The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-12-08

tney are the worst enemies or the
cause they profess to advocate. just as
the purveyors OF sensational SANDER In
newspaper or magazine are the worst
enemies OF all men who are engaged In
an honest effort TO better what Is bad
In our social aud governmental condi-
tlons
Corruption is never 30 rife as In COM
munltles where the demagogue and the
agitatOr bear full sway. because In
such communities all moral bands be
come loosened. and hysterIa and sensa.
tionalism replace the spirit or sound
judgment and fair dealing as between
man and man In sheer revolt against
the squalld anarchy thus produced men
are sure Ia the end 10 turn toward any
leader who can restore order. and then
their relief az being free from the In
t0lcrable burdens OF class hatred VIC
lence and demagogy Is such that they
cannot for some time be aroused 10 IN.
dignatlon against mlsdeeds 10y men Of
wealth. go that they permit a new
growth Of the very abuses which were
In part responsible for the original ont
break The one hope for success for
our people Hes Ia a resolute and fear
less but sane and cool headed advance
along The path marked out last year
by this very congress. There must be
stern refusal TO be mlsled into FOL
lowing either that base creature who
appeals and panders 10 tho lowest in
stincts and passions In order 20 arouse
one set OF Americans against their fel
lows or that other creature, equally
base, but no baser. who In a spirit OF
greed or 10 accumulate or add TO an
already huge fortune seeks TO exploit
his fellow Americans with callous dis
regard to their welfare OF soul and
body. The man who debauehes others
In order 10 obtain high office stands
on an evil equality OF corruption with
the man who debauches others for
financial profit. and when hatred is
sown the crop which springs up can
only be evil.
The plain people who think--the me
chanics, farmers, merchants. workers
with head or hand, the men 10 whom
American traditions are dear, who love
their country and try to act decentiy
by their neighbors-owe II TO them
selves 10 remember that the most dam
aging blow that can be given popular
government is 10 elect an unworthy
and sinister agitator on platform OF
violence and hypocrisy.
Railroad Employer Hours.
call your attention TO the need OF
passing the bill limiting the number OF
hours OF employment OF railroad en-
ployees. The measure Is very moder-
ate one. and I can conceive OF no seri-
Gus objection TO Il. Indeed, so far as
IL Is In our power, II should be our aim
steadily TO reduce the number OF hours
of labor, with as n goal the general In
PRODUCTION of an eight hour day. There
are industries in which Il Is not pos
sible that the hours OF labor should
be reduced. just as there are communI-
ties not far enough advanced for such
a movement 10 be for their good, or, IL
In the tropics. so situated that there is
no analogy between their needs and
ours I'm this matter. On the isthmus
OF Panama, for instance. the condl-
from what they are here that an eight
hour day would be absurd, just as II
Is absurd. so far as the Isthmus Is con
cerned, where white labor cannot be
employed. TO bother az 70 whether the
necessary work Is done by alien black
men or by allen yellow men. But the
wageworkers OF the United States are
OF so high n grade that alike from the
merely Industrial standpoint and from
the civic standpoint II should be our
object TO do what we can In the dlrec-
ton OF securing the general observance
OF an eight hour day.
Let me again urge that the congress
provide FOR q thorough investigation
Of the conditions OF child labor and OF
the labor of women In the United
States Tho horrors Incident 70 the
employment Of young children IN fac
tories or az work anywhere are blot
ON our civilization
In spite % an precautions exercised
by employers there are unavoidable ac-
cldents aud even deaths Involved In
nearly every line Of business connect
al with the mechanic arts II Is
great social injustice 20 compel the en-
ployee. or. rather. the family OF the
killed or disabled victim. TO bear the
entire burden Of such an inevitable
sacrifice In other words, society shirks
It's duty by laying the whole cost on
the victim. whereas the injury comes
from what may be called the legiti-
mate risks OF the trade. Compensation
for accidents or deaths due in any line
OF industry 10 the actual conditions un.
der which that Industry Is carried on
should be paid by that portion OF the
community for the benefit OF which
the industry Is carried on-that is, by
those who profit by the industry. II
the entire trade risk Is placed upon the
employer. he will promptly and prop
erly add Il 20 the legitimate cost OF pro-
duction and assess Il proportlonately
upon the consumers OF his commodity.
IL Is therefore clear 20 my mind that
the law should place this entire risk