davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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: INVESTIGATION LABOR CONDITIONS. >
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edge ON which 10 base action look
ing toward state and municipal leg
ialatiOn for the protection NJ work.
ing women. The Introduction ~
wafaan into Industry la working
change aud disturbance 30 the do
nestle and social llfe Of the nation
The decrease in marriage. aud fape-
cinily FRA the birth rate. bias been
e0incidont with A. We must face
accomplished facts. and the adjust
ment 10 factory conditions must be
made. bat surely 81 can De made
with less friction aud less harmful
effects 90 family life than ~ nov
the ease This whole matter In
reality forms one ~ tho greatest
sociological phenomena ~ our Time.
Il ln a social question ~ The first
importance. Of far greater import
ance than any merely political or
economic question can BE-. and 10
solve o. va need ample data gain
cred in a sane and scientific spirit
In the course Of an exhaustive In
veatlgatiOn
In any great labor disturbances
not only are employer and employee
interested. but also a third party
tbs general public Every consider
able labor difficulty In which in
tersiata commerce n Involved
should be investigated BY the gov
eminent and the facts officially re-
port-d to the public.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

/ honest ptomotion@he because thf 4ha
myriad evils IL brings IN ita train.
Tor such oyercauitaiitatiou often
means an initiation that iuYitaa bust
ness panict Il always eauashia the
true relation Of the profit snnnaa n
the capital actually iuveatrds and Il
creates burden Of interest pay.
mcnis which II a fertile cause Of TIM
proper reduction in or limitation If
wages. q damages the small invest
or Discourage thrift. aud eneaurs
n ges gambling and speculation.
while perhaps worst Of all is the
thickness and dishonesty which Il
impilea@for hntm 60 morals IL
VERSE than any possible harm 10
material interests. and the debaueh-
cry % politics and business By great
dishonest corporations Il far worse
than any actual material evii they
DO the public uutn the national
government obtains. in some manner
which the wisdom af the congress
may suggest. proper control ovef the
bis corporations engaged "a later.
state commerce that Is. over the
great majority ~ ths big corpora.
tions-lt VIII be impoasibls % deal
adequately with these eYila
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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BLOCK SIGNALS RRAILwAYs :

| than that which exists In any other
industry. and n there are any rea-
sons for limiting by law the hours
OF labor In any employment. they
certainly apply with peculiar force
TO the employment OF those upon
whose vigilance and alertness in the
performance OF their duties the
safety OF all who travel by rail de-
Ponds.
There has been demand for de-
priving courts OF the power 10 issue
nijunctions In labor disputes. Such
special limitation of the equity pow
ors OF our courts would be most un-
wise. II Is true that some Judges
have misused this power; but this
does not Justify a denial OF the
power any more than an improper
exercise of the power TO call a
strike The remedy is to regulate
the procedure by requiring the Judge
to give due notice to the adverse
rassies hcfsre granting the writ.
ssle, h.sesss 10 be ex parte n the
ladUeSel Puty does not appear at the
time and place ordered. What IA
due notice must depend upon the
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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a MANY SCHEMES or EVASION 4
= stttttt ttttttttt -

The department OF Justice has Tor
the last four years devoted more at
tention to the enforcement OF the
antitrust legislation than % any
thinE else. Much has been accom-
piished. particularly marked has
been the moFui effect of the prose b
BUTTONS. but tt IL Increasingly evi-
dent that there VIII be a very Insult
fietent beneficial result Ia the way
Of economic change Tho sucocssful
prosecution % one device 20 evade
the law immediately develops anoth-
er device 90 accomplish the same
purpose. what h. needed IL not
sweeping prohibition % every ar
raugemeuf. good or bad. which may
tend TO restrict competition. but
such adequate supervision and reg
station a. will prevent any rcstric-
ton 81 competition from being %
the deifiment 81 the puhlic--as well
a. such supervision and regulation
as vii prevent other abuses in no
Say connected with restriction %
conception. 90 these abuses per-
haps the chief although BY 10 means
the only one. ~ capitalization ~
generally itself the result of dis
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

