Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-07

ioru 10 neglect IL the problem OF turn
] Ing out decent citizens. The future
of the nation depends upon the citi-
zensnlp 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 Col
orado has recommended that the ma.
| tionai government provide some gem
eral measure for the protection from
abuse OF children and dumb animals
| throughout the United States lay
the matter before you for wha I trust
| VIII be your favorable consideration.
The department of commerce and
labor should also make thorough In
vestigation OF the conditions of wom-
en- in Industry. Over Ave million
American women are now engaged In
gainful occupations: yet there Is an al.
most complete dearth of data upon
which TO base any Trustworthy con
clusions as regards subject as i'm
portant as II Is vast and complicated.
There is need of full knowledge on
which to base action looking toward
protection of working women. The in.
PRODUCTION OF women into industry IL
working change and disturbance In
the domestic ana social life of the
nation. The decrease In marriage,
and especially In the birth rate, has
been coincident with IT, We must
face accomplished facts ana the ad.
n
be made; but surely II 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 sociological
phenomena OF our time: 1t Is social
question OF the first Importance, OF
far greater importance than any mere
ly political or economic question can
be: and to solve II we need ample
data, gathered In sane and scientific
spirit In the course Of an exhaustive
investigation.
In any great labor disturbance not
only are employer and employe inter
ested. but also third party-tne gen.
eral public. Every considerable labor
difficulty in which Interstate com.
merce is Involved should be invesu-
gated by the government and the facts
officially reported to the public.
The question OF securing healthy,
self-respecting and mutually sympa-
thetic attitude between employer and
employe. capitalist and wage worker.
Is a difficult one. All phases Of the
labor problem prove difficult when
approached. But the underlying prin.
-ciples. tne root principles. In accord.
ance with which the problem must be
solved are entirely simple. We can
get justice and right dealing only II
we put as of paramount importance
the principle OF treating a man on his
worth as q man rather than with ref
erence to his social position, his ocs
cupation or the class to which ne be-
longs. There are selfish and brutal
pen In all ranks Of life. II they are
capitalists their selflshness and bru-
tality 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 explointation
OF the weak; or. II they are laborers,
the form OF laziness. OF sullen envy
OF the more fortunate, and OF willing
ness to perform deeds Of murderous
violence. Such conduct Is Just as re-
prehensible In one case as In the 9TH
er. and all honest and far-seeing men
should join In warning against 1t wher-
ever 1t becomes manifest. Individual
capitalist and Individual wage work
entitled to the protection of the law,
and must alike obey the law. More
over. In addition to mere obedience
to the law, each man. II he be really
a good citizen. must show broad sym
pathy for his neighbor and genuine
desire to look at any question arising
between them from the standpoint OF
that nelghbor no less than from his
own; and to this end 1t is essential
that capitalist and wage worker
should consult freely one with the
other. should eacn strive to bring
closer the day when both shall realize
that they are properly partners and
not enemies. To approach the ques-
tions which inevitably arise between
| them sC.ely from the standpoint which
treats eacn side in the mass as the
enemy OF the other side In the mass
IL both wicked and foolish. In the
past the most direful among the In
iiuences which have brought about the
downfall of republics has ever been
the growth OF the class spirit. the
growth OF the spirit which tends to
make man subordinate the welfare
of the public as a whole to the welfare
of the particular class to which he
belongs. the substitution of loyalty to
a class for loyalty to the nation. This
inevitably brings about tendency to
treat each man not on his merits as
an an individual, but on his position
as belonging to certain class In the
community. IL such a spirit grows
up In this republic 1t will ultimately
prove fatal to us. as In the past 1t has
proved fatal to every community In
which 1t has become dominant. Un
less we continue to keep a quick and