Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-05

ditions, especial attention to be paid
TO the conditions of child labor and
child labor legislation in the several
states. Such an investigation should
take into account the various problems
with which the question OF child labor
is connected. II is true that these prob
lens can he actually met In most cases
only by the states themselves. but ii
would be we'll for the nation to EN-
deavor to secure and publish compre-
hensive information as to the condi-
tons of the labor Of children in the
different states So MS to spur up those
that are behindhand and to secure ap-
proXimateIy uniform legislation OF n
high character among the several states.i
In such Il republic as ours the one thing
that we cannot afford to neglect is the
problem of turning out decent citiZenS-'
The future of the nation depends upon
the citizenship of the generations 10
come. The children of today are those
who tomorrow will shape the destiny
of our land. and we cannot afford to
neglect them. The Legislature OF Colo
RADIO has recommended that the nation
al government provide some general
measure for the protection from abuse
of children and dumb animals through
out the United States. l lay the mat
ter before you for what | trust will be
your favorable consideration.
. Women Who Work.
The department OF commerce and Ia
Dor should also make thorough inves-
tigation of the conditions OF women in
industry. over 100000 American wO-
men are now engaged in gainful occu-
pations. yet there is an almost complete
dcarth of data upon which to base any
trustworthy conclusions as regards Il
subject as important as ii is vast and
complicated. There is need of full
knowledge ON which to base action
looking toward state and municipal
legislation for the protection OF work
ing women. The introduction of wo-
men into industry is working change
and disturbance in the domestic and
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. and the
adjustment to factory conditions must
be made, but surely IL can he made
with less friction and less harmful eff
fects on family life than is now the
forms one of the greatest sociological
phenomena OF our time. 1t Is n social
question of the first Importance, OF far
greater Importance than any merely 30
Iitical or economic question can be. and
TO solve it we need ample data, gather
ed in IA sane and scientific spirit in the
course OF an exhaustive investigation.
In any great labor disturbance not
ested, but also a third party-the gen
eral public Every considerable labor
difficulty I'm which interstate commerce
is involved should be investigated 10y
the government and the facts officially
reported to the public.
The question OF securing healthy.
self respecting and mutually sympa-
.thetic attitude as between employer
and employee. 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 ac-
cOrdance with which the problem must
he solved, are entirely simple. We can
get justice and right dealing only If
we put as of paramount Importance
the principle of treating man on his
worth as q man rather than with ref
crence to his social position. his occu-
patton or the class TO which he be-
longs There are selfish and brutal
men in all ranks Of life. If they are
capitalists. their selfishness and brutal
ity may take the form Of hard indif-
ference to suffering. greedy disregard
OF every moral restraint which inter
Ea tI.a4i ~
and cold booded exploitation of the
weak; or. II they are laborers. the form
OF laZiness, of sulIen envy OF the more
fortunate and Of Willingness To per
form deeds of murderous violence.
Such conduct is just as reprehensible
in one case as in the other, and all
honest and farseeing men should Join
in warning against il wherever il be-
comes manifest. Individual capitalist
and individual wageworker corpora
ton and union. are alike entitled to the
protection OF the law and must alike
obey the law. Moreover. in addition 10
mere obedience to the law each man,
IL he be really a good citizen must
show broad sympathy for his neighbor
and genuine desire TO look at any ques-
ton arising between them from the
standpoint of that neighbor no less
than from his own. and to this end II Is
essential that capitalist and wagework
.er should consult freely one with the
other: should each strive TO bring clos
er the day when both shall realize that
they are properly partners and not
enemies. To approach tie questions
which inevitably arise between them
solely from the standpoint which treats
each side in the mass as the enemy Of
the other side in the mass Is both
wicked and foolish. In the past the most
direful among the Influences 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 "A man subordl-