The Tupelo journal., 1905-12-08
EQUAL RIGHTS for All.

self-respecting and mutually sympathetic
attitude as between employer and era
ploye, capitalist and wage worker, Is a
difficult 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 sim
pie. We can get justice and right dealing
only II we put as of paramount impor-
lance the principle of treating a man OF
his worth as a man rather than with
to his social position, his occu-
or the class to which he belongs.
are selfish and brutal men in all
ranks Of life. If they are capitalists
their selishness and brutality may take
the form of hard indifference to suffer-
ing. greedy disregard of every moral re-
straint which interferes with the accum-
Of wealth, and c~old-blooded ex-
ploitation of the weak; or, If they are
laborers, the form of laziness, of sullen
envy of the more fortunate, and of will
to perform deeds of murderous
Such conduct is just as repre-
in n case as in the other, and
all honest and farseeing men should Join
in warning against 1t wherever 1t be-
manifest. Individual capitalist and
individual wage worker, corporation and
union, are alike entitled. to the protec-
kAOAA = ~ A@Wt oA4 aAAAO oDGy LIS
law.
The Insurance Scandal.
On the subject Of life insurance the presi-
dent says recent events have emphasized
the Importance of early action looking to a
solution of the subject of some sort of con-
troll that will furnish better safeguards
than the several states have been able to
furnish against corruption of the fragrant
kind which has been exposed. and In this
connection he continues:
There Is need of a ~stricter and uni
form regulation of the vasu insurance
Of this country. The United
should in this respect follow the
policy OF other nations by providing
adequate national supervision OF COM
mercial interests which are clearly ma
in character. My predecessors
have repeatedly recognized that the
foreign business of these companies is
important part of our foreign COM
mercial relations. During the admin
of Presidents Cleveland.
Harrison and Mckinley the state de-
partment exercised it's influence,
through diplomatic channels. to pre-
vent unjust discrimination by foreign
countries against American insurance
companies. These negotiations illus
trated the propriety of the congress
kSSo6A AL Abo ~
for in the absence of fed
eral legislation the state department
could only give expression to the
wishes Of the authorities of the several
states, whose policy was ineffective
through want Of uniformity.
I repeat my previous recommends
ton that the congress should also con-
slider whether the federal government
has any power or owes any duty with
wA0naet "a drrooafir fra ncacfinng in In
of an interstate character.
That state supervision has proved In
adequate Is generally conceded. The
burden upon insurance companies, and
therefore their policy holders. of o n
ficting regulations of many states. is
unquestioned, while but little effective
check is imposed upon any able and
INSCRIPTIONS man who desires to ex-
plot the company in his own interest
at the expense of the policy holders
and of the public. The inability OF a
state to regulate effectively insurance
corporations created under the laws of
other states and ~transacting the larger
Of their business elsewhere is
also clear. AS a remedy for this evil
Of conflicting. ineffective, and yet bur-
densome regulations there has been
for nan years a widespread demand
for federal supervision. The congress
AAa9 LCSO5AA6So She
insurance may be a proper subject for
federal legislation, for in creating the
bureau of corporations it authorized
it to publish and supply useful in
formation concerning interstate cor
.porations, Including corporations en-
gagged in insurance" 1t is obvious
that If the compilation of statistics be
the limit of the federal power, it is
wholly ineffective to regulate this
farra of copov,arcio JnfarcO1rSa he
tween the states, and as the insurance
business has outgrown in magnitude
the possibility of adequate state su-
.pervision, the congress should care
fully consider whether further legisla-
ton can be had. What is said above
applies with equal force to fraternal
and benevolent organizations which
for life insurance.
Under the subject of national revenues
the president makes a plea for the enact
ment Of reciprocal arrangements between
this and other countries, but does not ask
for any tariff legislation at the present
time. In the same connection he asks for
economy in appropriations.
Business Methods in Departments.
On the subject of graft" in the several
government departments that have been
under investigation he says:
At various times 1 have instituted
Investigations into the organization
and conduct of the business Of the ex-
ecutive departments. While none OF
these inquiries have yet progressed
far enough to warrant final conclu-
sions, they have already confirmed
and emphasized the general impress
sion hat the organization of the de-
partments is often faulty in principle
and wasteful in results. while many
af <hair h,1cinoSc noathndS are anti
quated and inefficient. There is every
reason why our executive govern
mental machinery should be at least
as well planned, economical and
efficient as the best machinery OF the
great business organizations. which at
present is not the case. To make 1t
so is a task of complex detail and es-
sentially executive in it's nature; prob
ably no legislative body. no matter
how wise and able, could undertake it
with reasonable prospect of success.
I recommend that the congress con-
slider this subject with a view to pro-
vide by legislation for the transfer,
distribution, consolidation n assign
ment of duties and executive organiZa-
lions or parts of organizations, and
for the changes in business methods,
within or between the several depart
ments, thai will best promote the
efficiency and high character
of the government work.
Federal Elections.
On the subject Of federal elections he rec
ommends that 1t be made unlawful for po-
ltical parties to receive campaign con-
tributions from the corporations, and also
that It be made unlawful for corporations
to i've such contributions, and in this con-
naction he avs
Contributions by corporations to any
purpose should be forbidden by law;
directors should not be permitted to
use stockholders money for such pur-
poses; and, moreover, a prohibition OF
this kim would be. as far as 1T went,
an effective method of stopping the
evils aimed at in corrupt practices
acts. Not only should both the ma