The first confederation 10 be kept
in Faind Ia that tho power should be
affirmative and should b given 20
sotne administrative body created b.
the congress. II given 20 the pres
snt interstate commerce commission
or 60 = FeorEAnlaed Interstate com
meres commission. such commission
should be- made unequiyocaiiy adj
mlnlstrativa 1 DO not believe Ia the
government interfering with private
business more than IL necessary. !
do not believe in tho government
Undertaking any work which can
with propriety be irst In private
banda Hut nalthsr DO believe In
the government fiinchinE from over
seeing any work when u becomes
evident that abuses are aurs 20 OBJ
tain therein unless there IL govern
mental anparvialon. u ~ MOI my
province 20 Indicate tho enact terms
Of tho law which should bn en-.
acted: but call tho attention %
the congress 20 certain existing con
dltiona with which II IL desirable TO
deal In my judgment the most irn-
portaut provision which such Law
should contain Is that comforting
upan some competent administrative
body the power 10 dccide. upon the
case being brought before u. wheth-
ct a given rate prescribed BY a rail-
road Is reasonable and just, and II "
Is found TO be unreasonable and un-
just. then. after full investigation Of
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

CONTROL OF The CORPORATIONS

Yet while not merely admitting.
but Insisting upon this. Il l. also
true that where there Is no govern
mental restraint or supervision some
Of the exceptional men use their
energies NOT IN Nays that are for the
common gUod. but in ways which
tell against this common good. The
fortunes anassed through corporate
organization are now so large. aud
vest such power In those that WELD
them. as 20 make u matter % ne
eessity % give % the sovereign
that Is. to the government. which
represents the people as a whole
SONS effective power % supervision
over their corporate use. In order to
Insure a healthy social and indus
trial life every blk corporation
should be held rezpcnalblo By. and
be accountable 70. same sovereign
strong enough 20 control It's conduct.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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: CLASS SPIRIT FATAL REPUBLIC

not the standard OF occupation, Of
means. or Of social position. II In
the mans moral quality. his ath-
tude toward the great questions
which concern all humanity. hss
cleanliness OF life. HIS power 10 do
his duty toward himself and toward
others. which really count: and II
we substitute for the standard OF
personal Judgment which treats
each man according 10 HIS merits.
another standard In accordance
with which all men OF one class are
favored and all men OF another
class Disseminated against, We
shall do irreparable damage TO the
body polite. I believe that our peo-
pie are too sane. too self respect
ing. too NJ for self government.
ever TO adopt such an attitude.
This government Is not and never
shall be government by a piutoc-
racy. This government Is not and
never shall be government by
mob. IL shall continue 10 be In the
future what Il has been In the past.
a government based on the theory
that each man. rich or poor. Is 20
be treated simply and solely on bis
worth as a man. that all his per-
sonal and property rights are 90 be
safeguarded. and that he Is neither
20 wrong others nor 10 suffer
wrong from others.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

The great insurance companies af-
ford striking examples OF corpora
lions whose business has extended
80 far beyond the jurisdiction of the
states which created them as to pre-
clude strict enforcement OF supervi-
sion and regulation by the parent
states. In my last annual message
| recommended that the congress
carefully consider whether the
power of the bureau Of corporations
can not eonatltutionally be extend
ed to cover Interstate transactions
in Insurance." Recent events have
emphasized the importance of an
early and exhaustive consideration
of this question. to SEQ whether II
is not possible To furnish better
safeguards than the several states
have been able To furnish against
corruption OF the fragrant kind
which has been exposed. Ii has been
only too clearly shown that certain
OF tho men at the head of these
large corporations take but small
note of the ethical distinction be-
tween honesty aud dishonesty; they
draw the line only this side of what
may be called law-honesty. tho kind
OF honesty necessary in 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 public con-
science. higher. sense of ethical
conduct In the community at large
and especially among business men
and In tho great profession OF the
law. and In the growth of n spirit
which condemns all dishonesty
whether i'm rich man or I'm poor
man. whether Il takes the shape OF
bribery or of blaekmnll hut much
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
AN AGREEMENT WANTED


