Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-15

attention to be paid to the conditions OF
child labor and child labor legislation In
the several States. Such an Investigation
should take Into account the various prob
lens with which the question Of child labor
In such a republic as ours the one thing
that we cannot afford to neglect is,the
problem of turning out decent citizens. Inc
future OF the nation depends upon the cltl-
Zenship of the generations to come; the
children Of to-day are those who tomorrow
will shape the destiny of our land, ana we
cannot afford to neglect them.
The department OF IN ana iapor
should also make a thorough investigation
over 100000 American women are now
engaged in gainful occupations; yet there
Is an almost complete dearth of data upon
which to base any trustworthy conclusions
as regards Il subject as important as it Is
vast and complicated. There Is need OF run
knowledge on which TO base action looking
toward State and municipal legislation Tor
the protection Of working women. me IN
PRODUCTION OF women into industry Is work
ing change and disturbance in the domestic
and social life of the nation. The decrease
in marriage, and especially In the birth
rate, has been coincident with IT.. We must
face accomplished facts, and the adjust
ment to factory conditions must, be MADE,
but surely 1t can be made with leSS III
ton and less harmful effects on family life
than is now the case.
In any great lambor disturbance not only
are employer and cmploye interested, but
also a third party-the general public. ET-
cry considerable labor difficulty In which
lDiN - ''' -
Investigated by the government ana the
facts officially reported to the public.
The question Of securing a health, SET
tudc as between employer and employc,
capitalist and wage worker, Is a difficult
one. But the underlying principles, the
the problem must be solved are entirely
simple. We .can get justice and right
Importance the principle of treating n man
on his worth as a man rather than with
reference to his social position, his ,occu-
patton, or the class to which he belongs;
There are selfish and brutal men in all
ranks of life. If they are capitalists their
selfshness and brutality may take the
greedy disregard of every moral restraint
which interferes with the accumulation of
wealth. and cold -blooded exploitation of
the weak; or, IL they are laborers, the form
Of laziness, of sullen envy of the more
fortunate. and of Willingness to perform
deeds Of murderous violence. Such con.
as in the other, and all honest and far
seeing men should join in warning against
ual capitalist and individual wage worker;
corporation and union, are alike entitled
to. the protection of the law, and must
to mere obedience to the law, each man,
If he be really a good citizen, must show
broad sympathy for his neighbor and genu-
between them from the standpoint of that
neighbor no less than from his own; and
to this end it is essential that capitalist
and wage worker should consult freely one
with the other. should each strive to bring
closer the day when both shall realize that
they are properly partners and not enc
mics.
This government Is not and never shall
be government by a plutocracy. This gov
ernment is not and never shall be govern.
ment by a mob. 1t shall continue to be In
the future what it has been in the past, a
government based on the theory that each
man, rich or poor, is to be treated simply
and SOLELY on his worth rs q man that nil
his personal and property rights are to be
safcguarded, and that he is neither to
wrong others nor to suffer wrong from 9th
ers.
Need of Insurance Reform.
The great insurance companies afford
striking examples Of corporations whose
jurisdiction of the States which created
them as to preclude strict enforcement Of
supervision and regulation by the parent
States. In my last annual message l recon-
mended that the Congress carefully con-
slider whether the power OF the bureau of
corporations can not constitutionally be ex-
tended to. cover interstate transactions In
insurance." Recent events have emphasized
the Importance of an early and exhaustive
er it is not possible to furnish better safe
guards than the several States have been
able to furnish against corruption of the
fragrant kind which has been exposed. 1t
has been only too clearly shown that GER
tain of the men at the head Of these large
corporations take but small note Of the
eluicdl uiStiilClloH Del"eeu honesty anu us
honesty; they draw the line only this side
Of what may be called law-honesty, the
kind of he nesty necess airy in order to avoid
falling into the clutches Of the law. OF
course the only complete remedy for this
condition must be found in an aroused pub
lie conscience, n higher sense of ethical con-
duct In the community at large, and espe-
cially among business men and in the great
profession of the law. and in the growth Of
a spirit which condemns all dishonesty.
whether in rich man or II ioor man, wleth-
er it takes the shape of nfioery or of black
mail. But much can be done by legislation
which is not only drastic but practical.
uniform regulation of the vast insurance
interests of this country. The United
policy OF other nations by, providing ade-
quate national supervision of commercial
interests which are clearly national in char
acter. ,--
and Expenditures. !
There is more need of stability than of
the attempt to attain an ideal perfection In
the methods of raising revenue; and the
shock and strain to the business world GER
tain to attend any serious change in these
methods render such change inadvisable un-
less for grave reason. There must be
something like n general agreement among
resented in the Congress-, that the change
is needed ami desired in the interest of the
people as a whole: and there should then
be a sincere, intelligent and disinterested
effort to make it in such shape as will COM
bine, so far as possible, the maximum Of
SoOu TO the people at urge WIN the 1n,nl-
mum Of necessary disregard for the special
interests of localities or classes. Unless
our expenditures can be kept within the
revenues then our revenue laws must be re-
adjusted.
s 1t should be considered whether 1t Is not
desirable that the tariff laws should pro-
vide for applying as against or in favor of
any other nation maximum and minimum
tariff rates established by the Congress, so
as to secure Q certain reciprocity Of treat
ment between other nations and ourselves.
0nr Cnrr.nnrv SvSforu
Every consideration of prudence de-
ITCHY to our currency system. The evil
does not consist in an inadequate volume
of money, but in the ridigity of this vol
ume, which does not respond as 1t should
to the varying needs of communities and
of seasons. Imitation must be avoided; but
some provision should be made that will
insure a larger volume Of money during
the fall and winter months than In the
less active seasons Of the year; SO that the
and will expand for the needs of legiti.
mate business.
Purity of Federal Elections.
The power Of the government to protect
the Integrity of the elections Of Its own
and affirmed by repeated declarations of
the Supreme Court. There is no enemy of
free government more dangerous and none
so insidious as the corruption Of the cleo.
torate. I recommend the enactment of a
law directed against bribery and corrup-
ton in federal elections. Such a law
Should include severe penalties against
him who gives or receives a bride intended
to influence his act or opinion as an elect
49,. , nd S,royfSinpS for tho nuGliroffan NOT