Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-09
NO. so

property nave most TO rear from tle
wrongdoers of great wealth. and the
men who are championing popular
rights have most to fear from the
demagogues who in the name of popu-
lar rights would do wrong to and OPP
press honest business men, honest men
Of wealth, for the success of either
type Of wronGdOer necessarily invites
a violent reaction against the cause
the wrongdoer nominally upholds.
The opposition to government con-
troll of these gre6, corpora tons makes
its most effective effort in the shape
Of an appeal to the old doctrine Of
states rights.
The proposal to make the national
government supreme over, and there
fore to give it complete control over,
the railroads and other instruments Of
Interstate commerce is merely a pro-
pOsal to carry out to the letter one Of
the prime purposes, if not the prime
purpose, for which the constitution
was founded. 1t does not represent
Capitalization.
l believe that the more farsighted
corporations are themselves coming to
recognize the unwisdom of the violent
hostility they have displayed during
the last few years to regulation and
control by the national government of
combinations engaged in interstate busi-
ness.
There are many matters affecting la
Dor and the status of the wageworker
to which | should like to draw your
attention. AS far as possible l 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 q 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 who
farm them by tenants nor yet so small
that the farmer becomes like a Euro
pean peasant.
The depositors in our savings banks
now number over one-tenth of our en-
tire population. These are all capital
lists who through the savings banks
loan their money TO the wOrkerS-that
Is, In many cases to themselves-te
carry on their various industr.dS.
Postal savings banks will make it 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 prohibition OF
child labor, diminution Of woman la
Dor, shortening Of hours Of all me-
chanical labor. Stock watering should
be prohibited, and stock gambling, So
far as is possible, discouraged. There
should be progressive Inheritance
tax on large fortunes. Industrial edu-
cation should be encouraged.
Protection For Wageworkers.
There is one matter with which the
congress should deal at this session.
There should no longer be any palter-
ing with the question Of taking care
of the wageworkers who, under our
present Industrial system, become kill
ed, crippled or worn out as part of the
regular incidents Of given business.
The object sought for could be achiev-
ed to a measurable degree, as far as
those killed or crippled are concerned.
by proper employers liability laws.
As far as concerns those who have
been worn out call your attention to
the fact that definite steps toward pro-
viding old age pensions have been
taken in many Of our private indus
tries
Pending thoroughgoing investiga-
ton and action there is certain legis-
lation which should be enacted at
once. The law passed at the last ses-
sion Of the congress granting COM
pensation to certain classes Of em-e
ployees of the government should be
extended to include all employees OF
the government and should be made
more liberal In its terms. In this re-
spect the generosity Of the United
States toward its employees compares
most unfavorably with that OF every
country In Europe-even the poorest.
The terms of the act are also a.,
hardship In prohibiting payment IN
cases where the accident is In any
way due to the negligence Of the en-
pioyee. It Is inevitable that daily ia
miliarity with danger viii lead men to
take chances that can be construed
into negligence.
I renew my recommendation made
In a previous message that half holi-
days be granted during the summer to
all. wageworkers In government en-
ploy. -
I also renew my recommendation
that the principle Of the eight hou,}
day should as rapidly and as far as
practicable be extended to the entire
work being carried on by the govern
ment.
The Courts. 4
I most earnestly urQe uDon tho cov,l