The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-26

which would have tied up forty-four
lines with a million employees and put
half the country in state of siege.
negotiators were sent by the admins
tration who demanded and secured in
the name of the people a settlement
of the difficulty by arbitration; and
last spring the administration by its
vigorous action, prevented a general
of the country which would have
caused great suffering and far-reach-
ing disturbance; but if Mr. Bryan
were elected 1 have little doubt that
the ensuing industrial chaos.
necessitating great reduction of wages
would be beyond the reach of such &C
ton as that which aysrIeI the
threatened disaster LAST spring.
When the public coal lands were
falling under Dtonr DOliStic CO ltro1 thu,
administration withdrew millions of
acres from entry, insisting to the ex-
tent of its power that the coal and
oil under those lands shall remain a
federal possession, For the first time
in our history the administration has
secured the enforcement of the eight
hour law in the government depart
ments and is trying to secure its ex-
tension by legislation. In the Dis
trict of Columbia it has enacted fed
eral child labor law which stands as
a model law for state governments
and their department of legislation.
Administrations Aid to Labor.
Beyond these remedial enactments and
arbitrations achieved by this administra-
ton stands a constructive and organic
program of federal activity in the way of
SOCIAL and industrial reform. Toward this
end through the years l have been in
office l have consulted with all classes
and conditions of men, We have been able
on the whole to arrive at a remarkably
close agreement among ourselves so long
as all parties. representatives of labor
and faI HI Nl@1f
cations to the commonwealth as joint
workers toward this social reform. We are
all agreed that free play shall be permit
ted only so long as it means fair play. We
are endeavOring steadily to secure a more
the ideal of a distribution of the several
costs of government in a ratio to the
benefits derived. There is nothing in this
trinaires. individualist and socialist alike,
are barred. Sociology comes not to breed
a new class warfare: it knows man only
as man. This administration has bent
a large part of its efforts toward social
advancement. The question has been ask
ed. Why has not the national government
through its bureau of labor. done for the
wage Garner what. through the depart
farmer. by placing at his disposal through
federal research the latest results of scien-
My answer is. the time had not yet
come when this was possible; we have
advanced in each case just as fast and
as far as was possible with the knowledge
and means at our command. Between
pure science or speculative theory and
its practical application in the hands of
a government lies of necessity a gap of
years. years of patient investigation and
organic evolution in agriculture was still
a speculative science. Today the farmer
has only to specify that his wheat must
under a certain wind velocity, bear in its
seed certain percentage of starch. etc,
plant to order. The spineiess cactus and
the frost-proof orange, soil chemistry.
seed selection. and diversified farming
have preceded in time of their discovery
all those theories of social reconstruction
upon which any bureau of labor could
build. The entire task of Transforming a
population. with every advance of me
chanical invention. it is no exaggeration
to state. has awaited that precise knowl-
five years. -~f%7.
Problem of the Unemployed.
Given that knowledge, and given wis
dom. .self-restraint and high purpose in
applying it, and there is little this nation
cannot do for Itself. With free scope for
our federal program. we will do much
trial Srmy to get the chance to make ev-
erything possible out of himself. We can
solve this problem of the unemployed best
by having no more unemployable. AL
ready our bureau of labor, for the past
tical bureau. is practically a department
of sociology, aiming not only TO secure
exact Information about Industrial condi-
tions. but to discover remedies for indus
trial evils. AT this moment we are con-
Quoting Investigations as to the labor of
women and children. the disease and NOR
ployed. etc. The whole principle of ma
terial and social advancement has come
to a quicker fruition in our department
of agriculture for the reason that biology
seeds and plants and cattle than as re-
CARDS men. 1t Is our confident claim,
5t app onF VIII se
coed in achieving for humanity, above all
for the city industrial worker, results
even SURPRISING In value those today in
effect on the farm.
Indfvidualism and Socialism.
We believe that America should take
the lead in this work. Much of 1t can be-
at some time. and the first place in the
world will come to that country which
does it first and best. The work has al
ready been begun under the administra-
under Mr.. Taft. It viii be brought to
ruin If Mr.. Bryan is elected. The ma
tional government must help toward this
great reform by putting the results of
posai Of all citizens. We believe not
merely in retaining but developing to the
utmost possible extent indlyidpai initia-
any cutlery of paternalism or socialism
from going into any experiment which
promises TO benefit either farmers or
wage-earners; for we regard a lawless
and impracticabie individuaiism as in it
self quite as undesirable as the most
deadening form of socialism.
Labor Should Favor Taft"
1t has been charged that Mr.. Taft and
the administration in which he has borne
so prominent a part, have not been suf-
ficiently interested in economic and in
dustrial questions. The above is, it seems
to me. sufficient answer to this charge.
Mr. Tsift's election should be advocated
by all who believe in making a far-reach-
ing effort toward the betterment of our
scheme of social and industrial life. 1t
should also be advocated by all who wish
an immediate advance in these social and
industrial conditions.
If Mr.. Taft is not elected. a period OF
industrial chaos and business mad times
will ensue in which the workingmen will
suffer far more than any other class.
Thew are the people who, more than any
other. will pay the penalty. Because of
their own material interests I believe that
they should support Mr.. Taft; and, fur
thermore. 1 believe that they should sup
port him because he has by his actions
over and over again proved himself to be