Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-13

sociological phenomena Of our time;
it is a social question of the first i'm
portance, of far greater importance
than any merely political or economic
question can be; and to solve it we
need ample data, gathered in sane
and scientific spirit in the course of
an exhaustive investigation.
In discussing the labor problem the
president said that, in addition to
mere obedience to the law, each man,
if he be really a good citizen, must
show broad sympathy for his neighbor
and genuine 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 1t
is essential that capitalist and wage
worker should consult freely enc with
the other, should each strive TO bring
closer the day when both shall realize
that they are properly partr ers and
not enemies. Then he added: This
government is not and never shall be
government by a plutocracy. This
"vernment is not and never shall be
government by a mob. 1t shall con
tinue to be in the future what 1t has
been in the past, government based
on the theory that each man, rich or
poor, is to be treated simply and sole
ly on his worth as man, that all his
personal and property rights are to
be safeguarded, and that he is neither
TO wrong others nor to suffer wrong
from others.
Insurance.
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 preclude
strict enforcement of supervision and
regulation by the parent states. Re
cent events have emphasized the I'M
portance of an early and exhaustive
consideration of this question, to see
whether it is not possible to furnish
better safeguards than the several
states have been aJe to furnish
against corruption of the fragrant kind
which has been exposed. 1t has been
only too clearly shown tnat certain
of the men at the head of these large
corporations take but small note of
the ethical distinction between hon
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 of ethical conduct in the com
munity at large, and especially among
business men and in the great pro
fession of the law, and in the growth
of a spirit which condemns all dis
honesty whether in rich man or in
poor man, whether 1t takes the shape
of bribery or of blackmail. There is
need of a far stricter and more uni
form regulation of the vast insur-
ance interests of this country. The
United States should in this respect
follow the policy of otheV nations by
providing adequate national supervl
sion of commercial interests which are
clearly national in character. The in
ability of state to regulate effective
~ insurance corporations created I'M
der the laws of other states and
transacting the larger part of their
business elsewhere is also clear
The congress has already recognized
that interstate insurance may be
proper subject for federal legislation,
for in creating the bureau of corpora
tions it suthoized it to publish and
supply useful information concerning
interstate corporations, including cor
porations engaged in insurance. It
is obvious that if the compilation OF
statistics be The limit of the federal
power, it is wholly ineffective to
,gulate this form of commercial in
tercourse between the states, and as
the insurance. business has outgrown
in magnitude the possibility of AIDE
quate state supervision, congress
should carefully consider whether
further legislation can be had What
is said above applies with equal force
to fraternal and benevolent organiza-
lions which contract for life insur-
ance.
Revenues.
On this theme the president says
that last year there was deficit. Tn
less our expenditures can be kept
within the revenues then our revenue
laws must be readjusted. 1t is as