The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-05
THE LABOR TROUBLES,
President Cleveland's Special Mes
sage to Congress.
Suggesting the Creation Of a Com
mission to Settle Disputes.

the duty of recommending to the considera-
tion Of Congress from time to time such
measures as he shall Judge necessary and ex-
pedient.
am so deeply impressed with the impor
tance Of immediately and thoughtfully meet
present condition have thrust upon us,
involving the settlement of disputes
arising between our laboring men and
their employers, that l am con-
strained to recommend to Congress leg
islation upon this serious and pressing SUBJ
ject. Under our form of government the
value of labor as an element of national
prosperity should be distinctly recog-
nized and the welfare Of the laboring man
should be regarded as especially entitled to
legislative care. In a country which offers
to all it's citizens the highest attainment
of social and political distinction its working
men cannot Justly or safely be 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 contrl-
button to our growth and progress, may we'll
insist, with manly courage and as night,
upon the same recognition from those
who make our laws as is accorded to any
other citizen having valuable interest in
charge, and his reasonable demand should be
met in such spirit Of appreciation and fair
ness as to induce contentei and patriotic
cooperation in the achievement Of 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 pretext of au advocacy of the claims of
labor, wantonly attack the rights of capi-
tai, and for selfish purposes OF the love
of disorder sow seeds of violence and diScon-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor CON
ciliated, all legislation on the subject should
be calmly and deliberately undertaken, with
10 purpose of satisfying UNI eaSonable de-
mands or gaining partisan advantage:
tween labor and capital are far from salts
factory. The discontent of the employed is
due in large degree to the grasping and
needless exactions of employers and the
alleged discrimination in favor of capital as
m object of governmental attention.
1t must also be conceded that
the laboring men are not always
careful to avoid causeess and unjustifiable
disturbance. Though the Importance OF
parent, it must be borne in mind that any
effort in that direction by the Federal gov
ernment must be greatly limited by constitu-
tioual restrictions. There are many griev-
ances which legislation by Congress cannot
redress and many conditions which cannot
by such means be reformed.
I am satisfied, however, that something
may be done under Federal authority to pre-
vent the disturbances which SO often arise
from disputes between employers and the en-
ployed and which at times seriously threaten
the the business interests of the country,
and in my opinion, TIE proper the.
ofv upon which to proceed is that OF
voluntary arbitration as the means OF
settling. these difficulties. But sugges5 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 members who shall
be regular officers OF the Government,
charged among other duties with the consld-
eration and settlement, when possible, of all
controversies between labor and capital. A
commission thus organized would have the
advantage Of being an able body and its
members as they gained experience would
constantly improve in their ability to deal
intelligently and usefully with the questions
which might be submitted to them II arDl-
traitors are chosen for temporary service as
each case of dispute arises experience and
familiarity with mu h that is: involved in
treme partisanship and bias will be
the qualifications sought on eith,r side,
and frequent complaints of unfairness and
Dartiality will be inevitable. The impcsi-
tion uroi, Federal court of duty foreign
tn the judicial function. as the selection of
an arbitrator in such cases. is at least OF
doubtful propriety. The establishment by
Federal authority of such bureau would be
a lust and sensible recognition of the value
of labor and of its right to be Represented IA
the departments OF tue Go ;ern!nent.
So far as its conciliatory offices ba re o.
ton to disturbances which ntorfered with
transit and commerce between the States, its
existence would be justified under the provi'
sions of the Constitution, which gives to
Congress the power Ito regulate commerce
with foreign nations and among the several
States" -,
And in the frequent disputes between the
laboring men and their employers OF less eS
tent, and the consequences of which are con
fined within State limits and threaten DO
nestle violence, the interposition of such
commission might be rendered, upon the ap
plication of the Legislature or executive OF E
State, under the constitutional provision,
which requires the general government tc
protect" each of the States against domes
ic violence"
If such commission were fairly organized
the risk of O loss of popular support aud sym
pathy, resulting from refusal to submit to
so peaceful an instrunlentality, would con-
strain both parties to such disputes to invoke
its 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 coun-
sci, frequently resulting in the avoidance OF
contention and misunderstanding.
If the usefulness of such commission is
doubted because it might lack power to en-.
force its decisions, much encouragement is
derived from the conceded good that has been
accomplished by the railroad commissions
which have been organized in many of the
States, which, having little more than adVl-
sorry power, have exerted most satisfactory
influence in the settlements of disputes be-
tween conflicting interests.
In July, 1884, by law of Congress, a
Bureau Of Labor was established and placed
in charge Of Commissioner OF Labor, VINO
is REQUIRED to "collect information upon the
subject of labor, its relations to capital, the
hours of labor and the earnings of laborlng
men and women, and the means OF promot,,
ing their material, social, intellectual ana
moral prosperity" -,
The commission which | suggest could
easily be engrafted upon the bureau thus
already organized by the addition OF two
more commissioners and by supplementlng
the duties now opposed upon it by such
other powers and functions as would per-
nit the commissioners to act as arbltratorS
when necessary between labor and capital
under such limitations and upon such occa-
sions as should be deemed proper and useful.
Power should also be distinctly conferred
upon this bureau to investigate the causes or
oil disputes as they occur, whether submitted
for arbitration or not, so that information
may always be at hand to aid Legislation on
the subject when necessary and desirable.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April 22, 1856.