Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-01-08

, possible that II all the now waste land
Of Illinois were planted to trees. in
, half n century they would produce
timber enough for our own needs.
Besides this, such forests would help
10 conserve moisture. would diminish
the damage from overflow, and would
tend TO prevent the washing and gully.
ing of our rolling lands, The State
should adopt a policy 10 encourage
the retaining OF these waste acres
Welfare Of Industrial Workers.
one OF the subjects which must en-.
gage our constant attention IL the
Ncll-beng of those men and women en-
ployed In industrial pursuits. The
true test OF country's greatness is
the LOT In life Of the average men and
women The men and women of the
shop, OF the factory. and of the farm.
These are they who carry on the work
OF civilization. and IA nation Is strong
In proportion to their wcll-being.
Whatever permanently improves their
lot In life Is best for all and best for
the State.
In industrial occupations the loss OF
life or limb. or other personal injury
OF the employed should be- regarded
as u factor In the cost of production.
Compensation for such loss or injury
should be borne by the industry and
not by the individual. Worklngmen's
compensation laws are therefore has.
I'd upon sound principle. Even more
important Ia II that the workingman
should work under such conditions as
to reduce the danger OF injury to the
minimum. And the likelihood of such
Injury will be greatly lcssened by o
rigid and efficient administration OF
our factory and inspection laws. Suci
an administration will be greatly
strengthened by the establishment OF
n department OF labor, with trained
and competent man at It's head :
Fhe legal limitation OF the hours Of
labor for women engaged in industrial
pursuits Is for the best interests OF So
/ ciety as "A whole. No state Is worthy
OF respect II its chief care is not the
/ quality OF succeeding generations.
| What the men and women of the next
] generation will be depends upon what
the mothers of this generation are,
The State. therefore. Is vitality inter.
cstcd in requiring that our women
/ shall not work under such conditions.
or during such part Of the day. as to
impair their vitality or prevent them
from becoming tho mothers OF II
hardy race,
Wards Of the State.
The detectives OF society found In
our State insttutlons~-th insane. the
feeble minded. the epilcp,ic. the NOR.
ally defective. the habitual criminal,
are entitled to humane treatment.
but this is not all Society should also
concern itself with the means for the
prevention OF further detectives. La
scra,orles and clinics have been found
ri IL Germany and in other states for
Ire study 81 the causes OF these vari.
car Affections The Municipal Court
a. CAseaso has done exceedingly valu
I.at rc-k along The same lines. We
f.,raae g--sge these investigations
tr-'1arr SIR. l-res-isstiors should be
ntlras .sra3 & vital part OF any
s,insrrDs st- 1E-Lli-r our detectives
T-Tr1 T.A,ss -res-iEstic-s We can
at-s Az so- caring for cur de-
f4tG1Fes ard for diminishing their
-.r--.,r- for Ire future Their number
ls ror constantly increasing In pro
portion to oar entire population II
iris increase Is permitted TO continue
Indefinitely. it will be only question
o. tine when the electives OF society
will be no longer able 10 bear the bur.
ders o. caring for the detectives. and
civilization will lapse.
Social justice does not consider
alone the detectives and incompetents
OF society. II recognizes that, after
all. the business Of civilization is car
ried forward by the great mass OF In
dependent. self-respecting citizens
who ask no direct aid from the gov
eminent. A paternalism which con.
siders only the weaker members OF so.
ciety. TO such an extent as to impair
the rugged independence OF these
men and women. would ultimately de.
feat its own ends.
Reduce Number Of Elections.
The number and frequency OF our
elections should be reduced. Elcc-
tions have been multiplied and our
election machinery is cumbersome and
complicated. The burden Of expense
which elections impose is becoming
unbearable. But this is not the most
important consideration. The length
cnng of the ballot and the increasing
! frequency OF elections are tending to
defeat the very purpose Of democracy.
They have caused interest in public
affairs to flag. The stay-at-home vote
Is becoming ominous. The ballot has
been cheapened. Decrease the mum.
Der of elections, and public interest
will be Quickened.
Enfranchisement Of Absent Voteru.
In the revision Of our election laws,
one subject should not be overlooked.
Under our present laws. the elector
must be present in person on registra.