Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-12-05

worker, is a difficult one. All phases
OF the labor problem prove difficult
when approached. But the underly.
ing principles, the root principles. in
accordance with which the problem
must be solved are entirely simple. We
can get Justice and right dealing only
T. we nut as OF paramount Importance
the principle OF treating a man on his
worth as q man rather than with ref
ference to his social position, his occu-
ernc to his social position. his cccu.
ton. or the class to which he belongs
There are selfish. and brutal men In
all ranks of life. II they are capital
lists their s~elfshness and brutality may
take the form Of hard Indifference TO
suffering. greedy disregard OF every
moral .estGasrt which II 1rferes will.
the accumulation Of wealth and coln-
Hooded exploitation Of the weak; OF II
they are laborers, the form OF lazi-
ress. OF cullen envy Of the more for.
tunate, and Of willingness to per''vr'
deeds of murderous violence. Such
conduct IS just as reprehensible in one
case as in the other, and all honest
and farseeing men should Join In war
ring against II wherever II becomes
manifest. Individual capitalist, and in
dividual wape-worker. corporation and
union. are alike entitled to the protec-
ton of the law, and must ALIKE obey
the law. Moreover, in addition to
mere Obedience to the law. each man,
II he be really a good citizen. must
| show broad sympathy for his neigh
Dor and genuine desire to look at any
question arising between them from
the standpoint of that neighbor nc
less than from his own; and to TINS
| end It is essential that capitalist and
wage-worker should consult freely one
with the other, should each strive e
bring closer the day when both shall
| realize tat they are properly partners
and not enemies. To approach the
questions which inevitably arise be
TWEEN them solely from the standpoint
which treats each side In the mas
as the enemy Of the other side ir
tho mase is both wicked and foolish
! In the past the most direful amont
tho influences which have brough'
about the downfall Of republics ma
ever been the growth Of the elias!
spirit, the growth of the spirit which
tends to make a mar subordinate tn
welfare Of the public as a whole u
the welfare of the particular class t
, which he belongs, the substitution o
LOYALTY to a class for loyalty to tn
nation. This Inevitably brings abou
a tendency to treat each man not Of
his merits "a an individual, but OF
his position as belonging to a certaiI
class in the community. II such
spirit grows up In this republic 1t viii
ppst II has proved fatol to us, as In tn
past Il has proved fatal to every CON
murIty In which It q become dom
nant. Unless We continue to keep
quick and lively sense of the grea
fundamental truth thai Dur concern J
with the individual worth OF the ind
yidual man, this government a nc
permanently hold the place which
has achieved among the nations. Tn
vital lines Of cleavage among our pee
ME do not correspond. and indeed ru'
at right angles to, the lSes OF clea'
age which divide occupation from OF
cupation. which divide wage-worker
from capitalists. farmers from banl
ors. mep Of small means from men .
large means. men who live in tn
Towns from men who live In the coul
I,.,.. fo~ tho vital line Of cleavage
.te line which divides the honest ma
who tries TO do well by his neighbc
from the disonest man wo does Ill b
his neighbor. In other words, tn
standard we should establish Is tn
Istandard of conduct, not the standar
of occupation, Of means. or of soci'