The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-09-03


demands.
Capital is a power which quickly
senses and responds to the needs Of
labor. There was time when the
working man and the working woman
yes, and the child-were looked on
as so much material out of which pro-
fit was coined. But this condition is
passed. The employer has realized
that in order to derive the greatest
amount of good from the capital in
vested, he must have a satisfied en-
ployee. Sanitary working conditions
have made a big stride during the last
decade. New safety appliances are
continually appearing in order that
the laborer may be further protected.
Our legislature has enacted the Work
mems Compensation Act and new re-
visions and new laws are continually
being made for the benefit of labor.
The most recent of these revisions
Of the statutes is a change in what is
commonly called the Child Labor
, Law" Many of you may feel that it is
unjust to demand that no child under
seventeen CD years of age may work
without permit. But have you
stopped to consider that if the law re-
stricts child labor, it then gives the
workingman of today, yes, and of the
future-a better chance and a larger
field to work in? That children up to
seventeen 90 years of age may not
voluntarily work, does not necessarily
mean that they are to be reared in
idleness. On the contrary the govern
ment desires that they should be en-
tered into more necessary field of
work, the work of education. Modern
conditions demand an intelligent la
borer and education has been found
to be the best medium towards this
end
1t is proper that any body of men
should organize for legitimate pur-
poses; but every organization should
realize that is is not only responsible
to itself and to it's country, but es-
pecially to it's own community Civic
pride demands that the welfare of a
community always remain uppermost
in the minds of any local organization,
even to the extent of curbing personal
aims. 1t should be matter of pride
that each member has at all times en-
deavOred to give his community the
best public officers, the best public
representatives, the best public facil-
tiles. This is not question of morals
or ethics, but every just code of laws
demands that every man should share
in the protection Of all, and in the pro-
lection of the rights of all, as we'll as
his own. No citizen is exempt from a
summons to the national defence. He
is equally required to contribute to
the common good through the equally
important ordinary relations with
which every day labor is allied. 1t is
the duty Of an organization to stimu-
late more intelligent and active in
terest in public affairs. We not only
need the capitalist, but also the intel
llgent laboringman as a good repre-
sentative in the common council and
on the board of education.
Labor can use it's influence particu-
larly IN one direction and that is to-
wards the education of the children
and young people of our city. Direct
your attention to the future happiness
of your children. Give them a better
chance than you yourself had, by Civ
ing them education necessary to cope
with present day problems. AS Lowell
has said: 1T was in making education
not only common to all, but in some
sense compulsory on all, that the des-
tiny OF the free republics of America
was practically settled" Encourage
the younger members Of your organi-
cations to work towards that end.
where they may some day not only
represent labor, but also capital.
One often hears the remark that
many intelligent young men and wo-
men must work of necessity. This is
true, but for them our state has insti-
tuted the continuation school. of
which our night school is a part. so
that they may receive the education
necessary to conquer new fields. It ia
deplorable fact that so few of the
younger generation make use of this
line opportunity. Too many feel that
lney nave not the necessary gifts, but
they should remember the words of
Edison that Genius is one percent in
splratlon and 80 percent perspiration.
Hard work and consistency always win
out. Others again lack the necessary
ambition, for there are no disinterest-
ing things, only disinterested persons.
100 many feel that they would be
losing time which might be expended
IN the pursuit of pleasure, if they
were to make use of this wonderful
opportunity, but here a few en-
couraging words often have the right
effect. Remember:
The heights by great men reached
and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night"