Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-04-30
THE WORK MEMS CAUSE.
President Cleveland III Message to
Congress- Suggests Plan for the
Settlement Of Strikes.

WASHINGTON, April 70 The president to-
day sent the following message to oongress:
The constitution imposes ON tho preaident tho
duty OF recommending to the consideration Of
congress-. from time to time, such measures g
deeply impressed with tho importance Of imme-
dtately and Lhoughtfully meeting the problem
which recent events ana present condition
Of disputes arising between our laboring men
and their employers, that am constrained to
recommend to congress- legislation upon this Sc
government the value Of labor as an element Of
material prosperity should be distinctly recog-
nized. and the welfare Of the laboring man
islative care. In . country which offers to al
it's citizens the highest attachments of social
and political distinction. its workingmen can
bly, CONSIGNED to the limits Of class
and entitled to no attention and
allowed no protest against neglect. Tho
bic contribution to our growth and progress
may we'll insist with manly courage and as 4
right upon the same recognition from those who
having valuable interest in charge. and his
reasonable demands should be met in such .
spirit of appreciation and fairness as to induce
a contented and patriotic cooperation in the
achievement Of q grand national destiny While
the real interests OF labor are not promoted by q
resort to threats and violent manifestations, and
while those who under the pretext of advocacy
OF the claims OF labor wantonly attack the
rights Of capital for selfish purposes or tho love
Of disorder, SOW seeds OF violence and discon-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor conoilt-
ated, all legislation on the subject should be
calmly and deliberately taken. with no purpose
Of sattsfylnR unreasonable demands or gaining
partisan ADVANTAGE The present condition OF
the relations between capital and labor are far
from satisfactory. The discomfort Of the en-
ployed is due In a large degaee to the
GRAsPNG AND HEEDLEss ExAc11oNs
OF employers and the alleged discrimination in
favor Of capital Is an object Of government
attention. 1t must also be conceded that the
laboring men are not always careful to avoid
the importance Of Z better accord between these
interests is apparent, it must be borne in mind
that any effort in that direction by tho federal
tutional restrictions. There are many griev-
ances which legislation by congress cannot re-
dress. and many conditions which cannot by
ever, that something may be done under federal
authority to prevent the disturbances which so
often arise from disputes between employers
seriously threaten the Su.inoss interea ss
theory upon which to proceed is that Of voluntary
culties. But I suggest that instead of arbitra-
tors chosen in the heat Of conflicting claims,
and after each dispute shall arise. there be Gre
members, who shall be regular officers of the
government, charged. among other duties, with
the consideration and settlement, when posi-
ital. A commission thus organized would have
the advantage OF being . stable body and It's
members. as they gained experience would con-
gently and usetully with the questions which
might be submitted to them. II arbitrators are
chosen for temporary service, as each case
with all that is involved in tho question will be
lacking, extreme partisanship and bias will be
the qualifications sought on either side and fire.
quent complaints OF unfairness and partiality
will be inevitable The imposition upon = fed
eral court OF duty foreign to the judicial func-
tion as the selection Of an arbitrator in such
tablishment Of federal authority OF such =
bureau would be just and sensible recognition
Of the value of labor and of its right to be REPRE-
So as it's
to disturbances which interferred with transit
and commerce between tho states, It's existence
would be justified under tho provisions of the
constitution which gives to congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE
with foreign nations and amcng the several
states: and in the frequent disputes between
the laboring men and their employers Of less ex-
tent, and the consequences Of which are con-
fined within state limits, and threaten domestic
violence, the interpretation Of such q commission
might he rendered upon the application of the
legislature executive Of a state under the con-
stitutional provision which requires the general
80 Of the eo as
sion were fairly organized. the risk OF q loss OF
popular support and sympathy resulting from q
REFUSAL TO suomi TO 80 peaceful an instrument
atty would constratn both parties to such dis
putes to invoke it's interference and abide by its
decisions. There would also be good reason to
hope that the very existence Of such an agency
would invite application to it for advice and
counsel. frequently resulting In the avoidance Of
contention and Misunderstanding II the use
fulness Of such commission is doubtful be-
cause it might lack power to enforce its decis-
iOns much encouragement Is derived from the
conceded good that has been accomplished by
the railroad commissions which have been or
ganized in many of the states which, having
little more than advisory power, have exerted
most salutary influence in the settlement Of
disputes between conflicting interests. In July,
1884, by q law Of congress bureau of labor was
established and placed in charge Of commits
formation upon the subject of labor, its rela-
tions with capital, the hours of labor and
the earnings Of laborinR men and
women, and tho means Of promot-
ing their material, social, intellectual
and moral prosperity" The commission which
suggest could easily be engrafted, upon the bu-
reau thus already organized, by the addition Of
two more commissioners, and by supplementing
the duties now imposed upon 1t by such other
powers and functions as would permit the CONF
missioners to act as arbitrators, when necessary,
between labor and capital, under such limita
tions and upon such occasions as should be
deemed proper and useful Power should also
be distinctly conferred upon this bureau to in
vest1gate the causes OF all disputes they occur,
whether submitted for arbitration not, go that
information may always he ut hand to aid legis-
lation on the subject, when necessary and des1r-
able. GROVER CLEVELAND
Executive Mansion. April 20, 1886.