Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-08
PRESIDENT R00SEvE[TS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ~~~~c~~~>~>>,>o>e
to investigate and report to the con.
gress upon the labor conditions in the
manufacturing and mining regions
throughout the country both as to
wages, as to hours of labor, MS to the
labor Of women and children and as to
the effect in the various labor centers
of immigration from abroad. In this
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 it 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 it 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-
tio,, Of fhn III, ~,
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 xreat cor
porations can become such only " 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
tient with an argument that such mat
ters 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 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 spirit
of justice and decency toward his fell
lows. Great corporations are neces-
sary, and only men Of great and singu-
lar mental power can manage such
corporations successfully, and such
men must have great rewards, But
these corporations should be managed
with due regard to the interest of the
public as whole. Where this can be
done under the present laws 1t must
be done. Where these laws come short
others should be enacted to supple.
ment them. PIX
Yet we must never forget the de
termining factor in every kind of work
of head or hand, must be the mans
own good sense, courage and kindli
ness. More important than any legis
lation is the gradual growth Of feel
ing Of responsibility and forbearance
among capitalists and wageworkers
alike-a feeling of respect on the part
Of each man for the rights Of others, q
feeling of broad community Of inter
est, not merely Of capitalists among
themselves and of wageworkers among
themselves, but Of capitalists an6
wageworlsers in their relations to eacl
other and Of both in their relations to
their fellows who with them make uI
the body polite. There are many cap
tains of industry, many labor leaders
who realize this. A recent speech by
the president Of one of our great rail
road systems to the employees of thai
system contains sound common sense
1t runs in part as follows:
ut is my belief we can better serve
each other, better understand tile mar
as well as his business, when meeting
face to face, exchanging views anf
realizing from personal contact WI
serve but one interest, that of our mu
tual prosperity.
Serious Misunderstanding canno
occur where personal good will exist!
and opportunity for personal explana
ton is present.
I'm my early business life had ex
a n