Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-07

THE EXECUTIVE FINGER.
It Is Thrust Into tho L~abor-Troable Pie
I'm the Shape OF : Special MessaRe from
h President to Congress In Which Il
Suggested the Appointment OF . Per-
manent Commission to Arbitrate All
Difficulties Between Employers and
E~mplpyes-Jay Gould Gives His Version
of the Strike, and Defends His Position.
wAsHrNaroN April 23.-The President
yesterday sent q me ssage to Congress on
the subject Of the labor troubles. The fol
lowing is the full text Of the message:
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE, OF RErRE-
~sENTArIvEs: The constitution imposes on
the President the duty 81 recommending TO
Congress from time to time such measures
is he shall judge necessary and expedient,
I am so deeply impressed with the I'M
pOrtance 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 their
employers, that ]. am constrained to
recommend to Congress legislation upon
this serious and pressing subject Under
our form OF government the value OF
labor as.an element of national prosperity
should be distinctly recognized, and the
welfare of tine laboring man should. be re-
ga,ded as especially entitled to legislative
care. In a country which offers to all Its
citizens the highest attainment OF social
and political distinction its working
mon can not Justly or safely be cons
sidered a i~rrevocably consigned TO the
! limits of q class, and entitled to no at
tention and allowed no protest against
neglect. The laboring rlan,z bearing in his
handIan Indispensable contributions to our
growth and progress, may well insist, with
manly courage and as q right, upon the
same recognition from those who make our,
laws as is accorded to any other citizen
having q valuable interest Ia charge, and
such q spirit Of appreciation andf fairness
a. to induce contented and pa
stliotlc cooperation in tho achievement
ofla grand National duty. While the real
interests Of labor are not promoted by. 9
resort to threats and violent manifesto
tions, those who, under the protest Of an
advocacy o. the claims of labor, wantonly
attack therights of capital, and for selfish
purposes or che love OF disorder sow seeds
OF violence and ~discontent should
a asss' 1% e s%assursg Sd s sSs s sssssas
should be calmly and deliberately under
taken, with no purpose Of satisfying
unreasonable demands or gaining partisan
advantage. The present condition of the
far from satisfactory. The discontent q
the employed is in q large extent to
the grasping and needless exactions Of em-
lploNers, and he alleged discrimination in
favor Of capital as an object of
kso be conceded that the iaboring
men are not always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustif1able disturbance.
Though the Importance OF q better accord
between these interests is apparent, ID must
he borne in mind that any effort In that
be greatly limited by constitutional restric-
lions. There are many grievances which
Legislation by Congress can not redress
many conditions which can not by
However, that something may, be done, UNI
lSder Federal authority, to prevent the dis
turbances which 80 often arise from dis
Iputes between employers and the en-
Iployed, 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
iof voluntary arbitration as the means
of settling these difficulties. But Issuggest
that. instead Of arbitration chosen in
each dispute shall arise, there shall be Gre
ated accumulation Of Labor, consisting Of
three members, who shall be regular Off
GERS OF the Government, charged, among
other duties, withsthe consideration and
settlement when feasible, Of all contro-
yersies between labor and capital.
a commission thus organized would
have the advantage Of being q stable body,
and its members, as they gained OK.
Renience, would constantly improve in
usefully with tho questions which
might be submitted to them. IL arbi-
TRAITORS are chosen for temporary serv-
ice as each case OF dispute arises, ex-
p~erience and familiarity with much that is
extreme p~artisanship and bias win be the
qualifications sought on either side, and
frequent complaints OF unfairness and par
TALLY will be inevitable. The imposition
upon \ Federal court Of q duty foreign to
the judicial function, as the selection OF it
as an arbitrator in such cases, is atleast OF
doubtful propriety.
The establishment by Federal authority
Of such q bureau would be q just and SEN
sble recognition of the value ofSlabor, and
Of its right to be represented in the depart
So far as its conciliatory Offices shall
4 have relation to disturbances which inter
feled with transit and M between
the States its existence would be justified
which gives to Congress the power s.to reg
ulate commerce with foreign nations and
among the several States. ns|
And in the frequent disputes between
Ino labpI1ng men n their employers, OF
less extcMt and the consequences OF which.
are confined within State limits and
Observation-Disclosures the interposi-
ton of such q commission might be
rendered upon the application Of the
Legislature or Executive Of 8 State under
the constitutional provision which re-
quires the General Governmentto protect,
each OF the States against domestic VIC
lence.n IL such a commission were fairly
organized the risk OF: al loss of popular SUP
port and sympathy, resulting from a re-
fusal to submit to so peaceful an instru-
mentality. would constrain both parties to
such disputes to seek its interference and
abide by its decisions There would also
BIO good reason to hope that the very
existence Of such an agency would In
vito application to it for advice and
counsel. frequently resulting in the
avoidance Of contention and misunder-
standing. II the usefulness Of such q COM
mission is doubted because it might lack
power to enforce its decisions, much en-
c~oniagement is derived from the conceded
good that has been accomplished by the
railroad commission which have been or
ganized in many Of the States, which, hay-
ing little more than advisory power, have
exerted 9 most salutary influence In the
settlement OF disputes between conflicting
i interests.