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 re-
port was made Just before the Senate adjourned
at the special session, and no government docu-
rr1ent Of recent years marks more important
piece Of work better done, ana there is none
which teaches sounder social morality 20 our
people.
men as were be found in the country. repre-
senting the bench the church, the army, the
professions the employers and the employed
They acted as a unit, and the report which they
unanimously signed is masterpiece OF sound
common sense and of sound doctrine on the
very questions with which our people should
most deeply concern themselves Inc hlhiedlaIe
effect of this commissions appointment ana &C
tion was Of vast and incalculable benefit TO the
nation: but the ultimate effect will be even bet
ter IL capitalist, wageworker and iawmaker
alike win take TO heart and act upon the les
sons set forth in the report they have made
--~"Apop LAWS RECOMMENDED