The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07
JUDGE VESTS VIEWS.
NoN-coNMITTAL ON REsUMPTIoN-THE LABOR
QUESTION: BUREAU OF INDUSTRY FAVORED.

NoN-coNM1TTAL ON REsuxPTIoN-THE LABOR
QUESTION: BUREAU OF INDUSTRY FAVORED.
From the Cincinnati Commercial, August
II would be difficult 10 find q man in any community
more highly respected ana more generally deferred to
Than Judge West Is in this county [Loganl Win the
instincts and habits of a student and his eminent
qualities as lawyer and statesman he has easy
san,s,ar, almost frontier manner Of intercourse with
hts neghbors, which has made him quite an oracle on
all subjects with all classes OF people. called the
Judge for the purpose OF interviewing him the sub
jcct OF the republican platform.
REpoRTER-Judge, will you give me your views on
the resumption question, and state. II you KNOW why
the subject not mentioned in the platform Of tho
Cleveland Convention?
Judge wEsr-My own personal opinion IN regard to
money and lie uses and 10 the relations which the
government sustains to It founded on clear
convictions They diner widely from those
tertaincd by other gentlemen OF equal ability,
who think and determine for themselves Theo-
retically suspect | inclined to be doematic.
In practice am compelled to acquesce the appica-
ton OF many notifications of my theoretical views
which l may be unable to induce majority OF my
fellow citizens to concur In. We cannot all have our
own notions of plans and systems and theories
duced to practice where they widely differ and
where the application OF only one plan, or one
method, or ono system Is possible. The Cleveland
platform incorporates and realrms the national plat
form of 1876 That platform cnuncatcs the primer
pies adhered TO by the Cleveland Convention except
In SO far Us the same shall have been modified by tho
express declarations of tue latter How tar these
notifications go have net had either time oppor
tunitv 10 determine IL is my purpose at an early
day to carefully all these questions and give
my conclusions 10 the public together with my
reasons. therefore, In the meantime 1t would u
just to myself and unjust 10 those who have connded
a in IN nj Of IN inf or.
view, to express my opinions and views desultory
manner unaccompa panied by full and thorough con-
sidored reasons for hem.
TIM REPUBLICAN PARTY on RESUMPTION
REPoRrEn--Have you been able to form from your
ponderance oil republican opinion on the subject OF
sumpton-whether majority OF the party Is tor or
against the repeal OF tho Resumption act?
Judge WEsr-I have not. My observation has
naturally been very limited The views OF different
thinkers on the subject greatly varied by local
cunstunces Judging from the views Of one commu.
nifty different opinion would be reached IRON that
pressed BY the voico Of another locality; 50 that
present could not even approximate accurate
cuson. l am aware that very considerable number
OF republicans favor the repeal OF The Resumption act
while many others think Il uuocessary a, the present
time, ii at ALL AS Congress soon to convene to re-
main In session until July next, It is deemed the
wsest course BY many to recommit the whole ques-
ton Of resumption to that body, TO be determined
upon according 10 the conditions or necessities
saa0 develop themselves during its session. But
omission OF the mater IRON the platform am unable
to in orm you, nor can stale tho prepondcrance OF
opihtou eitucT way.
TIE LABOR PLANK.
In regard TO the abor PLANK OF the platform Judge
ut my purpose to set forth at length my views
the subject when start out In the campaign. Briefly
will say that capital and labor are indispensable to
each other. Neither prosper without tho assistance
Of tho other Bong thus mutually dependent they
alike entitled to tho fostering and protection OF
society and State fur as 1t Is practicable 10
extend the same. To ramme either by unwss lcgis-
lation would be destructive the interests Of both If
either be without Its reward sufficient to nOurish and
mari VA IN linn
20 employ labor, and must necessarily exhaust II not
remuneratcd. Labor cannot emunerate capital unless
10 devise method by which ther proper relations
may be maintained Is more the work OF practical
dom than OF theoretical craftsmanship Personally
l have supposed II practicable in the OPP
Grafton OF our great railroad thor0ughfares
between employer aud employs a KIND OF Sliding
scale oil compensation, whereby the attor might re-
ceivc CERTAIN agreed minimum Of compensation for
q suited period and In addition thereto certain
agreed percentage OF the earnings and profits real
tied during the same period do not know that such
\ system OF compensation Is practicable. | UNDER
stand it to have been successfully applied some OF
the great industrial establishments OF England aud
ulso Of this country have therefore, believed that
# our railroad corporations could apply some similar
plan 10 the solution Of the exsting labor problem, by
which they are now so much embarrassed, all the
diucrences between themselves and their employees
might be amcably and satisfactorily adjusted. Some
OF them have already adjusted the promise that If
their future receipts Justify It the compensation shall
be increased; but this leaves matters open 10
future controversy. An agreement to pay O stipu-
lateu pcrCentage Oh tho prOnts 10 ADDITION 10 the
fixed minimum compensation would givo greater as
suranco to the empove that he would certainly
such additional remuneration In the event OF the
pany's ability 10 pay. while rendering him entirely
content with the failure receive 1t in the IF
disability. These are only personal opinions my
own, for the ut,erance OF which responsbls
but myself Ill as the operator OF railway, had the
power to apply these suggestions in practice should
certainly try the experiment. for the laborcr is uu-
doubleday worthy oil his hire. All this, however,
should DO voluntarily arranged because it is beyond
the scope Of legislative jurisdiction
A BUREAU OF INDUSTRY.
RxPoRTER-DO you think bureau of Industry
such as progressed by tho republican platform, would
facilitate the correction OF this injustice?
Judge WEsT-l have no doubt that 1t would. The
Intervention OF tho proposed correct an evil
Of this character think IS entirely competent The
statistical information which It nigh: authoritatIvely
demand would enable 1t TO point out the causes OF
grievances and suggest If not compel their corec
ton.
On the subject Of the silver plank Of the platform
Judge West sad:-
"My idea with regard to the reconciliation OF silver
has been that II proper to it at all II should DO
only as substitute Tor our outstanding legal tend ar
circulation, so that volume OF Circulation should
not be Increased In amount but rather value; that
we should have better money rather than money.
ii we are TO have the silver dollar should made as
nearly equal in value to gold practicable, 20 that 1t
may be subject TO the degree oil nuctuatiop ana
yet the difference between II and gold 90 not 10 great
work apparent inust,ce