The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-06-23

oh MS enterprises. Grades and stan
dards necessary to the intelligent and
successful conduct of the business
Of agriculture have also been estab-
lfshed. or are in the course of being
established by law. The Iong-need-
ed cotton futures act passed by the
/ Sixty-third congress has now been in
successful operation for nearly two
years A grain trades bill, long need
ed, and permissiye warehouse bill,
Intended to provide better storage
facilities and to enable the farmer to
obtain certificates upon which he may
secure advances of money, have been
passed by the house OF representa-
tives, have been favorably reported
to the senate, and viii probably be-
come law during the present session
OF the congress. Both houses have
passed good roads measure which
viii be of far-reaching benefit to all
agricultural communities. Above all,
the most extraordinary and significant
progress has been made under the
direction of the department of agri-
culture in extending and perfecting
practical farm demonstration work,
which is so rapidly substituting scien-
tific for empirical farming. But it is
also necessary that rural activities
should be better directed through Co
operation and organization, that un-
fair methods OF competition should be
eliminated, and the conditions requi-
site for the Just, orderly and economi-
cal marketing of farm products Great
ed. We approve the Democratic ad-
ministration for having emphatically
directed attention for the first time to
the essential interests of agriculture
involved in farm marketing and fin
ance. for creating the markets and
rural organization in connection with
the department OF agriculture, and
for extending the cooperative ma
chinery necessary for conveying in
formation to farmers by means of
demonstrations. We favor continued
liberal provision, not only for the
benefit of production, but also for the
study and solution Of problems of
farm marketing and finance and for
the extension of existing agencies
for improving country life.
Good Roads.
The happiness, comfort and pros
perity of rural life and the develop
ment of the city are alike conserved
by the construction of public high
ways We therefore favor national
aid in the construction of post roads
and roads for military purposes.
Government Employment.
We hold that the life, health and
strength of the men, women and chill
dren of the nation are its greatest as
set, and that in the conservation of
these the federal government, wher-
ever it acts as the employer Of la.
Dor, should, both on its own account
and as an example, put into effect
the following principles of just en-
ployment:
l. A living wage for all employees
2. A working day not to exceed
eight hours, with one day of rest in
seven.
3. The adoption of safety appli
ances and the establishment Of thor.
oughly sanitary conditions of labor.
4. Adequate compensation for in
dustrial accidents.
5. The standards of the uniform
child labor law wherever minors are
employed.
6. Such provisions for decency
comfort and health in the employ
ment OF women as should be accord
ed the mothers of the race.
z. An equitable retirement law
providing for the retirement of super
. animated and disabled employees Of
the civil service, to the end that q
higher standard OF efficiency may be
maintained. We believe, also, thai
the adoption of similar principle:
should be urged and applied in the
legislation of the states with regard
-. to labor within their borders, and that
through every possible agency tbs
life and health of the people of the
nation should be conserved.
Labor.
We declare our faith in the sea
mems act passed by the Democratic
congress and we promise our earnest
continuance of it's enforcement.
. We favor the speedy enactment o.
a federal child labor law and tht
regulation of the shipment of prison
! made goods in interstate commerce.
We favor the creation of a fedora
bureau of safety in the department o.
labor, to gather facts concerning in
dustrial hazards and to recommend
legislation to prevent the manning
; and killing of human beings.
: We favor the extension of the pow
GIG anu A0hSIAOAS VI 1AC AC0CAdA bu
, reau of mines.
/ We favor the development, upon +;
systematic scale, of the means already
begun under the present administra
tion to assist laborers throughout tbs
nation TO seek and obtain employment
and the extension by the federal gov
eminent by the same assistance and
encouragement as is now given u
agricultural training.
We heartily commend our newll
established department OF labor fol
its excellent record in settling indus
l. trial strikes by personal advice anC
: through conciliating agents.
Public Health.
We favor a thorough reconsidera
! ton of the means and methods b!
which the federal government handles
questions of public health, TO the enc
that human life may be conserved b,
the elimination of loathsome diseases