Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-06

| the judge to give due notice to the ad-
verse parties before granting the writ,
the hearing to be ex parte II the adj
| verse party does not appear at the time
| and place ordered. What Is due notice
must depend upon the facts of the
| case; il should not be used as d prctext
! to permit violation of<law, or the
jeopardizing Of life or property. OF
course, this would not authorize the is
suing of a restraining order or injunc-
ton in any case in which it is not al
ready authorized by existing law.
l renew the recommendation / made
| in my last annual message for an in
| vestigation by the department of COM
merce and labor of general labor con-
ditions. especial 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 problems with
which the question Of child labor Is
connected. 1t is true that these prob
lens can be actually met in most cases
only by the states themselves, but it
would be well for the nation to en-
dcavor to secure and publish compre-
heIsivc information as to the condi-
tons of tie labor of children in the
different states so as to spur up those
that are bchndhand, and to secure APP
proxim&tely uniform legislation of a
high character among the several
states. In such republic as ours the
!, one thing that we cannot afford to
neglect is the problem of turning out
decent citizens. The future of the
nation depends upon the citizenship of
, the generations to come; the children of
today are those who tomorrow will
shape the destiny of our land, and we
can not afford to neglect them. The
legislature Of Colorado has recon-
mended that the national government
: provide some general measure for the
protection from abuse or children and
: dumb animals throughout the United
States. l lay the matter before you
fer what 1 trust will be your favorable
l consideration.
The Department of Commerce and
Labor should also make a thorough in
vestigation of the conditions of wom-
EN- in industry. Over five million
American women are now engaged
in gainful occupations; yet there is an
almost complete dearth of data upon
which to base any trustworthy conclu-
\ sions az regards a subject as important
as it is vast and complicated. There
is need OF full knowledge on which to
base action looking toward state and
municipal legislation for the protection
of working women. The introduction
> of women into industry is working
change and disturbance in the domestic
and social life of the nation. The de-
crease in marriage, and especially in
the birth rate, has been cOincident with
it. We must face accomplished facts.
and the adjustment to factory condi-
2 tons must be made, but surely it can
= be made with less friction and less
= harmful effects on family life than is
= now the case. This whole matter in
reality forms one of the greatest soci-
$ illogical phenomena of our time it Is
= a social question of the first import
Q ance. of far greater Importance than
l any merely political or economic ques-
, ton can be; and to solve it we need
5 ample data gathered Sin, "a sane IA nd
: scientific spirit in the course of an
: exhaustive investigation.
In any great labor disturbance. not
only are employer and employee in
= terested, but also third party-the
J general public. Every considerable
: labor difficulty in which interstate
8 commerce is involved should be in
| vestigated by the government and the
: facts officially reported to the pub
r lic
The question of securing a healthy,
Self-respecting, and mutually sympa-
, thetic attitude as between employer
and employee. capitalist and wage
worker, is Il difficult one. All phases
, of the labor problem prove difficult
when approached. But the underlying
principles. the root principles, in ac-
cCrdance with which the problem must
be solved are entirely simple. We can
1 get justice and right dealing only If
we put as of paramount Importance
the principle of treating a man on his
worth as a man rather than with ref
erence to his social position, his occu-
patton, or the class to which he be-
) longs. There are selfish and brutal
men in all ranks of life If they are
: capitalists their selfishness and bru-
: tally may take the form of hard in
difference to suffering. greedy disre-
gard of every moral restraint which
interferes with the accumulation of
wealth, and cold-bloOded exploitation
of the weak; or, if they are laborers.
the form of laziness, of Sullen envy of
ttle IiloIe VI WilIIlSHeSS
to perform deeds of murderous vio-
lence. Such conduct is just as repre-
hensble in one case as in the other.
and all honest and farseeing men
should join in warning against it
wherever it becomes manifest. In
dividual capitalist and individual
wage worker corporation and union,
, are alike entitled to the protection of
the law. and must alike obey the law.
} Moreover. in addition to mere obedi-
: ence to the law. each man, if he be
really a good citizen. must show broad
sympathy for his neighbor and genuine
desire to look at any question arising
between them from the standpoint of
that neghbor no less than from his
own; and to this end it is essential
that capitalist and wage worker should
consult freely with the other.
should each strive to bring closer the
day when both shall realize that they
are properly partners and not enemies.