The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-08

to be easier to act in accofd ancf
with he rule OF right and Justice in
dealing with the labor question. The
sc-caIled labor question is a question
only because we have not yet found
the rule OF right in adjusting the In
terests of labor and capital. The
welfare, the happiness, the energy and
do the daily work in our mines and
factories, on our railroads, in oul
offices and marts OF trade. on our
farms and on the sea. II OF the essence
Of our national life. There can be
nothing wholesome unless their life ID
wholesome; there can be no content
ment unless they are contented. Their
physical welfare affects the soundness
OF the whole nation. We shall never
get very far In the settlement Of these
vital matters SO long as we rega I'd
everything done for the working man,
by law or by private agreement as a
concession yielded to keep him from
agitation and disturbance of our
peace. Here. again, the sense Of uni
versal partnership must come into
play II we are to act like statesmen.
as those who serve. not a class, but
a nation.
Backbone OF the Nation.
ne NoIhiItE ptVptt Vi
II they must be distinguished from
the minority that constitutes the rest
OF ft---are, of course, the backbone Of
the nation. No law that safeguards
their life, that improve the physical
and moral conditions under which
they live. that makes their hours OF
labor rational and tolerable. that
gives them freedom to act in their
own interest and that protects them
where they cannot protect themselves.
can properly be regarded rs class
legislation or as anything but as a
measure taken in the interest OF the
whole people, whose partnership in
right action we are trying to establish
and make real and practical II is in
this spirit that vie shall act il we are
genuine Spokesman or the whole
country.
As our program lie discolsed---for TO
man can forecast II ready made and
before counsel is taken of every one
CONFERENCE.-The must be its measure
and standard. the interest of ali con-
cerned. For example, In dealing with
the complicated and difficult question
of the reform Of our banking and cur
rency laws. 1t Is plain that we ought To
consult very many persons besides
the bankers, but because they do not
necessarily comprehend the business
of the country. notwithstanding they
are indispensable servants OF 1t and
NAV do q vast deal to make IL hard
or easy. No mere bankers plan will
meet the requirements. no matter how
honestly conceived. 1t should be n
merchants and farmers plan as well.
elastic tnthe hands OF those who use
IL ss an indispensable part Of their
daily business. I do not know enough
about this subject TO be dogmatio
about II, know only enough TO be
sure what the partnerships in 1t
should be. ana that the control exer-
cised over any system We may set up
should be, SO far as possible. control
emanating, not from q single specia.
class, but from the general body and
authority OF the nation itself.
In dealing with the Philippines. ve
should not allow ourselves to stand
upon any mere point OF pride. as IT,
In order to keep our countenance in
the families Of nations, it were neces-
sary for us to make the same biunders
of selfishn ness that other nations have
made We are not the owners of the
Philippine Islands. We hold them in
trust for the people who live in them,
They are theirs, for tina uses OF their
life We are not even their partners
It is our duty, as trustees, to make
whatever arrangements Of government
will be most serviceabie TO their free
dom and development. Here.-<1gain.
We are to set up the rule OF justice
and of right.
The rule Of the people IL no idle
phrase, those who believe in IT, "a
who does not that has caught the real
spirit OF America believe that there
can be no rule Of right without IT.
that right in politics is made UP OF
the interests OF everybody, and every
body should take part in the action
that is to determine it. We have
been keen for presidential primaries
and the direct election Of United
States senators. because We wanted
the action Or the government to De
determined by persons whom the peo-
pie had actually designated as men
whom they were ready to trust and
follow. We have been anxious that
all campaign contributions and ex-
penditures should be disclosed TO the
public in fullest detail. because we
regarded the influences which govern
campaigns TO be as much a part OF
the peoples business as anything else
connected with their government. We
are working towards very definite
object. the universal partnership in
public AFFAIRS upon which the purity OF
politics and its aim and spirit depend,
For there is much for the partners
to undertake. In the affairs Of great
nation we plan and labor. not for the
present only, hut for the long future
AS well There are great tasks of
protection and conservation and de-
-s~f- kt. n
dress ourselves. Government has
right wrongs and SET the house in or
der.
Conservation.
do nor know any greater aues-
ton than that of conservation We
have been q spendthrift nation and
must now husband what we have left.
We must do more than that. We must
develop. as well as preserve. our water
powers and must add great water
ways to tho transportation facilities ~
the nation. to supplement the railways
within our borders as well as upon
the Tsthmus We must revive our
merchant marine. too. and fill the seas
again with our own fleets. We must
add to our present postoffice service
a parcels post as complete as that or
any other nation. We must look TO
the health OF our people upon every
hand, as we'll as hearten them with
justice and opportunity. This is the
constructive work Of government.
This is the policy that has a vision and
a hope and that looks to serve man
kind.
matters. Conservation W (sy to gem
eralixe about. but hard TO phrticuiarize
about wisely Reservation in not the