Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-04-29
Cleveland on the Labor Trouble.

Cleveland on the Labor Trouble.
The president has sent the following mes
sage TO Congress on the subject Of the labor
To the Senateand House OF Representatives:
The constitution imposes on the president
the duty OF recommending TO the consideration
OF congress from time to time such measures
as he shall judge necessary and expedent. /
am SO deeply impressed with the Importance of
Immediately and thoughtfully meeting the
problem which recent events and present
condition have thrust upon us, involving the
settlement OF disputes arising between our
laboring men and their employers, that | am
constrained to recommend TO congress legis.
lation upon this serious and pressing sub ct.
Under our form of government the value of
labor, rs an element of national prosperity,
should be distinctly recognized, and the well
fare of the laboring man should be regarded as
especially entitled to legislative care. In
country which offers to all its citizens
the highest attachments of social and
political distinction, its working
men cannot justly or safely he considered as
irrevocably consigned to the limits of class,
and entitled TO no attention and allowed no
protest against neglect The laboring man
bearing in his hand an indispensable contribu-
ton to our growth and progress, may wei in
sist, with manly courage and as a right, upon
the same recognition from those who make
our laws, as accorded any other citizen having
valuable interests in charge, and his reason
able demand should be met in such spirit of
appreciation and fairness as to induce con-
tented and patriotic cooperation In the
achievement OF grand national destiny.
While the real interests OF labor are not pro-
NOTED by resort 10 violent manifestations,
those who under the pretext OF an advocacy of
the claims OF labor wantonly attack the rights
OF capital, and ior selfish purposes or the love
OF disorder sow seeds OF violence aud discon-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor con.
piliafa6 All LEGISLATION the Snbippt shOuld
be calmly and deliberately undertaken, with no
purpose OF satisfying unreasonable demands
or gaining partisan advantage.
The present condition Of the relations be-
tween labor and capital are far from sat STAG
tory. The discomfort of the employed is due
in large degree to the grasping and needless
exactions OF employers and the alleged dis
elimination In favor of capital as an object of
governmental attention. 1t must also be
conceded that the laboringmen are not always
careful To avoid causeless and unjustltiable
disturbance. Though the Importance OF a
better accord between these interests Is APP
parent, II must be borne in mind that any
effort in that direction by the Federal gov
ernment must be greatly limited by constitu-
tonai restrictions. There are many griev-
ances which legislation by congress cannot
redress, and many conditions which cannot by
such means be reformed. ] am satisfied,
However, that something may be doue, under
Federal authority TO prevent the disturbances
employers and the employed, and which at
times seriously threatens the business inter-
ests of the country, and in my opinion the
proper theory on which to proceed is that of
voluntary arbitration as the means Of settling
ihese difficulties. But | suggest that instead
claims, and after each dispute shall
arise, there be created commission
OF labor, consisting OF three members, who
shall be regular Officers OF The government,
charged among other duties with the consdera-
ton and settlement when possible, OF all con-
troversies between labor and capital. A COM
commission thus organized would have the
advantage OF being stable body, and its
members as they gained In experience would
constantly improve In their ability 10 deal n
diligently with questions which might be sub
mitted to them. II arbitrators are chosen Tor
temporary service as 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, an ire
Guent complaints of unfarness will be inev-
liable. The imposition upon a Federal court
of duty so foreign 10 the judicial function as
the selection OF arbitrator in such cases Is at
least of doubtful proprie.y. The establ. shment
by Fed raj authority 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 as its conciliatory Offices snail have
relation to disturbances which interfered with
uansit and commerce between states, Its ex-
stence would be justified under provisions OF
the Constitution which give TO congress the
power TO regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the several states; and in
the frequent disputes between the laborng
n.en and their employers, OF less extent and
the consequences OF which are confined within
state limits, and threaten do ncs tic violence,
nterposition OF such commission might be
rendered, upon the application OF tie lcglsla-
lure or executive OF the state, under the cou-
stitutional provision which requires the gen.
eral government to "p.otectn each state
against domestic violence" II such COM
mission were fairly organized the risk of a loss
Of popular support and sympathy result
ing from refusal TO submit to so peaceful an
fundamentally would constrain both parties
10 such disputes to invoke its interference and
abide by its decision. There would also he
good reason to hope that the very existence OF
such an agency would invite application to 1t
for advice and counsel, frequently resulting in
the avoidance of contention and msunder-
standing. IL the usefulness OF such COM
mission is doubtful because il might lack the
power to enforce its decisions, much cncour-
agement is derived from the conceded good
that has been accomplished by the rail- Dad
commissions which have been organized in
many OF the states, which, having little more
than advisory power, have exertcd a most salu-
tary influence IN the settlement OF disputes
between conflicting interests.
In July 1854, by a law OF congress, a bureau
Of labor was established and placed in charge
OF a comm ssioner Of labor, VINO is required to
"collect information on the subject OF labor,
Its relations with capital, the hours OF labor,
and the earnings Of laborng men and women,
and the means OF promoting their material,
social, intellectual and moral prosperity" The
commission which / suggest could easily be
engrafted n the bureau thus already organ.
lied by addition of Two more commissioners,
and by supple nting the duties now imposed
upon 1t by such other powers and
functions as would permit the COM
missioners TO act as arbitrator when neccssa-
~, between labor and capital, under such
limitations and on such occasions us should be
deemed proper and useful. Power should also
C distinctly conferred upon this bureau to In.
vestgate the causes Of all disputes as they oc-
cur, whether submitted tor arbitration or not
SO that information may always be at hand to
aid legislation on the subject when necessary
and desirable
GROVER CLEVELAND,