New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-28
THE WORKMEN'S CAUSE.
President Cleveland in a Message to
Congress Suggests q Plan for the
Settlement of Strikes.
"A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SUGGESTED.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The president tc

A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SUGGESTED
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The president to-
day sent the following message to congress:
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 expedient. am
deeply impressed with the Importance of imme-
diately and uhoughtfully meeting the problem
which recent events and a 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 legislation upon this Sc
rious and pressing subject. Under our form Of
government the value of labor an element of
material prosperity should be distinctly recog-
nized. and the welfare of the laboring man
should be regarded as especially entitled to leg
islatlve care. In a country which offers to all
it's citizens tie highest attachments of social
and political distinction. it's workingmen can
not justly safely be considered as irrevoca-
and entitled to no attention and
allowed no protest against neglect. The
iaboring man. bearing in his hand an indispensa
BILE contribution to our growth and progress
may well insist with manly courage and az a
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 grand national destiny. While
the real interests of labor not promoted by
resort to threats and violent manifestations, and
OF the claims Of labor wantonly attack the
rights Of capital for selfish purposes, the love
of disorder, SOW seeds of violence and discon-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor concili-
ated, all legislation on the subject should be
calmly and deliberately taken. with no purpose
of satisfying 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 large degaee to the
GRASPING AND NEEDLESS EXACTIONS
af and the al1eoe1 6iccrimjna tion i,
favor Of capital an object Of government
attention. 1t must also be conceded that the
causeless and unjustitable disturbance. Though
the Importance of better accord between these
interests is apparent, it must be borne in mind
that any effort in that direction by the federal
government must be greatly limited by consti-
tutional restrictions. There are many griev-
ances which legislation by congress cannot re-
such means be reformed. I am satisfied, how
ever, that something may be done under federal
authority to prevent the stnrbances which so
often arise from disputes between employers
and the employed, and which at times
seriously threaten the business interests
of the country. And in my opinion the proper
theory upon which to proceed is that of voluntary
arbitration as the means of settling these diff
,cuIties. But 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-
BILE, of all controversies between labor and cap
ital A commission thus organized would have
the advantage OF being stable body and it's
members as they gained experience. would con-
%stantly improve in their ability to deal intelli-
gently and usefully with the questions which
might be submitted to them If aEbitrators are
chosen for temporary service, each
OF dispute arises, experience and Familiarity
with all that is involved in the question will be
lacking, extreme Dartisanship and bias will be
theaualifcations sought on either side and fire.
quent complaints OF unfairness and Partially
eral court OF duty foreign to the judicial func-
ton as the selection of an arbitrator in such
cases is at least Of doubtful propriety.. The
Establishment of federal authority of such a
bureau would be just and sensible recognition
of the value of labor and of its right to be repre-
sented in the departments of the government.
So far as it's concilatory offices shall have relation
to disturbances which interferred with transit
and commerce between the states, its existence
would be justified under the provisions of the
constitution which gives to congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE
with foreign nations and among 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 interposition of such commission
might be rendered upon the application OF the
legislature or executive of state, under the
stitutional provision which requires the general
government to protect" each of the states
against domestic violence If such commits
sion were fairly organized the risk of a loss Of
popular support and sympathy resulting from
refusal to submit to so peaceful an instruments
atty would constrain both parties to such dis
putes to invoke it's interference and abide by it's
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 If the use
fitness of such commission is doubtful be-
cause it might lack power to enforce its decis-
ions, much encouragement is derived from the
como h9t ne r1,11Ii cnpfh Sr
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. LII july
1884. by a law OF congress bureau of labor was
established and placed in charge Of a commits
formation upon the subject of labor, it's rela-
tions with capital, the hours OF labor and
the earnings Of laboring men and
,yn l. -, and the the means Of p11omot,
and moral prosperity" The commission which
Isuggest 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 it by such other
powers and functions as would permit the conf
missioners to act as arbitrators. when necessary,
between labor and capital, under such li1nita-
tlons and upon such occasions as should be
deemed proper and useful Power should also
be distinctly conferred upon this bureau te in
vestigate the causes OF all disputes they occur
whether submitted for arbitration or not so that
information may always he at hand to aid legis-
lation on the subject, when necessary and desir-
able. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April -, 1856. 1870
The New Irish Land Bill.
The bill provides: That landlord who
is DESTROYS to sell his property shall apply
to the state auth GRITTY The latter shall
refer the ann1ica ti0n thns roada to q i,r1