The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-06

/ became SIaTIQnRIY prominent. 1t Is
greatly to be wished that the depart
ment OF commerce and labor, through
the labor bureau, should compile and
arrange for the congress a list of the
labor laws of the various states, and
should be given the means to inyesti-
gate and report to the congress upon
the labor conditions in the manufac-
turing and mining regions throughout
the country, both as to wages as to
hours of labor, as to the labor of wo-
men and children, and as to the effect
in the various labor centers of immi-
gSa ton from abroad. In this investi-
CATION especial attention should be
paid to the conditions of child labor
and child labor legislation in the sew
eral states. Such an Investigation must
necessarily take into account MANY of
the problems with which this question
of child labor is connected These
problems can be actually met, in most
| cases, only by the states themselves:
/ but the lack of proper legislation in
| one state in such a matter as child la
| Dor often renders it excessively difficult
| TO establish protective restriction upon
/ the work in another state having the
| same Industries, so that the worst
tends to drag down the better. For
TINS reason, 1t would be well for the
| nation at least to endeavor to secure
comprehensive information as to the
l conditions of labor of children in the
dlfterent states. Such investigation
and publication by the national gov
eminent would tend toward the Sc
| curing of approximately uniform leg
! 1slaticn of the proper character among
| the several states.
Corporations
When we come to deal with great
corporations the need for the govern
ment to act directly is far greater than
In the case of labor, because great
corporations can become such only
by engaging in interstate commerce.
ana interstate commerce is peculiarly
the field of the general government |
II Is an apsurdfty to expect to elimi-
a in
by state action. Tt is difficult to be
patient with an argument that such
matters should be left to the states, |
because more than one state pursues
the policy of creating on easy terms |
corporations which are never operated |
within the state at all, but in other |
states whose laws they ignore. The |
national government alone can deal |
adequately with these great CORPORA |
lions. To try to deal with them in an |
intemperate, destructive. or demagogic |
spirit would, in all prObabilft mean /
that nothing whatever would be ACCOM- |
plished, and, with absolute certainty, |
that If anything were accomplished it |
would be of q harmful nature The
American people need to continue to |
snow the very qualities that they have |
shown-that is, moderation, good sense,
the earnest desire to avoid doing any
damage, and yet the quiet deterTnina-
ton to proceed, step by step. without
malt and without hurry, in eliminating
or at least in minimizing whatever of |
mischief or of evil there is to interstate
commerce in the conduct of great cor
poratfons. They are acting in no spirit
OF hostility to wealth, either Individual
OF corporate They are not against the
rieh man any more than against the
poor man. On the contrary, they are
friendly alike toward rich man and |
toward poor man. provided only that |
each acts in spirit of justice and l.
decency toward his fellows. Great cor
porations are necessary, and only men
Of great singular mental power can
manage such corporations successfuIly
and such men must have great rewards.
But these corporations should be man
aged with due regard to the interest of
the public as a whole. Where this can |
be done under the present laws it must
De done. Where these laws come short
others should be enacted to supplement ;
them.
Yet we must never forget the deter
mining factor in every kind of work
or head or hand, must be the mans .
own good sense, courage and kindli-
ness. More important than any Iegis- !
at1on is the gradual growth of a feel !
among capitalists and wage workers !
alike; feeling of broad community of :
interest, not merely of capitalists :
among themselves, and of wage work. !
ars among themselves, but of capital
SITS and wage workers in their rela- :
ions to each other, and of both in their T
relations to their fellows who with | !
hem make up the body polite. There :
/ 7
ahor leaders, who realize this. A re- !
cent speech by the president of one of '
our great railroad systems to the en- $
0loyes Of that system contains sound :
common sense 1t runs in part as fol- :
ows:
TT is my belief we can better serve !
each other, better understand the man :
Is well as his business, when meeting Z
ace to face, exchanging views, and re- .
tlizing from personal contact we serve
'ut one interest, that of our mutual :
prosperity.
Serious misunderstanding can not
occur where personal good win exists =
md opportunity for personal explana- :
ion is present. I
,erlence with men of affairs of =
haracter to make me desire to avoid =
reat1ng like feeling of resentment to -
myself and the interests in my charge
mould fortune ever place me in au- =
hority, and 1 am solicitous of a meas q
Ire of confidence on the part of the
'uohc and our employees that I shall q
less and good fellowship intend shall 2
'revan in our relationship >
But do not feel 7 am disposed to 4
rant unreasonable requests, spend the =
money OF our company unnecessarily or u
without value received, nor expect the q
.ays or mistakes are disappearing, or III
nat cause for complaint will not con- r
inualy occur; simply to correct such 9
buses as may be discovered to better le
onditions as fast as reasonably may v
'e expected. constantly striving with
'ary1ng success, for that Improvement II
We all desire. to convince you there is a O
orce at work in the right direction. all a
he time making progresses the dispo- c.
lt1on with which I have come among
GU, asking your good will and encour-
cement.
The day has gone by when a cor -
oratlon can be handled successfully in -
ehance OF the public will, even though =
hat Will be unreasonable and wrong. y
l public may be led. but not driven, y