The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-09-05

yeTS ana ulSnODeSU DllSlneNS men, ulS.
honest men of great wealth and dis.
honest poor men, and the man who is
a genuine reformer will decline to sin
gle out any one type for exclusive
tack the dishonest man as such when
ever and wherever he is to be found
For many years ! have been more or
less closely associated wit1 represent.
atlve leaders of labor unions. Some Of
these men are among my close friends.
whom respect and admire as heart
lily as / do any men In America. There
are some of them TO whom | go as
freely for assistance and guidance, for
aid aud he'D, In making up my mind
how to deal with our social problems
as go to the leaders Of any business
or profession.
cannot pay too high tribute to the
worth and integrity of these men-to
their sincerity and good judgment. as
leaders. But no movement-no leader
ship--however earnest and honest. can
sHdure unless the rank'and file live up
10 their duties, and search for such
leadership, and support it when they
find 1t.
The stay at home man in union is
just as much responsible for the sins
of omission and commission of his or
ganization as the stay at home man In
city Is for the civic conditions under
which he suffers and about which he
complains.
Improve Standard Of Living.
All that can properly be done should
be done by all Of ms to help upward the
standard of living and to improve the
ability of the average man to reach that
standard There are still in the United
States great masses of skilled and I'M
organized labor whose conditions of
work and living are harsh and pitiable.
II Is n shocking indictment Of our in
dustrlal condition TO be told In n mat
ter of course way in a government re-
port that thousands OF men In this
country are compelled TO toll every day
in the week. without one day Of rest, for
a wage of $40 n month. Such a condi-
tion Is bad for them and In the end bad
for all of us. Our commercial develop
ment should be heartily encouraged,
but It must not be allowed to CONNER
cialize our morals.
This opens vitally important field
of legislation to the national govern
ment and to the state alike. 1t Is
humiliating to think how far we of
this country are behind most OF the
other countries in such matters. Prac-
tically all civilized countries have for
more than decade prohibited by the
strictest regulations the poisonous
match industry, yet we had not done
anything at all until very recently to
protect the laborers against this hor-
rible danger The national govern
ment made an investigation year ago
into this industry, which showed a
condition of things unspeakably shock
ing and revolving.
Legislation to prevent these abuses
was introduced In congress which was
not passed. Since then the companies
in fault have ostentatiously announced
that they have done away with the
Objectionable conditions. l hope so;
but, whether they have or not, law
should be passed in stringent form to
prevent any possible backsliding.
employers Liability"
So II is in the matter of injuries to
employees. In what is called employ
ers' liability" legislation other indus
trial countries have accepted the lrin-
ciple that the industry must bear the
monetary burden OF its human sacri-
fees and that the employee who is In
jured shall have fixed and definite
sum.
The United States still proceeds on
an outworn and curiously improper
principle, In accordance with which II
has too often been held by the courts
that the frightful burden of the acci-
dent shall be borne in It's entirety by
the very persontleast able to bear It.
Fortunately, In number of states
in Wisconsin and In New York. for
instance-these defects in our indus
trial life are either being remedied or
else are being made subject of in
telligent study with view TO their
remedy. In New York bill embody-
Ing moderate compensation for acci-
dents has already been passed. Other
states will undoubtedly follow in the
same path.
rhe federal government has. SO far
as Its own employees are concerned.
been the first to recognize and put
Into shape this principle. However
this pioneer law was not made com
sprehensiye enough; 1t does not cover
all the employees OF the federal gov
eminent that ought 10 come within It's
provisions, and the amount paid for
permanent disability or death Is en-
tireiy inadequate, Il.