The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-12-08

1t would be well for the nation to endeav-
or TO secure and publish comprehensive
labor of children in the different states.
so as to spur up those that are behind
hand, and to secure approximately uni
form legislation Of a high character
among the several states. In such q
Republic as ours the one thing that we
can not 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 to-day are those who to-
morrow will shape the destiny of our land
ana 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 of children and
dumb animals throughout the United
states. l lay the matter before you for
what l trust will be your favorable con-
sderation.
The Department Of Commerce and.
Labor should also make a thorough in
vestigation of the conditions of women in
women are now engaged in gainful occu-
pations; yet there Is an almost complete
dearth OF data upon which to base any
trustworthy conclusions as regards sub
)ect as important as 1t Is vast and COM
plicated.. There is need of full knowledge
on which to base action looking toward
state and municipal legislation for the
protection OF working women. The intro
'uNtioh VI WtiilcIl ltlO llluuSlIy Is WOIh-
ing change and disturbance in the do
nestle and social life Of the nation. The
decrease in marriage and especial in
the birth rate, has been coincident with it.
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 family
life than is now the case. This whole
est sociological phenomena of our time;
1t Is social question of the first i'm
portance, of far greater Importance than
any merely political or economic question:
can be; and to solve it we need ample
data, gathered in a sane and scientific
spirit In the course of an exhaustive in
vestigation.
In any great labor disturbance not only
are employer and employe interested, but
also third party-the general public
Every considerable labor difficulty in
which interstate commerce is involved
should be investigated by the government
public.
The question of securing a healthy, self
respecting. and mutually sympathetic at
titude as between employer and employee
one. All phases Of the labor problem
prove difficult when approached. But the
underlying principles, the root principles.
in accordance with which the problem
must be solved are entirely simple. We
AN get justice and right dealing only IL
We must face accomplished facts, and the
principle of treating a man on his worth
rs man rather than with reference to-
lass to which he belongs. There are
selfish and brutal men in all ranks of life.
f they are capitalists their selhshness
md brutality may take the form Of hard
# every moral restraint which interferes
With the accumulation Of wealth, and
ld-blooded exploitation Of the weak; or,
+ they are laborers, the form Of laziness,
4 nj 70 nd
# willingness to perform deeds Of muir
ferrous violence. Such conduct Is just
$ reprehensible in one case as In tho
Their, and all honest and farseeing men
becomes manifest Individual capital
st and Individual wage worker, corpora
ion and union, are alike entitled to the
rejection Of the law, and must ,t, alike
lere obedience to the law. each man,
he be really good citizen, must show
road sympathy for his neighbor and
enune desire to look at any question
that neighbor no less than from his
wn; and to this end it Is essential that
apitalist and wage worker should con-
llt freely one with the other, should each
lall realize that they are properly part
ers and not enemies. To approach the
lestions which inevitably arise between
lem solely from the standpoint which
eats each side in the mass as the en-
ny OF the other side in the mass Is both
licked and foolish. In the past the most
reful among the influences which have
ought about the downfall of republics
irit, the growth of the spirit which
nds to make a man subordinate the well
re OF the public as a whole to the wei.
re Of the particular class to which he
longs. This inevitably brings about 4
ndancy to treat each man not on his
erits as an individual, but on his posi-
IN as belonging. to a certain class in
this Republic it will ultimately prove A.
tai to every community in which 1t has
come dominant. Unless we conf
lue TO- keep quick and lively
It'll that our concern is with the Individual
nth of the individual man. this govern
mt cannot permanently hold the place
ich 1t has achieved among the nations. The
al lines Of cleavage among our people do
correspond, and indeed run at right an
s to, the lines of cleavage which divide
upation from occupation, which divide
&c workers from capitalists, farmers from
lkers, men Of small means from men Cd
go means, men who live In the towns from
n who live In the country; for the vital
,est man who tries to do well by his
ghbor from the dishonest man whs does III
his neighbor. In other words, the stand
I'd we should establish is the standard
COHuuCC, HOL Inc SLauudTu OIL OCCupdLlOn,
means or Of social position. 1t is the
MS moral quality, his attitude toward the
at questions which concern all humanity,
cleanliness Of life, his power to do his
y toward himself and toward others, which
lily count and IL we substitute for the
ldard Of personal judgment which treats
man according to his merits another
ldard In accordance with which all men
me class are favored and all men Of an
'r class disseminated against we shall do
parable damage to the body polite. be-
0 that our people are too sane, too self
ectng, too fit for self government, ever
dopt such an attitude. This government
ot and never shall be government by
ocracy. THIS government is not and
er shall be government by q mob. IL
! continue to be in the future what 1t
been in the past, a government based ON
theory that each man, rich or poor, Is to
reated simply and solely on his worth as
an, that all his personal and property
is are to be safeguarded, and that he In
1er to wrong others nor to suffer WHO'RE
others.
% noblest of all forms o. government IL
government; but 1t Is also the most diff
t. We who possess this priceless boon,
who desire to hand 1t on to our children
our children's children, should ever
In mind the thought so finely expressed
burke: Men are qualified for civil lib
In exact proportion to their disposition
1t moral chains upon their own appetites,
roportion as they are disposed to listez
o counsels OF the wise and good In pref
20 to the nattery of knaves. Society cam
xist unless a controlling power upon will
appetite be placed somewhere, and tho
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