Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-30
THE PRESIDENT on THE LABOR TROU
BLES,

last week, sent 10 congress INC
following message:
10 the Senate and House Of Repre-
ScRf0hrcs:
The constitution imposes upon
the President the duty of recon.
mending TO the consideration Of
Congress from time to time such
measures as he shall judge neces.
sary and eXpedient. am so deep.
ly impressed with the Importance
of Immediately and thoughtfully
meeting the problem which recent
events and present condition have
thrust upon rs, involving the set
Element Of disputes arising between
our labOring men and their employ
ers, that ! am constrained to recon-
mend TO Congress legislation upon
this serious and pressing subject.
Under our form Of government the
value of labor as an element of ma
IiOnal prosperity should be dis
tiuctly recognized, and the welfare
Of the laboring man should be re-
gardcd as especially entitled to leg
iSlative care. In a country which
offers 10 all its citizens the highest
attainment of social and political
distinction, its working cannot just
~ or safely be considered as irrcv.
ocably consigned to the limits OF
"A class and entitled to no attention
and allowed no protest against neg
icct. The laboring man, bearing
in his hand an indispensable con
tribution to our growth and pro-
greSs. may well insist with manly
courage and as a right upon the
same recognition from those who
make our laws as is accorded to
any other citizens having a valua.
bic interest in charge, and his rea-
sOnable demand should be met in
such spirit of appreciation and
fairness as to induce a cOntented
and patriotic cooperation in the
achievement Of a grand national
destiny.
While the real Interests Of labor
are not promoted by resort to
threats and violent manifestations,
and while those who, under the
prcleXt ofan advocacy of the claims
Of labor, wantOnly attack the rights
OF capital, and for selfish purposes,
or love OF disorder, SOW weeds of
violence and discomfort, should
neither be encouraged nor cOncili-
ated, all legislation on the subject
should he calmly and deliberately
undertaken, with no purpose of sat
isfying unreasonable demands or
gaining partizaG advantage.
The present condition of the re-
lations between labor and capital
are far from satisfactory. The dis
content Of the employed is due IN a
large degree to the grasping and
needless exactions of employers,
and the alleged discrimination in
favor of capital as an object Of gov
crnmcntal attention 1t must also
be conceded that the laboring men
are not always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustidabe distur-
blncc. Though the Importance of
better accord between these in
tcrcsts is apparent, it must be borne
in mind that any effort In that di-
rcction by the federal government
must be greatly limited by consti-
tutional restrictions. There are
many grievances which legislation
by Congress cannot redress, and
many conditions which cannot by
such means be reformed.
am satisfied, however, that
something may be done under fed
eral authority to prevent the dis
turbanceS which so often arise from
disputes between employers and
the employed, and which at times
seriously threaten the business in
tcrests of the country; and in my
opinion the proper theory upon
which TO proceed is that of vOlun-
ta;y arbitration as the means of
settling these difficulties. But |
suggest that instead OF arbitratOrs
chosen in the heat Of conflicting
claims. and after each dispute shall
arise, there be created commission
of labor, consisting of three mem
bcrs. who shall he regular officers
Of the government, charged, among
other duties, with the consideration
and settlement, when possible of all
controversies between labor and
capital. \ commission thus organ
/ ized would have the advantage of
being stable body, and its mem
bcrs, MS they gained experience,
would constantly improve in their
ability to deal intelligently and use
/ fully with the questions which
might bc submitted to tnem. II
arbitlatOrs are chosen for temporary
service "a each case Of dispute
arises, experience and familiarity
with much that is involved in the
question will be lacking, extreme
partisanship and bias will be the
qualifications sought on either side,
and frequent complaints of unfair
ness and Partially will be lnevita'
BILE. The imposition upon federal
court of a duty foreign to the judi
cial function, as the selection of an
arbitrator in such cases is at least
of doubtful propriety.
The establishment by federal au.
thority of such bureau would be a
Just and sensible recognition of the
value of labor and of its right to be
represented in the departments of
the government. SO far its cOnclli.
atory offices shall have relation to
disturbances which interfered with
transit and commerce between the
States, its existence would be justi-
fled under the provisions of the
constitution which give to Congress
the power "to regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the
several states And in the fire.
quent disputes between the labor
ing men and their employers ofless
extent, and the consequences of
which are confined within state linn
it's and threaten domestic violence,
the interposition OF such a commits
sion might be rendered upon the
application Of the Legislature or
Executive of a state under the con.
stitutional provision which requires
the general government to "pro'
tectv each OF the states "against do.
nestle violence
If such a commission were fairly