Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-12-06

for their good, or, if in the Tropics,
50 situated that there is no analogy
between their needs and ours in this
matter. On the Isthmus Of Panama:
for instance, the conditions are in
every way so different from what
they are here that an eight hour day
would be absurd; just as it is absurd
SO far as the Isthmus is concerned,
where white labor can not be employ
ed, to bother as to whether the neces-
sary work is done by alien black men
or by alien yellow men. But the
wageworkers of the United States are
OF so high a grade that alike FROM
the merely industrial standpoint and
from the civic standpoint it should
+ be our object to do what we can i'll
the direction Of securing the general
observance Of an eight hour day.
Employers Liability
Among the excellent laws which the
Congress past at the last session was
an employers liability law. It was
marked step in advance to get the
recognition Of employers liability on
the statuts books; but the law did not
60 far enough. In spite Of all precau-
tions exercised by employers there are
unavoidable accidents and even
deaths envolved in nearly every line
OF business connected with the me-
chanic arts. This is enevitable sacri-
fee Of life may be reduced to mini
mum, but it can not be completely
eliminated
Investigation Of Disputes Between
Capital and Labor.
The commission appointed by the
President October 16, 1902, at the re-
quest of both the anthricite coal op-
orators and miners, to inquire into,
consider, and pass upon the questions
In controversary in connection with
the strike in the anthracite regions of
Pennsylvania and the causes out Of
which the controversary arose, in
their report, findings, and award ex-
prest the belief ''that the State and
Federal governments should provide
the machinery for what, may be call
ed the compulsory investigation Of
controversies between employers and
employees when they arise.'
Corporations.
The present Congress has taken
long strides in the direction Of secur-
ing proper supervision and control
by the National Government over
corporations engaged in interstate
business-and the enormous majority
Of corporations Of any size are engag-
ed in interstate business. The pas
sage Of the railway rate bill, and only
to a less degree the passage Of the
pure food bill, and the provision fol
increasing and rendering more efee-
tive national control over the beef
packing industry, mark an important
advace in the proper direction. In
the short session it will perhaps be
| difficult to do much further along this
line; and it may be best to wait until
the laws have been in operation for q
number Of months before endeavorine
to increase their scope, because only
operations will show with exactness
1 their merits and their Shortcomings
and thus give opportunity to define
what further remidial Legislation is
needed. Yet in my judgment it vii
| in the end be advisable in connection
with the packing house inspection law
to provide for putting date on tn;
label and for the packers. ALI these
laws have already jutifed their en-
actment.
Agriculture.
The only other persons whose wei
| fare is as vital to the welfare Of ths
! whole country as is the welfare OF
the wageworkers are the tillers of The
soil, the farmers. It is mere trusin
to say that no growth Of cities, M
| growth Of wealth, no indnstrial de
velopment can atone for any falling
off in the character and standing d
the farming population. During tht
last few decades this fact has beer
recognized with ever-increasing clear
ness.
Marriage and Divorce.
/ I am well aware Of how difficult i
| is to pass constitutional amendment
| Nevertheless in my judgment tht
| whole question Of marriage and di
'vn-ca shauld he relocated to the an