The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-06

JECT AND IN THE COURSE OF HIS
There are many. many lesser problems
which go TO make up In their entirety
the huge and complex problems OF our
modern industrial life. Each of these
problems is, moreover connected with
many OF the others. Few indeed are
simple or stand only by themselves. The
most important are those connected WIN
the relation OF the farmers, the STOCK
grows and soil tillers, 10 the community
at large, and those affecting the rela-
tions between employer and employed.
In country like ours IL Is funua-
mentally true that the well-being or the
uller OF the soil and the wage-Worker Is
tho well-being OF the state. II they are
well off. then we need concern ourselves
but little as TO how other classes stand
for they will inevitably be well on, too,
and. on the other hand, there can be no
real general prosperity unless based on
the foundation Of the prosperity OF the
wage-worker and the tiller OF the soil.
After showing that the needs OF these
two classes are not often the same and
explaining what the agricultural depart
ment has done for the farmer the presi-
dent proceeds:
TOTALLY CHANGED CONDITIONS.
But the wage workers in our cities. like
the capitalists in our cities. face totally
changed conditions. The development
of machinery and the extraordinary
change in business conditions have rem
ueIeu the employment or CapltdI ana OF
persons In large aggregations not merely
profitable but often necessary for sue
cess, 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
I'm our great Industrial centres men have
come to realize that they cannot live as
Independently of one another as In the old
days was the case everywhere, and as is
now the case I'm the country districts.
OF course. fundamentally each man will
N deter
mining his success or failure in life is the
sum of his own individual qualities. He
cannot afford To lose his individual initia-
/ tive. his individual will and POWER, but
| he can best use that power If 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 deem
ed legitimate and when illegitlmate.
The line OF demarcauon between un-
healthy overinterfence and unhealthy
lack OF regulation is not always well de-
fined, and shifts with the change In our
Industrial needs. Most certainly we should
never invoke the Interference OF the state
or nation unless Il is absolutely neces-
| sary; but II IL equally true that when
| confident OF It's necessity we should not
on academic grounds refuse IL.
NECESSARY IEGlSLAT1ON.
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 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 vio-
lence But the effort TO deal with II must
be steadily made.
Very much OF our effort I'm reference to
labor matters should he by every device
and expedent TO try to secure con-
stantly better understanding between en-
ployer and emplOye. Everything possible
should be done te increase the sympathy
and felow-feeling between them. and
every chance taken TO allow each 20 look
at all questions, especially at questions
In dispute somewhat through the others
eyes.
IL met with n sincere desire TO act fair
ly by one another. and II there is. fur
! thermore, power by each to appreciate
! the others standpoint, the chance for
trouble is minimized. / suppose every
/ thinking man rejoices when by mediation
or arbitration II proves possible to settle
! troubles in time 10 avert the suffering
and bitterness caused by strikes. More
/ over. n Cancellation committee can do
4 best work when the trouble Is I'm its be-
| ginning. or at least has not come to n
head. when the break has actually oc-
| CURED. damage has been done. and each
/ side feels sore and angry; and II Is diffi-
! cult 10 get them together-difflcult to
I make either forget It's own wrongs and
! remember the rights Of the other
] o. .fFN H..
| mediation or arbitration should be made
| I'm the earlier stages, and should be
/ marked by the wish on the part Of both
| sides TO try TO come 20 common agree
ment which each shall think I'm the inter-
ests OF the other as we'll as Of itself
AN ADMIRABLE LESSON.
when we deal with such Subject we
! are fortunate IN having before us ad-
mirabe object lesson IN tho work that
has just been closed by tho 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 n disaster second 10 none
which has befallen US since the days OF
| the Civil War.
Their report was made just before the
| Senate adjourned at the special- session; (;
| and no Government document OF recent
years marks a more important piece OF
| work better done. and there IL none
/ which teaches sounder social morality 10
| our people. The Commission consisted
| of seven as good men as were TO he
fund In the country. representing the
bench. the church. the army. the pro-
fasslons. the employers. and the employ
cd They acted as a unit and the re-
/ port which they unanimously signed is
4 a nasterpiece ~ sound common sense
| and ~ sound doctrine on the very ques-
| tions with which our people should most
deeply concern themselves.