The best possible regulation Of
rates would. OF course. be that regu-
iation secured by an honest agree
ment among the railroads them
selves TO carry out the law. Such a
general agreement would. for In
stance. at once put n stop 10 the
efforts OF any one big shipper or
big railroad 10 discriminate against
or secure advantages over some
rival. and such agreement would
make the railroads themselves
agents for enforcing the law. The
power vested In the government TO
put a stop to agreements 10 the det-
riment OF the public should. In my
Judgment, be accompanied by power
10 permit. under specified condi-
tlona and careful supervision. agree
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

! am IN no sense hostile 70 corpora
lions. This II ar axe az eaniblna-
iion. and any effort To prevent All
combination will be not only use
less. but Ia the end vicious. because
OF the contempt Tor Law which the
failure 70 enforce law Inevitably
produces. We should. moreover. rec.
oeuiae In cordial and ample fashion
the immense good effected hy cor
pofate agencies Ia country such
- ours, and the wealth 81 Intellect
ensrgy. and fidelity devoted To their
service. and therefore normally 20
the service Of ths nuhlIe. hv their
officers aud directors. The corpora.
tlen has come 10 stay. lust as the
trade union has come 70 stay. Each
can Do and has aaus great Rooi
Each should be favored - long az
Il does coed Hut each should be
sharply checked where Il acts
against Law and justice.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
s.stssttttststs .sttstssststtttt
TRANSPORTATION IS AL IMPORTANT.

Tho question Of transportation
iies at the root Of all Industrial sue
cess. and thu revolution In trans
portation which has taken place
during the laat half century has
been the most important factor in
tho growth OF the new Industrial
conditions Most cmphaiicaiiy We
do not wish To see the man %
great talents refused the reward for
hls talents. sun leaa do We wish
10 see him penalized. bat We do
desire TO see the system Of railroad
transportation 50 handled that the
strong man shall be given no ad-
vantage over the weak man. We
wish In insure as fair treatment fof
the small town as for the biz city:
for the small shipper AZ for tho big
shipper. In the early days the high
way at commerce. whether by water
or BY road on land. was open TO
all. Il belonged TO the public. and
the traffic along II wac free. AZ
present the railway In this highway.
and we must do our best to see
that Il IA kept open 20 all on equal
terma Unlike the old highway. Il
IL very difficult and complex
thing to manage. and II Ia far bot
ter that IL should be managed by
private individuals than by tho
government. But II can only be 30
managed on condition that justice
II done the public. II IL because.
in my Judgment. public ownership
Of railroads Is highly undesirable
and would probably IN this country
entail far-reaohing disaster. that
wish to see such supervision and
regulation Of them In the interest
of the public as will make q evil
dent that there IL no need for
public ownership. The opponents OF
government regulation dwell upon
the difficulties % be encountered
and the intricate and involved ma
ture of the problem. Their con-
tention Is true. II "a complicated
and .eneate problem. and all kinds
OF difficulties are sure 20 arise In
connection with any plan OF solu-
ton. while no plan will bring all
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
CERTAIN SCHEMES FOR GIVING REBATES.

COMMISSION PAID on FREIGHT
SHIPMENTS, WHETHER ~
THIS PORN OR IN THE FORM
or FICTITIOUS DAMAGES. or OF
A CONCESSION. A FREE PASS.
REDUCED PASSENGER RATE.
OR PAYMENT OF BROKERAGE.
Is ILLEGAL II Is worth while
considering whether Il would not BE-
wise 10 confer on the government
the right % civil action against tha
beneficiary Of a rebate for at least
twice the value OF the rebate. thla
would help stop what Is really
blackmall. Elevator allowances
ahould be stopped. for they have
now grown 10 such an extent that
they are demorallzlng and are used
as rebates.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
sssssssssss tsssstssss
NO UNNECESSARY INTERFERENCE.


