Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-04-23
CLEVELAND SPEAKS.
HIS MBssAaE IN RELATION To
THE LABOR TROUBLEs.
He Is Deeply Impressed with the Inpor.
tanoe OF lmmediateiy and Thought
fully Meeting the Problem.


The message In full is as follows:
To the Senate and House Of R1presep
tatives: The Constitution imposes or
the President the duty Of recommend
| ing 10 the consideration of Oonqresl
from time 70 time such measures As b,
shall judge necessary and expedient.
am deeply impressed with the inn.
portance Of immediately and thought
fully meeting the problem which recenI
events and q present condition have
thrust upon IN, involving the settle
ment OF difputes arising between oni
laborfng men and their employers. thai
| am constrained 10 recommend to Con
Rress legislation upon this serious and
pressing subject. Under our form ol
IGovernment the value Of labor as On
element OF national prosperity should
DO distinctly recognized and the wei
fare OF the laboring man should be re-
garded as especially entitled to lesisla.
tive care. In n country which Offers tC
all Its citizens the highest attainment
Of social and political distinction, IT.
working men cannot justly or safely be
considered as irrevocably cont igned to
the limits OF q class, and entitled to nc
attentton and allowed no protest against
neglect.
The laboring man, bearing in his
hand an Indispensable contribution &c
our growth and progress. may we'll in
sist, with manly courage and as q
right, upon the same recognition from
those who make our laws as is accorded
TO any other citizens having q valuable
interest in charge; and his reasonable
demand should be met in such q spirit
OF appreciation and fairness rs TO In
duce contented and patriotic co. ope-
ration In tha achievement of q grand ma
tional destiny.
While the real interests of labor are
not promoted by resort to threats and
violent authorizations, and while those
who, under the pretext of an advocacy
OF the claims Of labor, waptonly attack
the rights Of capital, and for selfish pur.
poses or the love of disorder SOW seeds
sf violence and discomfort, should
neither be encouraged nor conciliated,
all Legislation on the subject should be-
calmly and deliberately undertaken,
With no purpose Of satisfying unreason-
able demands or gaining partisan ad-
vantage.
The present condition of the relations
between labor and capital are far from
satisfactory. The discomfort Of the EN-.
ployed Is due, in q large degree, to the
Rrasping and needless exactions Of EN-
ployers and the alleged discrimination
In favor OF capital ~ IN object of gov.
ernmental attention. 1t must also be
conceded that the laboring men are moi
always careful TO avoid causeless and
nnJustifiable disturbance.
Though the Importance OF q better no
cord between these interests is apparent,
it must be borne In mind that any effort
In that direction by the Federal Gov
ernment must be greatly limited by
constitutional restrictions. There are
many grievances which legislation by
Congress cannot redress and many con
ditious which cannot, by such means,
be reformed.
am satisfied, however, that some
thing may be done under Federal au d.
thority TO prevent the distur bances
which go often arise from disputes be.
tween employers and the employ red, and
which at times seriously threaten the
business interests of the country; and
In my opinion the proper theory upon
whtch to proceed IL that of voluntary
arbitration a. the means of settling
these difficulties. But l suggest that
instead of arbitrators chosen in the heat
of conflicting claims and after such
disputes shall arise, there be created q
commission Of labor, consisting of three
mem bers, who shall be regular officers
of the Government, charged, among
other duties, with the confederation
and settlement when possible OF all
controversies between labor ana
capital.
A commission thus organized would
have the advantage Of being q stable
body, and Its members, as they gained
experience, would constantly improve
in their ability to deal ntelligently and
usefully with the question which
might be submitted to thsm. II arbi
traitors are chosen for temporary Per.
vice as each case of dispute arises, ex.
perience and familiarity with much
that 10 involved In the question will be
lacking; extreme partisanship and bias
will be the qualifications sought on
either side, and frequent complaints of
unfairness and partiAlity will be in.
evitable. The imposition upon Fed
eral court of duty foreign to the judi
cial function ~ the selection of an ar
bitrator In such cases IL, ct least, of
doubtful propriety.
The establishment by Federal author.
ity OF such q bureau would be o lust
and sensible recognition OF the value Of
labor and of ito right TO be represented
In the departments Of the Government.
30 far as it's conciliatory offices had
relation to disturbances which inter
Tered with transit and commerce be.
tween The States, its existence would be
nsuned under the provision of the
constitution which gives to Congress
tue power ITO regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several
States;" and In the frequent disputes
between the laboring men and their
employers Of less extent, and the conse-
quences Of which are confined within
State limits and threaten domestic yio-
lence, the interposition of such com
mission might be rendered upon the ap.
piioation OF the Legislature or Execu-
tive OF a State, under the constitutional
provision which requires the general
government to 'proGect" each of the
states against domestic violence.
Ii such commission were fairly or
ganized, the risk of loss Of popular
support and sympathy resulting from o
refusal to submit to 80 peaceful an
instrumentality ,lwould constrain both
parties to such disputes to invoke It's
interference and abide by Its decisions.
rhere would also be q good reason to
nope that the very existence Of such an
agency would invite application to It
Ior advice and counsel, frequently re-
sulting in the avoidance of contsntion
and misunderstanding.
Ii the usefulness of such q commits
sion Is doubted because it might lack
lSck power 10 enforce It's decisions.
much encouragement is derived from
tne conceded good that has been accom-
pliehed by tha railrnad nnrn .niaaInnn