National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-09-16

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The Democratic party which says IL "b,.
licNcs that labor is hest rewarded where Il Il
frcCst aud most enlightened, nnl II should
Therefore. he fusicrcd aud cherished" cDIld
not have intended that freedom anl euii rilt.
CnmCut and just reward should be sup1lnntcl
ly Involuntary and pcHal scryltudC.
When The Democratic Convention lulDrsnl
the laws which, ON grounds OF pub,lu pill,y,
prevent private employers from praa;lclns
,cuut my by hiring MougOlln labOrcrs 10
could not have meant tO sanction the employ.
mCnt by tie Eoycrnment OF more dcsrd1cl,
helpless, and criminal class.
To little purpose did tho convention declare
that "tEe necessary reduction IN taxation can
and must he erected without dcpriviug Am,ri-
ran lgl OR of the ability tOcompcte with fOrci IN
labor" II an unwlsO policy Of economy in pS-
pCndlurc is allowed to deprive American fee
i bor Of the ability to comDslc with convict
labor.
In q letter accepting the nomination to the
uilcC Of governor OF New York, you said
"lhC lnbOring Clgsg constitute The main part
2Gi % %Gur logni9ton THEY should be protected
when endangered by aggregated capital, mn
nll statutes on this subject should reCOIulI
The care of the state fOr honest toll and bl
framed with view of improving the condl.
ton Of the wOrkingmnn."
In accepting the nomination to the Office OF
President you suid:
~ true American sentiment recognizes tho
dignity of labor aud the fact that honor lies In
honest toll. Contcntcd labor is an element Of
national prosperity. Ability towork constitutes
the capital and the wage of labor tho income uf
vast number of our population, and this inter.
est should be jealousy protected our working.
men are not asking unreasonable Indulgence,
hut as intelligent and manly citizens they seek
the same consideration which thOsh demand
VINO have other Interests nt stake. They should
receive their full share Of the care and a.ten.
tion ofthOsc who make and execute the laws"
In painful contrast to broad statesmanship
stands Secretary Manning dciormed economy.
For the sake of the Lowest bid'' shall tho
spirit and intent of the laws enacted for tho
benefit and protection of the lnboring classes,
who constitute the main part of our popula.
ton. be ignored, and national prosperity dc.
sitOyCd 10y Il justly.Groused discomfort among
WotkiugmCn? shalt the opportunity TO work
aud the wage Of lnbor-thc capital and income
Of vast numbers-be wrcuchcd from the hands
of honest lanOrcrs whenever injustice aud op.
preston, or the use Of convict labor, make
"low bids" possible? Are the workingncn
receiving "tlcir full share Of the care and at
tcntiOn OfithOsc who execute the laws when
public officers exclude every consideration OK.
ccpt that Of getting work done chcdply?
of the Treasury TO lead those who have no
honor except that which lies in honest toll,
no capital except the ability to work. md no
income but their earnings, to believe their ill.,
tcrcsts are being "jealously protectclE'
Crime naturally springs from poverty and
idlencss, and these from an Unrestricted COM
petition. Too sharp already, let this industrial
strife be intensified by the competition OF CON
NiCts, and the criminal courts Will rival the
old slave cruisers In the production Of bond.
mcn-un,il such time MS the classes drif(ing
tOWnrd that sCryitude shall stem the tide by
such methods Gs may best iii their intelligence
and power Already, IN Illinois and Other
states, certain classes of mechanics, who would
h pc sure Of .., employment at their trades, must
ploymCni through the gates of the pcnitentinry.
The President of the United States has
powers unmatched by any ruler in the world.
To clear and positive terms Of the law he must
yield; but by many laws M extensive dis.
Crctiun IS expressly given to him, and with rc.
gard TO all the rest he has magnificent am.
plitudc Of discretion in their construction anl
cNccution--a discretion to be exercised In nc.
COrGancc with his view OF the spirit aud reason
OF the law, the welfare Of the nation, and tho
declared policy ofthc people. whn placed him.
as their representative, in Office.
Tito be n President was 10 give an exact COM
pliNnCe 10 an exact legislative rule, ineligible
10 all alike, and to be deprived Of all dis
crctiOnRry power parties could not exist with
reference 10 the prCsdcncv because public
policy would not concern them. Reduced to
The pure mechanism OF executive work, II
President is degraded to the ranl; Of chief
But in truth. our presidency is the very
essence OF declared and nScertained public
policy. Il Is with the knowledge OF the almost
limitlcss power and influence of the President
in directing the present and shaping the
future of the government, that our people di-
vide on the questions Of policy and wage tre
mcndous battles for political supremacy. Both
dent will find his limitations only In the posi-
tive provisions Ofthc law and the platform Of
his party.
With The broad conception of the pDw,rs
and duties of their oHcc did Jefferson wider
our territory into n continent, Jackson crushed
the life from mn Internal monopoly, and Lin.
coin free five million slaves. The pride of tho
people inthesc great names Is authority enough
for any President TO make them his cX-
ampl0rs.
The Issues OF formation in the past were not
a. In IA nf Hnt In lnn
present. No President has had within his
grasp greater opportunities for benefting his
country and imlnOrtali2lng his name than are
passing before you to-day. II Is the dcmund of
wOrkingmcn that whoever lNhOrS shall have
all the fruits of his labor. III the enforcement
OF tlnt demand we desire your cooperation.
As specific and immediate measure Of as
slstnnce we ask that the action of Secretary
Manning In awarding contract for public
work TO employers OF convict labor may b1
overTul cd.
We repeat that no law requires the giving of
such woik TO contractors ana none requires
the acceptance Of the loves; bid. A positive
law declares that ght hours shall constitute a
days work for labor employed by or on behalf
of the government, and this means, If It mems
anything, that person working for the gov
crnmcnt, either under u contractor or puUlic
agent, shall receive days pay for eight hours
work. TO hold OthcrswiSG, and to give out
work 10 contractors without making the law
condition of the contract is Il sheer nullilca-
tiOn Of the statute.
possible, issue general order to the effect
/. That, so far MS possible all public work
shall be done and all public supplies secured
without the intervention of contractors aud In
strict accordance with the eight.hour law.
2. That, when contracts are necessary, all nd
vcrSisemcnts for bids shall tate that the labor
to he employed shall receive full days pay
for eight hours work, according to tho rates
prevailing In the locality where the labor Is
employed, and that the contract Shall so sdpu.
late.
g. That no convict labor shall be employed,
directly or indirectly, and contracts shall so
stipulate.
4. That public officers who violate or Grade
the terms of the order will be removed
Your authority for this action will be the
letter and spirit OF the clght.hOur and the anti.
Chinese and imported labor laws; In the plat
form ofthe Democratic party: in your letter of
acceptance, and In the wishes of organized
labor throughout the country If In tho future
other authority should be needed, or any vim.
dicGtlon Of your course be called ioi, we stand
ready to guarantee that approval aud support
which your action will deserve and command.
We have the honor to be, with great ,psct,
your obedient servants,
f. W. OYSTER
For Federation of Labor Unions.