1893 - State Library Information Center

68 STATISTICS OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES.happiness;" and "that to secure these rights governments areinstituted among nieu."The preamble to the constitution of the United States note forththat its purpose is "to f >rm a more perfect union, establishjustice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the commondefence, promote the general weffire," etc. Article I, section 1,in the constitution of the State of New Jersey, contains thefollowing: "All men are by nature free and independent, andhave certain rights, among which are those of enjoying anddefending life anl liberty; acquiring, possessing and protectingproperty, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness."These declarations constitute the basis of our political organization.Oar political institutions are founded upm the equalrights of all men. Politically, "an injury to one is the concernof all; " but in our Bocial and industrial organization it is quitedifferent. If one citizen is defrauded of his political rights byanother, or by a foreign power, the whole of the moral and, ifneed be, the military forces of the government are brought intoaction to redress the wrong. But the fact that a million of menare defrauded of the right to obtain a living does not concernthose who have abundance. Our political institutions arealtruistic, our social arrangements are founded on egoism.Politically, our ideal is the greatest go*xl to the greatest number.Socially, we are divided into a mass of warring atoms. Ourpolitical institutions are founded upon principles embodied inthe constitution and laws of the country, defining tho rights andduties of the citizen and made obligatory uj>>n all rnon; whilein our social and industrial organization these are loft to thecaprices of the individual, without any comprehensive ByHternthat insures order and harmony in the varied interests incidentto our activities. Hence, we have class arrayed against class,those engaged in one kind of industry combined against thoso ofanother; while there are numerous organizations purporting tobe formed for the only purpose of protecting their member** fromibeing spoliated by reason of their individual helplessness.These considerations indicate the true purpose of a laborbureau, which is to study society, the relation of tho individualmembers that compose it to each other, and give in detail what*ever deductions the facts justify. Labor bureaus had their origin