The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-12-08
LABOR MATTERS.
Legislation Needed In Many Lines
to Improve Condition of Workers.

to Improve Condition of Workers.
There are many matters affecting la
Dor aud the status of the wageworker
to which | should like to draw your
attention, but an exhaustive discussion
of the problem in all its aspects is not
now necessary. This administration is
nearing it's end. and, moreover, under
our form of government the solution of
the problem depends upon the action
of the states as much as upon the ac-
ton Of the nation. Nevertheless there
are certain considerations which wish
to set before you. because hope that
our people will more and more keep
them in mind A blind and ignorant
resistance to every effort for the re-
form Of abuses and for the readjust-
ment of society to modern Industrial
conditions represents not true conserv-
atism, but an Indictment to the wild
est rudicaliSm. for wise radicalism
and wise conservatism go hand in
hand, one bent on progress, the other
bent on seeing that no change is made
oAASSo III VIC uhNtllIA. DclicN Y
in a steady effort, or perhaps it would
be more accurate to say in steady eff
forts in many different directions, to
bring about condition of affairs I'M
der which the men who work with
band or with brain, the laborers. the
superintendent, the men who produce
for the market and the men who find
a market for the articles produced
shall own far greater share than at
present of the wealth they produce
and be enabled to invest it in the tools
and instruments by which all work Is
carried on. AS far as possible / hope
to see a frank recognition of the adj
vantages conferred by machinery. or.
ganiZation and division Of labor, ac-
companied by an effort to bring about
a larger share in the ownership by
wageworker of railway. mill and fac
tory In farming this simply means
that we wish to see the farmer own
his own land. We do not wish to see
the farms so large that they become
the property of absentee landlords
liz Aol LII lHNlu ny lCnuHtS uOi Yet 81
small that the farmer becomes like
European peasant.
Again, the depositors in our savings
banks now number over one-tenth Of
our entire population. These are all
capitalists, who, through the savings
banks, loan their money to the workers
that is. in many cases to themselves
to carry on their various industries
The more we increase their number
the more we introduce the principles
OF cooperation into our industry. Ev-
cry increase in the number of small
In corporations is good
thing for the same reasons, and where
the employees are the stockholders the
result Is particularly good. Very much
or this movement must be outside of
that can be accomplished by
legislation, but legislation can do a
good deal. Postal savings banks will
make 1t easy for the poorest to keep
their savings in absolute safety. The
regulation of the national highways
must be such that they shall serve all
people with equal justice. Corporate
finances must be supervised so as to
make 1t far safer than at present for
the man of small means to invest his
money in stocks. There must be Dro.
hibition of child labor, diminution Of
woman labor. shortening of hours of
all mechanical labor Stock watering
should be prohibited and stock gam
bling. so far as is possible, discouraged.
There should be Il progressive inner
itance tax Gu large fortunes. Indus
trial education should be encouraged
AS far as possible we should Tighten
the burden of taxation on the small
man. We should put premium upop
thrift, hard work and business energy.
but these qualities cease to be the main
factors in accommodating a fortune long
before that fortune reaches a point
where 1t would be seriously affected by
any inheritance tax such as propose.
1t Is eminently right that the nation
should fix the terms upon which the
great fortunes are inherited. They
rarely do good, and they often do
harm to those who Inherit them in
their entirety
Protection For Wageworkers.
The above Is the merest sketch
hardly even sketch in outline. of the
for which we should work
But there is one matter with which
me congress should deal at this SEES
SION. There should no longer be any
paitering with the question of taking
care OF the wageworkers who upde,
our present industrial system. become
killed, crippled or worn out as part OF
the regular Incidents of given bust
ness The majority of wageworkers
must have their rights secured for
them by state action. but the national
government should legislate In thor.
oughgong and farreaching fashion
not only for nll employees of the ma.
ionhl government. but for all persons
engaged In interstate commerce. Tho
object sought for could be achieved
10 measurable degree. as far nc
those Killed or crippled are concerned
by proper employers liability laws
AZ FAR as concerns those who baye
been worn out. call your attention to
The fact that definite stems toward
providing old age pensions have been
taken in many of orr nrf,o+o ;,a.