Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-09-06

nitude of this state fair and the i'm
mense throng of people in attendance
are convincing evidence of the great
ness of Minnesota as an agricultural
state.
This is Labor day-a day given
over to emphasizing the Importance
of manual labor in our civilization
and to properly eXalting it's dignity.
The two classes in the community
that are most important are Its farm
ers and it's working men; and this &C.
casion and this date suggests thoughts
thoughts of both. There is sitting now
| in the city of St. Paul a convention
for the promotion of the conservation
of our natural resources. TO no one
does that subject come home with
mire vital significance than to the
farmer If anybody is to profit by
conservation, and If anybody is to
make conservation profitable to 9TH
ers, it is the farmer. He is the. one
who, by the manipulation of the soil,
it's proper treatments, it's drainage or
irrigation, it's fertilization, to make 1t
yield the largest crops under condl-
tons that will preserve it best for
future years of usefulness. Proper
farming according to modern ideas in
wolves knowledge and understanding
of the chemical qualities OF the soil,
and the scientific methods Of its treat.
ment, so that instead Of being mere
manual vocation, as it was years ago.
it now has become scientific and
practical profession. This has been
recognized by the general government
in the establishment of a department
of agriculture. where, in it's bureaus
of research the secrets OF nature
have been revealed in the possible de-
velopment of modern farms: and prop
er publicity has been given so that
those who till the soil may take adj.
vantage of the new discoveries.
Experiment stations have been es-
tablished the country over: free lee
lures have been given at the expense
! of the government for the benefit OF
farming communities; contributions
have been made to agricultural col
leges; and everything that wise states
manship could suggest has been af-
forded by the general government
within it's jurisdiction for the produc-
ton of greater and better crops. All
this legislation has been in the in
terest of the farmers, and might be
characterized as class legislation; but
so great is the general public interest
in the promotion of agriculture that
it can not be termed unduly privileged
or Objectionable.
So, on the other hand, take the
|
created a bureau of labor in which
statistics are gathered and investiga-
tons are had into the conditions pre-
vailing in respect to all classes of
labor, including child labor, with a
view of making clear the remedies
needed, whether by state or national
legislation. The head OF the bureau
of labor and the chairman of the in
| terstate commerce commission, I'M
der what is known as the Erdman
act, intervene officially in every dis
pute between interstate commerce
railway companies and their employees,
and the amount of good in the settle
ment of controversies and the stop
ping of disastrous strikes that has
been done by Commissioner Neill and
Chairman Knapp cannot be over
stated.
Again, with respect to the employees
of interstate commerce railways, a
law has been passed by congress max
ing it easier for the employees who
have been injured through the negli-
gence of the company, or some other
employee of the company, to recover
conversation for their injuries. The
old common-law upon this subject was
unjust to the employees, and seemed
to have been in the interest OF the
employer. Moreover congress has
empowered the interstate commerce
commission to require all Interstate
railroad companies to adopt every
! reasonable safety appliance in order
to reduce the deplorable loss of life
and limb among railroad employees en-
gagged in and about the running OF
trains.
Again, the alien contract labor law
has been passed and strictly enforced
| with a view to preventing the bring
ing in from other countries to COM
pete with the settled and established
labor of this country, pauper labor
lower than the prevailing wage in the
United States.
Finally, a bureau of mines has just
been established in order that by in
vestigation and research and close OBJ
servation of the practical working OF
mines, the best appliances for prevent
ing the enormous destruction of life
that occurs from the explosion OF
gases and fire in coal and other mines
may be devised and adopted.
This legislation is in the interest
and for the benefit of class-the
working men; but they are so large a
class, and their welfare is SO impor-
tant to the public at large, that while
it might be characterized as class
LEGISLATION, it is greatly for the public
veal and cannot be denominated priv
ileged or Objectionable: We need, and
hope we shall secure, more OF such
legislation.
But, there is kind of legislation
to which I would refer, that does
come under the head of vicious class
legislation, and 1 hope I can make
the distinction clear between this and
what I have been describing. A num-
IN