The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-06

spur up those that are behindhand. and to secure approximately uniform fegis- lation of high character among the several States. In such a Republic as ours the one thing that we can not af- ford to neglect Is the problem of turn ing out decent citizens. The future of the Nation depends upon the citi- zenship of the generations to come; the children Of today are those who to- morrow will shape tho destiny of our land, and we can not afford to neglect them. The Legislature of Colorado has recommended that the, National Gov ernment provide some general measure for the protection from abuse Of ehtl- dren and dumb animals throughout the United States. I lay the matter before you for what I trust will be your fa- vorable consideration.
 The Department of Commerce and Labor should also make a thorough in- vestigat;on of the conditions of women in industry. Over five million Ameri- can women are row engaged In gainful occupations; yet there is an almost complete dearth of data upon which to base any trustworthy conclusions as regards a subject as important as 1t of full knowledge on which to base ac- tion looking toward State and munich pal legislation for the protection of working women The introduction of women 'nto industry is working change an1 disturbance in the domestic and social life of the Nation. The decrease in marriage, and especially in the birth rate, has been ccinctdent with 1t. We must face accomplished facts and the adjustment to factory conditions must be made but surely 1t can be made with less friction and less harmful effects on whole matter in reality forms one of the greatest sociological phenomena of our tine: 1t is a social question of the first importance, of far greater inn economic question can be; and to solve 1t we need ample data. gathered in sane and scientific spirit in the course of an exhaustive investigation.
 In any great labor disturbance not only are employer and employe inter- ested, but also a third party-the gen eral public Every considerable labor difficulty in which interstate commerce is involved should be investigated by the Government and the facts officially reported tc the public.
 The question of securing a healthy. self-respecting.- and mutually sympa- thetic attitude as between employer and employe, capitalist and wage worker, is a difficult one. All phases of the labor problem prove difiicuIt when approached. But the underlying prin- ciples, the root principles. in accord ance with which the problem must be solved, are entirely simple We can get justice and right dealing only if we put as of paramount importance the prin- ciple of treating man on his worth as man rather than with reference to his social position, his occupation, or the class to which he belongs. There are selfish and brutal men in all ranks of life. IF they are capitalists their selfishness and brutality may take the form of hard indifference to suffering. greedy disregard of every moral re- straint which interferes with the accu- mutation of wealth. and -blooded exploitation of the weak. or. if they are laborers. the ,rm of laziness. of sullen envy of the more fortunate, and of willingness to perform deeds of mur- de:ous violence. Such conduct is just as reprehensible in one case as in the other, and all honest and farseeing men should join in warning against 1t wherever it becomes manifest Indi- vidual capitalist and individual wage worker, corporation and union, are alike entitled to the protection of the law. and must alike obey the law to the law. each man. if he be really pathy for his neiYhbof and genuine de- sire to look at any question arising batween them from the standpoint of that neighbor no less than from his own; and to this end 1t is essential that capitalist and wage-worker should con- suit freely Une with the other. should each strive to bring closer the day when both shall realize that they are properly partners and not enemies. To approach the questions which inevi- tably arise between them solely from the standpoint which treats each side