The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-06

The excessive hours of labor to
which railroad employees in train SER
vice are in many cases subjected is
also matter which may we'll engage
the serious attention of the congress.
I renew the recommendation l
made in my last annual message for
an investigation by the department Of
commerce and labor of general labor
conditions, especial attention to be
paid to the condition of child labor
and child labor legislation in the sew
eral States. Such an investigation
should take in account the various
problems with which the question Of
child labor is connected. It is true
that these problems can be actually
net in most cases only by the States
themselves, but it would be well for
the nation to endeavor to secure and
publish comprehensive information a.
to the conditions of the labor Of chill
dren in the different States, so as 10
spur up those that are behindhand,
and to secure approximately uniform
legislation of a high character among
the several states. The department
of commerce and labor should also
make thorough investigation Of the
condition of women in industry.
The great insurance companies af-
ford striking examples Of corporations
whose business has extended SO far
beyond the jurisdiction Of the States
which created them as to precluda
strict enforcement of supervision and
regulation by the parent States.
Recent events have emphasized the
importance of an early and exhaust
i've consideration of this question, to
see whether it is not possible to fur
nish better safeguards than the sew
eral States have been able to furnish
against corruption Of the fragrant
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 hons
esty and dishonesty; they draw the
line only this side of what may be
called law honesty, the kind Of hon
esty necessary in order to avoid fall
ing into the clutches Of the law. OF
course the only complete remedy for
this condition must be found in an
aroused public conscience, higher
sense ofsethical conduct in the COM
munity at large, and especially among
business men and in the great profes-
sion of the law, and in the growth Of
a spirit which condemns all dishon-
esty, whether in rich man or in poor
man, whether it takes the shape Of
bribery of Of blackmail. But much
can be done by legislation which IS
not only drastic but practical.
Yet, in speaking of economy. i
must in no wise be understood as ad
vocating the false economy which IS
in the end the worst extravaganza. To.
cut down on the navy, for instance.
would be crime against the nation.
To fail to push forward all work or
the Panama Canal would be as great
a folly
In political campaigns in a country
as large and populous as ours it is in
evitable that there should be much eX
pense Of an entirely legitimate kind.
This of course. means that many con-
tributions. and some OF them of large
size. must be made, and, as matter
of fact. in any big political contest
such contributions are always made
by both sides. 1t is entirely proper
both to give and receive them. unless
there is an improper motive connected
with either gift or reception. II they
are extorted by any kind of pressure
or promise. express or implied. direct
or Indirect. in the way OF favor or
immunity, then the giving or receiving
becomes r5t only i;Hproper cut Grim
iaal. II Tnl undoubtedly. be a5aicale
as q mat;sr ot practical detail 30
si2aoc an act which shall guard Wit:
reasonable certainty against such
misconduct: but II it is possible TO
secure by iaw the full and verified
publication in detail of ell the sums
contributed 10 ana expended by the
candidates or committees OF any po-
!itical parties tee result cannot but BE-
wholesome. NJ contributions by cor
porations 20 any political committee
or for any political purpose should pe
forbidden by law; directors should NOT
be permitted to use stockholders
money for such purposes; land. more
over. prohibition of this kind would