The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-28
PENDLETON ON LABOR.
OPENING the Ohio Campaign with n
Great speech at Columbus thurs



Opeufpx the Ohio Campaign with
Great spesch at Columbus thurs
day Night.
A National Bureau of Industry TO
be of the least use, must be much better
managed than any bureau We have ever
had. We have had bureau of agricul.
ture, and the chief good 1t mas done has
done TO distribute dried seeds, sometimes
wesvil wheat, and TO publish report,
which attentive members of Congress
NAV send rs q compliment TO their sus-
ceptible constituents 1t is In the
power of Congress to effect all this rellef
to labor, but not according TO the Re-
publican plan. Congressional interven-
ton to secure "fair returns or capital,
fair wages to laborers, and good manage
ment OF railrOadsW Whence does Con-
gress derive this powerH Where is the
grant IN the constitution 1t is nowhere
to be found. II Congress msy intervene
to this extent in the case OF railroad, IL
NAV intervene also in the case OF every
machine shop and foundry and mauu-
featuring establishment in the land. 1t
1t may secure tslr wages To lsborers-
that is, more wages than employers are
willing to give so it may secure, nay
must secure fair service 10 the employ
ers: that Is, more service, or longer serv-
ice, or different service, than wOrkmen
or willing to render. Is it part OF the
duty or any governmeut-is II within the
limited and delegated powers OF our gov
ernment-to secure "fair returns tor cap
itsl invested2' And if it were within
the legal powers, how shall it be accom-
plished? By what process can govern
ments decide what private specuistlons
shall be made, and provide that ali
speculations which are legsl shall be
proftsbler
THE COURTS ARE OPEN.
The courts are open "to adjust contro-
vsrsies, reconcile interests, and establish
Justice and equity between employers and
employees" If their process Is slow,
It should be made speedy; II this
machinery is cumbrous, it should be
made simple. What other tribunals are
nesded2 What other functions could be
performed unless, indeed, it be intended
T. deprive both employer and employee
Of sill free agency, and to require them
70 submit in sill things-the giving elm
ployment, the rendering service, the rate
Of wages, the qusntum Of labOr-to the
arbitrary dlctaton of this statutory ar
filtration" This declaration either
means nothing or it means too much.
1t is either cunningly devised phrase
meaning and intended TO deceive the
workingnen, or it is revolu'
ton in our government traught
with the worst evils to the
worklngmen themselves. Capital and
lsbor the fsir and honest adjustment OF
profits between them This has been
The problem of the sges-it will be the
problem until men shall become perfect
or government shall be able 10 make
them do the deeds meet for perfection,
The Republican candidate for governor
has made MS own commentary on the
platform. He would provide by law
that railroad companies should pay q
fixed rate of wages to the employees, q
fixed rate of dividend TO the capital
and should divide the residue OF the
profits between the stockholder and the
isborers. What rate OF wages? What
rate of dividend? Who shall decidet By
what rule shall 1t be sscertsined2 But
suppose the abroad is unfortunate, and
there are no profits; shall the wages then
be reduced below the rate in order 10
make dividend2 Capital being H.
vested in an Improbable or VI fortunate
road. cannot be taken out; it must re-
main. Labor, having no such lie, may
turn elsewhere. Shall 1t be forced 10 re-
rnain2 Shall it be compelled TO work AT
tne diminished wages? If not, what
possibility is there for fair return for
the capital lnvested2 What would the
statutory arbitration" do in such case!
1.-THE scheme is so benefcent, WIS con-
fine it to railroads. Why not apply it to
manufactures, to husbandry, to the
househould? Nay, why not to the law
offcs OF the candidate himself, and make
semi-annuslly 3 division of the surplus
profits with the woman who sweeps II
and the boy who carries his books to the
court-housel