Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-12-30
10 MCDILL'S MUSINGS.

Some time before the late election, prOni-
nent politician said thal party leaders "trrned
pale" at the thought OF dealing with the labor
question Or, in other words, party leaders
were afraid to take stand for fear Of either
an,agonizing the labor vote or the c1pitsl c
influence.
The President is not among those who are
afraid to speak. In his message to congress,
the labor question is more fully treated than by
other prominent man OF either o! the two
leading parties. His ideas of "squdre dcal'
are very clearly outlined, aud labo1ing inen
can hardly find that the President is not in full
accord with their efforts to better their condi-
ton.
We honor the President, not only for his
triendliness to labor, but also tor his courage
in expressing that friendliness. He announces
a great principle that is at the bottom of al!
labor questions in that sentence that declares
that 'the wage-workers are peculiarly entitled
to the protection and encouragement'of the law "
The sentiment is opulistic-Socaistc and,
in the words of Populists or Socialists, the
s,rous eau take care of themselves 1t is the
weak VINO need, and must have, tie protection
of the law, or else be crushed to earth or ground
to powder. The strong are the class that seize
and exercise power. Usually, it is the few
who from purely selfish motives. seize govern
menis Governments by the few have never
given the II asses square deal. Evidently,
the President believes that # the few are 10
govern, that government must be such as to
afford perfect protection to the wage-earne
The President thinks the law is inadequate,
but has this to say: "Tae administration has
been jealous in enforcing the existing law for
this purpose. That law should be
amended and strengthened" Here, h.. has
particular reference to law for the protection of
railway employees, and says "There should
be stringent employers liability law" which
means that no corporation has moral right to
be careless or indifferent to dangers that imperl
the lives of employees, and that any such indif-
ference should be met and overcome by legal
enactment.
quote from the Presidents quotation, with,
evidently, his approval of the sentiment ex-
pressed: "That day has gone by when a
corporation can be handled successfully in def
ice of the public will, even htugh III II will
be unreasonable and wrong. A public
may be led, but not driven, and prefer 10 20
with it, and shape or modify, in measure, S
opinion rather than be swept ficm my beai-
ings with loss to myself and the interests IN
my charge"
1t is further said that much of the hostile
feeling to corporations is "founded in reason, :"
aud "a large measure is due to the personal
traits of arbitrary, unreasonable, incompetent,
offensive men in positions in authority" The
idea that the Roche Eeellers, Goulds, Baers and
Morgans should "come out into the light
(and Roosevelt thinks they must) is something
SO calling to those gentlemen of the divine
right to plunder thrt we wonder that the Presi-
dent is not already deposed and Fairbanks, the
"poor boy" set up in his stead.
Read Publicity, aud not secrecy, will win
hereafter, and laws will be construed by their
intent, and not by their letter; other public
utilities will be owned by the public which
created them, even though the service be less
efficient.
ain only quoting line here and there.