Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-12-08
FSIDfNT' 'SLAST' MESSAGE

WI NOhe only Dy pressing
various concurrent remedies. Some
OF these remedies must lie outside
the domain of all government. -ome
must lie outside the domain of the
FEDERAL government. But there is
legislation which the federal govern
ment alone can enact and which is
absolutely vital in order to secure
the attainment of our purpose. MANY
laws are needed.
To accomplish this. means NJ
course, certain increase in the use
of-not the creation of-power. by
the central government. The power
already exists; 1t does not have to be
created; the only question is whether
1t shall be used or left idle--and
meaT~hile the corporations over
whioh the power ought to be exer-
clsed Will not remain idle.
The danger to American democ-
racy lies not In the least in the con.
centration Of administrative power in
responsible and accountable hands
It lies In having the power insuffi-
ciently concentrated, so that no one
can be held responsible for the peo-
pie for its use. Concentrated power
is palpable, visible, responsible, cas-
lily reached, quickly held to account
Power scattered through many ad-
ministratsrs, many legislators, many
men who work behind and through
Legislators and administrators, is i'm
palpable, is unseen, is irresponsible,
cannot be reached. cannot be held to
account. Democracy is In peril
wherever the administration of DO
litical power is scattered among a
variety of men who work In secret.
whose very names are unknown to
the common people.
Labor.
There are many matters affecting
labor and the status OF the wage
worker to which | should like to
draw your attention, but an exhaust
I've discussion of the problem In all
Its aspects is not now necessary. This
administration is nearing its end;
and, moreover, under our fern of
government the solution of the prob
lem depends upon the action OF the
states as much as upon the action
OF the nation. A blind and ignorant
resistance to every effort for the re-
form of abuses and for the readjust-
ment OF society 20 modern industrial
represents not true con-
servatism but an Indictment to the
widest radicalism; for wise radical
ism and wise conservatism go hand
In hand, one bent on progress, the
other bent on seeing that no change
Is made unless In the right direction
As far as possible | hope TO see
n frank recognition OF the advant-
ages conferred by machinery, organis
zation, and division OF labor. accom-
panied by an effort to bring about
A larger share in the ownership by
OF railways, mill and
factory In farming. this simply
means that we wish to see the farm.
er 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 be-
comes like a European peasant.
Again. the depositors in our savings
banks now number over one-tenth OF
)ur entire population. These are all
capitalists. who through the savings
banks loan their money TO the work
is. In many cases TO them
selves-to carry on their various In
lustries. The more we Increase their
1umber the more we introduce the
principles OF cooperation into our
industry. Every increase I'm the num-
Der OF stockholders in corporations
s a good thing. for the same reasons
md where the employees are the
itockholders the result is particularly
good. Postal savings banks will
make IL easy for the poorest 10 keep
heir savings IN absolute safety. The
regulation OF the national highways
must be such that they shall serve
All people with equal justice.
There must be prohibition OF child
abor. diminution OF woman labor,
of-hours In all mechanical
labor: stock watering should be pro-
and stock gambling so. far
as is possible discouraged. There
should be a progressive inheritance
tax on large fortunes. Industrial
education should be encouraged. As
far as possible we should tighten the
burden OF taxation on the small man.
We should put a premium upon
thrift, hard work, and business en-
ergy; but thes equalities cease to be
the main factors In accumulating a
fortune long before that fortune
reaches a point where Il would be
seriously affected by any Inheritance
tax such as propose. II is eminent
~ right that the nation should fix
the terms upon which the great for
tunes are inherited. They rarely do
good and they often do harm 10 those
who inherit them in their entirety.
Protection for Wage-WOrkers.
The above Is the meTest sketch.
hardly even a sketch in outline, Of
the reforms for which We should
work. But there is one matter with
which the. congress should deal at
his session. There should Tp longer
1e any paltering with the question OF
taking care of the wage-workeTs who
under our present industrial system
become killed. crippled, or worn out
as a part OF the regular incidents OF
4. Ill ~