the complaint. 20 prescribe tbs TINT
Of rate beyond which Il shall not BE
lawful 10 ro-the maximum geaepss
able rate. "a II Il COMMONLY ksllaa =
this decision 20 go into effect vsthln
reasonable time and 10 .obfAla
from thence onward. subject tore
vi9w BY the courts. II ho4ettnAee
happens At present. not that a rate
Is too high but that a favored ship
par IL Eiyen Goo los a rate. In such
case the commission would hass the
right 10 flx this already eat aishsa
minimum rate a. tho naffmans
and II would need only onek<r two
such decisions b. the commission 10
cure railroad companies Of the pras.
tirc o. giving improprr minimum
ratca call yanr attention % The
fart thar my proposal Ia not 70 ave
the commission power 20 In - q or
originate rates generally. bat % reg
uiata a rate already fixed Or 0riK-
mated BY the roads. upon eompA4l Mt
and after Investigation. A bsayy
penalty should be exacfea from any
corporation which falls 20 respect an
order of tho commission. | regard
thin power 70 establish a maximum
rate ~ being essential "a any
scheme of real reform In tho matter
Of railway regulation. The first
necessity Il 10 secure Il: and unless
Il In granted 10 tho commission
there n little use in touching the
subject AZ all
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

The question OF securing a
healthy. ueif-respeeting and mutual
ly sympathetic attitude as between
employer and employe, capitalist
aud wage worker. Is a difficult one.
Al 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 can get
Justice and right dealing only II we
put as of paramount Importance the
principle Of treating \ man on his
worth as a man rather than with
reference 20 hia social position. his
occupation. or the class To which
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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: CONTROL OF NsU RANCE COMPANIES =

can be done by legislation which is
not only drastic but practical. There
Is need for far stricter and more
uniform regulation OF the vast In
suranco interests OF this country.
The United States should in this
respect follow the policy OF other
nations by providing adequate ma
tional supervision OF commercial in
forests which are clearly national
in character. My predecessors have
repeatedly recognized that the for
eign business OF these companies is
an important part of our foreign
commercial relations. During the
Administrations OF Presidents Cleye-
land. Harrison. and Mckinley tho
state department exercised its in
fluence. through diplomatic chan
nels. 20 prevent unjust discrsmtrrr'
ton by foreign countries against
American Insurance companies.
These negotiations illustrated the
proprioty OF the congress recognize
ing tho national character OF insur-
ance. for In tho absence OF federal
legislation the state department
could only give expression TO the
wishes OF the authorities OF the sew
eral states. whose policy was in
effective through want OF uniform
ity.
! repeat my previous recomnfona-
alton that the congress should also
consider whether tho federal gov
erument has any power or owes any
duty with respect 10 domestic
transactions In insurance OF an IN
terstato character That state ~
pervision has proved Inadequate y
generally conceded. The burden
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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CAPITAL AND LABOR PROBLEM

he belongs. There are selfish and
brutal men IN All ranks Of life, IN
they are capitalists their selfish
ness and brutality may take the
form 81 hard Indifference % suffer
ing. greedy disregard OF every moral
restraint which interferen with the
accumulation OF wealth. and cold
bl00ded exploitation Of the weak;
or. n they are laborera. the form
81 lazineas. Of sullen envy o. more
fortunate. and Of willingness 10
perform deeds OF murderOns yiO-
ience. Such conduct Is just az rep
rehensible IN one case u in the
other. and all honest and farseeing
men should Join Ia warning against
II wherever u becomes manifest
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

come even more to tho mere able
AMI more Fortunate. r. therefore.
the less fortunate man Is moved hY
envy u hia marr fortunate brother
% strike az the conditions under
which they have both. though un
equally, prespefed. the result will
assurefly be that while DAMAGE may
come 60 the one struck at. II viii
visit With an even heavier load the
one who strikes tha hloW. Taken a.
a Whole We must all 80 an or SO
down together.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

directed TO do 10 by the interstate
commerce comminsion. II r. greatly
90 be- desired that some way might
be- found by which an agreement az
20 transportation within state
intended ~ operate aa a fraud upon
tho federal interstate commerce
laws could be- 'brouEht under the
Jurisdiction OF the federal nuthofis
lies. AZ present n occurs that large
hhlpnents Of interstate traffic are
controlled by concessions on purely
state business, which Of course
amounts 10 an evasion of the Law.
The commission should have power
Ia enforce fair treatment BY the
great trunk lines OF lateral and
branch llnoa.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

