The farmer and mechanic., 1915-07-06

S iaueeu, are really vicious, but l
40 most earnestly insist that the un-
derlying spirit and ever nresenf mr.
pose has been, crudely stated. the
greatest good to the greatest num-
per, to better the condition of the
masses Of the people, to give every
human being the greatest possible
seI-development consistent with an
opportunity on the part Of others to
strive for a like DEVELOPMENT. "This
legislation is convincing proof of the
ueVelopment among the American
people OF social conscience which
LOOKS to condition where each NAV
secure standard of living, and such
snare in civilization as shall make
possible tree. normal life for each |
human SOUL AS an ideal move
ment 1t has it's dangers Like new
vine 1t has gone to the head of many |
VINO nave grasped it, but the concep- |
tlon itself is SOund"-bOttomed as il |
is upon social justice the wild world |
over Take the labor legislation. for
| instance, the abolition of the fellow
servant rule. the provision for work.
ing mems compensation, the require
| mentS as to factory conditions. the
| regulation Of the hours of labor the
| protection of women and children.
| Wnat are these but endeavors to pro-
| vlde them an opportunity for further,
higher, fuller life and DEVELOPMENT"
Errors nave been made, injustice has
| been done; but do insist that the leg
islation has had for it's guiding star
| the greatest possible self-realiZation
consistent with the common good "To
satisfy and reconcile the claims of the
Individual with the just claims Of So
ciety is no easy task Happily, there
are inherent limitations upon the
power of legislation which should
largely protect society from ill-consid-.
cred. undigested, unjust laws. Hap
PLY. too, legislation in it's final enact
ment and operations must run the
gauntlet of public opinion, which in
the end guides and controls the legis-
lator. From these two great restrain
ing influences may we not hope in the
progress of time that error shall be
discovered and that truth shall pre-
vail. To doubt this is to doubt the ca
pacity of the American people for
Self-gOvernment
The Personal Liberty Obstacle.
, Originally, the lion in the path, the
stumbling block in the way of all
legislation looking towards the ad-
t vancements of society was the cry, the
claim, the theory of personal liberty.
The citizen owning miserable but on
? the thOroughfare of a rapidly grow
ing city asserted the right to use his
3 property as he pleased and boldly un-
= dertOok to block all progress. He
5 denied the power Of his city to tax
S him or his property to establish a play
4 | ground for the children Of the poor
4 Had he children, he send them to
t | exclusive, private schools where they
s were to come in contact with children
0 Of equal advantages and like socia
y standing. He denied the right or the
: power of his city or his State to ia,
n him for the education Of the children
d of the poor and was content that they
u should remain in the field or factory
d denied the blessings of an education
! and the equal opportunity which edu
cation brings. Legislation upon thi
subject aptly illustrates my point ant
d powerfully supports my argument. II
o primary education this private, seclu
3 sfve, exclusive school has PRACTICAL.
IS passed away. In it's stead we have
is the free common public school: public
d in the sense that it is maintained b.
l. the public, not in proportion to ou
lr poverty or our needs, but in eXac
d proportion to our ability; common, ye
n common in the sense that the Schoo
IN is common to every child. rich an
n poor, Jew or Gentle; free, yes free t
every child and free from all caste
D. class distinction or social differences
" where side by side they pass thei
m childhood days. learning under thei
IS, countrys flag the cardinal teaching Q
to this land; the worth OF individual Ell
te fort, the dignity of honest labor an
equality before the law. Surely. tn
r common schools of our country ar
u our crowning glory; and yet it ha
as scarce been twenty years since thi
H. battle was fought with great bitter
lie ness and much uncertainty in my ow
little town. This self-same man in
in sisted that he had the right to do 9
in he willed with his own child-to plae
in it in the factory or the field at an
of age. Society denied this right, an
ne as consequence we have compulsor
Ii education.
IL All Rights Limited.
n
to The manufacturer asserted the rigl
a. to conduct his factory as he Wille
~, Society denied this right and we ha,
an factory inspection and regulation
~ This man asserts the right to buy ar