The Labor enquirer., 1884-12-13
A Supreme Judge Of Iowa Has
a Word to Say in Favor
Of 1t.
View Of tile Labor Question From
Big Legal Gums Stand
peint.
BE Don't Appear to Know What is.
the Trouble, or Where the
Sure Remedy.
North American Review.

North American Review.
The state does not, indeed, make the
local government independent there
must be wisdom applied to its affairs
that looks beyond the territorial limits
and considers how the local affects the
general. The town is an inseparable
part of the state, and chargeable with
many state duties, and unless properly
governed may cause mischief to the
commonw silth at large. But here, as in
the case of the natural person, the super.
vision of the state is to be directed, not
to thinking and acting for the people in
what concerns themselves exclusively,
which the people themselves must be
assumed to understand best, but to
keeping the local authority within
bounds, and preventing the abuses that
might spring from temporary passions
and excitements, or the evils that might
arise from neglect of duties owing to the
state at large.
We do net in the same manner set off
by themselves the persons engaged in a
particular occupation, and confer upon
them corporate powers, but the inter.
ference of the state in their concerns
may be wisely controlled by similar
principles. If they are allowed to gov
ern without interference in whatever re-
lates exclusively to their own affairs,
keeping themselves at the same time
within the general rules of law, and if
the state shall keep firm rule in all that
concerns the elrelations of the particular
business to others and to the state at
large, we shall then have that effective
combination ofrself rule with state con-
troll in which alone can VIC have a gov
lernment that at che same time is well
informed and well restrained. -
In some particulars the self-gevern.
ment of occupations has never been set
= tied upon 6, safe or even peaceful basis.
This is chargeable to internal dissen-
sions; for the state has refrained from
much interference. As result of their
contentious, persons engaged IN differ
ent capacities in the same business have
assumed antagonistic positions, and have
arrayed themselves in hostile forces. All
about US, but especially in the great
centers of manufacture, we may see IL
lustrations. Thetmost noticeable fact in
some lines of business is the general
combination of proprletors on one hand
and of laborers ON the other IN assocla'
tions for mutual protection. Nothing at
first view would seem more proper; for
all employers have common interest In
the prosperity Of the business, as all
laborers have likewise, and what inju,
riously affects one may prejudice all. But
the evil turks in the aim and purpose OF
the combinationa: for instead of com,
mon purpose petyading all, the employer
is found organized for protection against
the laborel, and the laborer against the
employer. 1t is the old fable of the
belly andthe members realized; but in
this ease both belly and members are
against CO. operation, and as necessary
result, both are suffering. The several
organizations are likely to have the gov
erning machinery of little common,
wealth, and the legislative and admins
trative tribunals of each are working al
cross purposes, with a view to elrcum'
vent each other. Laborers believe theil
union a necessity, and the sole means
whereby they can prevent their subslst
ence being at the mercy of employers
Employers look upon their own comoi
nation as necessary to secure to them
the control of their own business. Thu'
they stand to each other in hostile atti
tude, and behind walls Of defense, Eacf
is right, IN a measure; but the wrong II
IRE conspicuous than the