Individual capital. and individual
wage worker. corporation and
union. are alike entitled 20 the pro-
lection If the law. and must alike
obey the law Moreover. in addition
TO mere obedience 10 the law. each
man. II he be really good citizen,
must show broad sympathy for his
nelRhhor and genuine desire 10 look
AZ any question arising befW een
them from the standpoint Of that
nelghbor no less than from his
own: and 20 this end Il Is essential
that capitalist and waee worker
should consult freely one with the
other. should each strive 20 bring
closer the day when both shall real
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
sststtsstts tttststss.t..
IS REALLY NOT AN INNOVATION :

This = only In form an innovs-
tion- In substance u II merely a
restoration. for from the earliest
time such regulation Of Industrial
activities has been recognized In the
action OF the law-making bodies
and all that ! propose II 10 meet the
changed conditions IN such manner
as will prevent the commonwealth
abdicafinR the power Il has always
possessed. not only In this country
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

tho benefits hoped for by ifs more
optimistic adherentH. Moreover.
under any healthy plan. the benaflts
viii develop gradually and not
rapidly. Finally. We must clearly
understand that the public servants
who are 10 do this peculiarly re-
sponslble and delicate work must
themselves be % the highest type.
both a. regards integrity and eff
cheney They must be well paid.
for otherwise able mon cannot I'm
the long run be secured: and they
must possess a lofty probity which
will revolt as quickly at the thought
OF pandcrinE TO any gust OF popular
prejudice against rich men as at
the thought OF anything even re-
moiely resembling subservieney 70
rich men. But while I fully admit
the difficulties In the way. do not
for a moment admit that these
difficulties warrant us In stopping
ia our effort 10 secure any wise and
just system. They should have no
other effect than TO spur us on to
the exercise OF the resolution. the
even handed Justice. and the fertii-
ity Of resource. which we like TO
think Of ms typlcally American. and
which will In the end achieve good
results In this as In other fields OF
activity. The task II a great one.
and underlies the task OF dealing
with the whole industrial problem.
But the fact that II Is n great prob
lem does not warrant ua in shrink
ing from the attempt 60 solve Il.
At present we face such utter lack
OF supervision. such freedom from
the restraints OF law. that excellent
men have often been literally forced
into doing what they deplored be-
cause otherwise they were left at
the mercy OF INSCRIPTIONS competi-
tors. To rail at and assafl the men
who have done as they best could
under such conditions accomplishes
little What we need TO do Is 20
develop an orderly system: and such
n system can only come through the
right OF efficient government con-
troll.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

but also IN England before and since
this country became a separate ma
ton.
II has been a misfortune that the
national laws on this subject have
hitherto been Of a negative or pro.
hibitivs. rather than an affirmative
kind. and stiil more that they have
In part sought 70 prohibit what
could not be effectively prohibited.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05
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SUPERVISION or PRIVATE CAR LINES. -


investment, but neither private cars
nor Industrial railroads nor spur
tracks should be utilized as devices
for securing preferential rates. A
rebate in icing charges. or In mile
age, or In n division OF the rate for
refrigratIng charges Is Just as per-
nicious as n rebate In any other
way. No lower rate should apply
on goods imported than actually OBJ
tains ON domestic goods from the
American seaboard to destination
except I'm cases where water com
petition IA the controlling influence.
The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-12-05

OBJECTS TO RADICAL LEGISLATION.

eminent such supervision and reEas
iation OF the rates charged b the
railroads % the e0nntrY engaged IN
intcrsfate traffic as shall eamuarllY
and effectively prevent the ttnnunl.
ton OF unjust or unreasonable rates.
1T MUST INCLUDE PUTTING 4
COMPLETE STOP To REBATES
IN EVERY SNAPS AND FORM
This power to regulate rates. iike
all similar powers over tho business
world. should be exercised with
moderation. caution. and self -
straint. but Il should exist. - that
Il can be effectively exercised when
he need arises.