The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-12-14

" OC Ddlu ~ tue EOuQlllOu5 VI
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
is connected.
In such a 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 citi-
Zenship Of the generations to come; the
children or to-day are those who Tomorrow
will shape the destiny of our land, and We
cannot afford to neglect them.
The department Of commerce and labor
should also make a thorough Investigation
OF the conditions Of women In industry.
Over 100000 American women ara now
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 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 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 1t. We must
face accomplished facts, and the adjust
ment to factory conditions must be made,
but surely it can be made with less fric-
ton and less harmful effects on family life
than Is now the case.
In any great lambor disturbance not only
are employer and eInploye interested, but
atCO q NAV HQit 6ChCAaA puUiAC. Nv
cry considerable labor difficulty in which
Interstate is involved should. be
investigated by the government and the
facts officially reported to the public.
The question of securing a healthy, self
respecting and mutually sympathetic atti-
tude as between employer and employe,
capitalist and wage worker, Is a difficult
one. But the underlying principles, the
root principles, in accordance with which
the problem must be solved are entirely
simple. We can get justice and right
dealing only if we put as Of paramount
on his worth as a man rather than with
reference to his social position, his oecu-
patton, or the class to which he belongs.
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 restraint
which fnterferes with the accumulation of
wealth, and cold-blooded exploitation of
the weak; or, II 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-
duct is just as reprehenslble in one case
as In the other, AID all honest and far
it wherever 1t becomes manifest. Indiyid-
ual capitalist and Individual wage worker,
corporation and union, are alike entitled
to the protection ST the law, and must
TO mere obedience . the law, each mar.
IL he be really a good citizen, must show
broad sympathy for Ais neighbor and genu-
Inc desire to look at any question arising
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
eminent is not and never shall be govern
ment by a mob. 1t shall continue to be In
the future what 1t his been in the past, 4
government based on the theory that each
man, rich or poor, Is to be treated simply
and solely on his worth as a man, that all
safeguarded, 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
business has extended so far beyond the
jurisdiction Of the States which created
them as to preclude strict enforcement of
States. In my last annual message / 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
consideration of this question, to see wheth-
er Ii Is not possible to furnish better safe
otdito hofC oCth
able to furnish against corruption OF the
Migrant 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
ethical distinction between honesty and dis
honesty; they draw the line only this side
OF what may be called law-honesty, the
kind Of he nesty necessary Ia 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
/ liz pQpccipuaQ n biOhnr copSo Of othioa1 m
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
q spirit which condemns all dishonesty.
whether in rich man or In poor man, wheth-
er it takes the shape Of bribery or of black
mall But much can be done by legislation
There is need of a far stricter and more
uniform regulation Of the vast insurance
interests of this country. The United
States should in this respect follow the
policy OF other nations by providing ade-
quate national supervision Of commercial
interests which are clearly national in char
acter.
Revenues 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 I'M
less for grave reason. There must be
something like a general agreement among
the citizens of the several States. as rep
resented In the Congress, that the change
is needed and 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
good to the people at large with the mini
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.
it should be considered whether it is not
desirable that the tariff laws should pro-
vide for applying as against or In favor Of
any other nation maximum and minimum
as to secure ? certain reciprocity of treat
ment between other nations and ourselves.
Our Currency System.
Every consideration Of prudence de-
mands the addition of the element Of elias
ticity to our currency system. The evil
does not consist In an inadequate volume
Of money, but in the ridigity of this vol;
TO the varying needs of communities ana
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
currency will contract against speculation,
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 ssa Snsn OF Its owl
and affirmed by repeated declarations OF
the Supreme Court. There is no enemy OF
free government more dangerous and none
50 insidious as the corruption OF the cleo
law directed against bribery and corrup-
ton In federal elections. Such a law
should include severe penalties against