The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-09-13
rHE RAD1cALPm.

THE RADICALPET.
Hon. George H. Pendleton, in his
opening speech of the campaign at
Columbus, after briefly and ably dis
cussing the financial issues, paid his
respects to the = National Bureau of
Industry" the pet theory Of the Rad
ical party to which it has been driven
in it's desperation. He said:
"A National Bureau OF. Industry,
to be Of the least use, must be much
better managed than any bureau we
have ever had We haYe had q Bu-
reau Of Agrieulture. and the chief
good it has done has been to distri-
butte dried seeds, sometimes weevil
wheat, and to publish a report, which
attentive members of Congress may
send a. compliment to their suscept-
ible constituents. It is in the power
OF Congress to effect all this relief to
labor, but not according to this Repub-
lican plan. Congressional interven-
tion to secure fair returns on capital,
fair wages to laborers, and good man
agement of railroads. Whence does
Congress derive the power? Where
is the grant in the Constitution? 1t
is nowhere to be found. This action
is utterly beyond the scope of the
powers or the functions of the FEEDER.
al Government. fAl powers not
granted are reserved No man can
point out this grant. If Congress may
intervene to this extent in the case of
q railroad, it may. intervene also in
the ease. of every machine shop. and
foundry, and manufacturing establish
ment in the land. If it may secure
fair wages to laborers-that is, more
wages than employers are willing to
give-so it may secure, nay, must Sc
cure fair service to the employers ;
that is, more service, or longer service
or different service, than workmen are
willing to render. Is it the part of
the duty of any Goyernment-is it
within the limited and delegated pow
ers of our Government--to secure
fair returns for capital Invested p
And If it were within the legal pow
ers, how shall it be accomplished By
what process can Government decide
what private speculations shall be
made, and provide that all specula-
tions which are legal shall be profita-
BILE?
"The courts are open 'to adjust con-
troversies, reconcile interests, and es-
tablish justice and equity between en-
ployers and employees If their pro-
cess is slow. it should be made speedy.
if their machinery is cumbrous, it
should be made simple. What other
tribunals are needed? What other
functions could be performed unless,
indeed, it.be intended to deprive both
employer and employee of all free
agency, and to require them to submit
In all things-the giving employment,
the rendering service, the rate ofwages
the quantum of labor, to the arbitrary
dictation of this statutory al bitration.
This declaration either means nothing
or it means too much. 1t is either q
cunninsly DEVISED phrase, meaning
nothing and intended to deceive the
workingmen, or it is a revolution in
our government fraught with the
worst evils to the workingmen them
selves. Capital and labor the fair and
honest adjustment of profits between
them! This has been the problem of
ages-it will be the problem until men
shall become perfect, or Government
shall be able to make them do the
deeds meet for perfection.
'The Republican candidate for Gov
ernor has made his own commentary
on the platform. He would provide
by law that railroad companies should
pay q fixed rate of wages to the en-
ployees. . fixed rate of dividend to
the capital, and should divide the res
idue Of the profits between the stock.
of waees2 What rate of dividend
Who shall decide? BY what rule
shall it be ascertained? But suppose
the railroad is unfortunate, and there
are no profits shall the wages then be
reduced below the rate in order to
make . dividend? Capital being in
vested in an Improbable or unfortu-
nate road, cannot be taken out; it
must remain? Labor, having no such
tie, may turn elsewhere. Shall it be
forced to remain? Shall it be COM
PEELED to work at the diminished
wa.esl If not, what possibility is
there for a fair return for the capital |
What would the statutory
do in such case? If the
scheme is SO benificent, why confine it
to railroads? !? Why not apply it to |
TO husband, to the |
Nay, why not to the law
Office of the candidate himself, and
make semi-annually division of the
surplus profits with the woman who
sweeps it and the boy who carries his
books to the Court House!
No, gentlemen, these are all de-
vices 10 the detriment of labor. Gov
ernment may establish police regula-
tions and sanitary regulations; it may
provide for safety in the construction
of factories and mines it may regu-
late the employment of children of
tender years or persons of feeble and
unsound mind; it may appoint IN
spectors andother officers to secure
these ends; it may, perhaps, exercise
still other powers, in the case of COM
mon carriers, and of railroads, which