Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-10

gress upon the labor conditions In the
manufacturing and mining regions
throughout the country both as to
wages, as to hours Of labor. as to the
labor OF women and children and as to
the effect In the various labor centers
or immigration from abroad In this
investigation 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 them
selves, but the lack of proper legisla-
ton in one state in such a matter as
child labor often renders 1t excessive
ly difficult to establish protective re
striction upon the work In another
state having the same industries. so
that the worst tends to drag down the
better. For this reason 1t would be
well for the nation at least to endeavor
TO secure comprehensive information as
to the conditions of labor Of children In
the different states. Such investigation
and publication by the national gov
eminent would tend toward the secur-
ing of approximately uniform legisla-
ton 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 cor.
porations can become such only by en-
gaging in interstate commerce, and in
terstate commerce is peculiarly the
field of the general government. 1t
Is an absurdity to expect to eliminate
the abuses In great corporations by
state action. 1t Is difficult to be pa
tent with an argument that such mat
tiers should be left to the states. be-
cause more than one state pursues the
policy of creating on easy terms cor
porations which are never operated
within that state at all, but In other
states whose laws they ignore. The
national government alone can deal
adequately with these great corpora
tons. To try to deal with them In an
incorporate, destructive or demagogic
spirit would In all probability mean
that nothing whatever would be ac-
complished and with absolute certain
ty that If anything were accomplish
ed 1t would be Of a harmful nature.
The American people need to continue
to show the very qualities that they
have shown-that is, moderation, good
sense, the earnest desire to avoid do
ing any damage and yet the quiet de
termination to proceed, step by step.
without halt and without hurry. in
eliminating or at least in minimizing
whatever of mischief or of evil there
Is to Interstate commerce in the CON
duct of great corporations. They are
acting In no spirit of hostility TO
wealth. either individual or corporate.
They are not against the rich 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 a spirit
of Justice and decency toward his fell
lows. Great corporations are neccs-
sary, and only men of great and singu-
sIs-1--a,.t,i.us power can slaange such
corporations successfully. and such
men must have great rewards But
these corporations should be managed
with due regard 60 the interest of the
public as a whole. Where this can he
done under the present laws IL must
be done. Where these laws come short
others should be enacted To supple.
mcnt them.
Yet we must mover for-ct tie dc
Terminus factor IN every L.al or work.
OF Ee.d o. hand. ;auat he the mans
own good sense. courage and kind,i-
ness. More Important than any legs
latlon is tie yrlduJl growth OF Il feel.
Ing OF responsibility and fDrhcarancc
among capitalists and wa.cworkcrs
alikc-a feeling of respect on the part
OF each man for the rights of others. Il
feeling OF broad community OF inter
est, not merely OF capitalists among
themselves and of waSewo~kers among
themselves. but OF capitalists and
wa-eworkcrs in ti,cir relations TO each
other and of both in their relations 10
their fellows who with them make up
the body polite. There are many cap
tains of industry, many labor leaders
who realize this \ recent srecch by
the president Of ono of our great rail
road systems 20 r. employees OF that
system cont"inS sand common sense
1t runs IN pert 9s fa'lrws:
1T = ,0 h,,i z r-c en- better serve
each -t%c~. peH. az .c-,, IA the man
- We. IS us !. ',."tr - On faeeting
face d face. exc us.aS yicwS and
rc:l-.,c fr2m pc,s.as ! co-t,ct we
serve let o%c Interest. th.t Of our mu-
tUSl prosperity.
Serious misurdcrSt ;nI:ings cannot
occur where personal good will exists
ana opportunity for personal cNplana-
ton is present.
In my early businers life had ex-
perience with men of affairs of char
acter TO Ike me desire TO avoid ere
ating a Ike feeling of resentment to
myself and the interests in my charge
should fortune ever place me in author
ity, and | am sollcitous OF measure
OF confidence on the part OF the public
and our employees that l shall hope
l.. ,tr.,l Ct