Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-03
LET THEM BE HEARD.

900.
LET THEM BE HEARD.
Ii the labOrers organized and asked
Congress for the poor privilege of being
heard by peaceful arbitration in the name
OF justice and equal rights let their COM
plants be heard ahd public opinion be
invoked.
MIR. ONeill, OF Missouri, declared that
the knights Of Labor were in favor Of
Arbitration. He stood here appealing
ior the law, for justice and
for right, for to-day the coun-
try was almost on the verge
OF volcano. People were standing idle
and suffering for food in the West on ac-
count OF the strike, while constitutional
cranks stood quiBbing on the floor Of the
House. He appealed to the members to
stand by the Committee on Labor; to vote
down the amendments and to put their
heels on that class of men VINO could sug-
gest nothing, who were Obstructionists
and barn2cles on party and who ought
to have better sense.
MR.. BRECKINRIDGE's PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Breckinridge, of Kentucky, moved
to strike out so much of the second sec
tion as gives the board of arbitration
power to administer oaths, etc. He said
ludI Jbc tueCl VI his lnOllOu WOulu D6 10
make the bill less Objectionable on con-
the passage of the bill, believing that 1t
was grave and might be a dangerous
mistake. 1t was the cornerstone of a
superstructure which was to be erected
upon it. 1t was a seed the growth Of
which would hereafter give the country
trouble. 1t was the beginning of new
jurisprudence. 1t was the foundation of
a new and indefinite and dangerous iurls-
dicti0n. 1t was the creation of a novel,
uncertain and indefinite tribunal. 1t
seemed to him that before Congress took
so grave a step more consideration should
be given to it. For one he did not believe
tnat there was any virtue in legislation as
the solution OF the great problem. He de-
MED that this was paternal government
TO be constantly interfering with the pro-
gress of civilization by putting its hand
unnallowed and unwise to that progress.
CLASS LEGISLATION.
Every step taken in that direction re-
newed the too common disposition OF man
kind to seek remedy tor all ailments in
legislation, instead of finding some philO-
sophie solution Of the problem. He plead
ed for nObler manhood, ampler liberty
than that which was found within the
statute book. In the name OF labor, he
progress, and deeper than this, he protest.
ed against class legislation. There was
no labor as class in this country. Let
not Congress make a classification. Let
it not divide all Americans into capital
and labor. Let 1t not draw n dividing
line between fellow citizens. 10 the name
OF all labOring men he protested against
the bill. The problem was being solved
day by day, hour by hour.
THE TRUE SOLUTION.
The time was coming when capital and
labor would find in participation of profit
the true solution. Let Congress distribute
the burdens of our civilization equally
between labor and capital. Let it make
capital pay its share. Let taxation be
reduced. There are no party tactics in
this bill," be said. ''They for whom you
seek to legislate will turn to rend you
when they take this bill up and find that
in the future it will provide a means by
which strikes can be made punishable by
arrest, for voluntary arbitration will give
place to involuntary arbitration, invOlun-
tary arbitration will give place to
Federal Jurisdiction and Federal jurisdic-
tiOn will be held by capital. They will
find out that it has been snare and
sham-wOrse than a sham because it has
been a deluslon and disaster. | want to
put on record that | stood here for true
labor, the manhood OF labor, the
dignity of labor that only asks
fair living chance in the great battle of
life" [Applause.l
MR.. M'KINLEY IRONICAL.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, ironically sug-
gested that the eloquent words from the
gentleman from Kentucky would be re-
ceived bY the laboring men OF the country
as a cure for all the evils which afflicted
them. The general platitudes which that
gentleman had INDUCED in, aud the gem
eral statement that the way to
help labor was to reduce taxes,
would be welcomed by workingmen
as panacea for their injuries. lie be-
lieved in the principle OF the bill 1t con-
ferred no rights or privileges touching
arbitration, which were not now enjoyed
bv common carriers and those engaged in
their service. il left them where it found
them. with the right Of voluntary arbitra-
tion to settle their differences through a
peaceful tribunal of their own selection.
IT'S ONLY AIM.
1t only undertook to furnish to them the
machinery for carrying on that arbitra-
tOn. IL did not propose to do an ImpOssi-
b e thing, and that was one feature be
liked about it. He regretted if it would
deceive anybody. Ii was said that there
was no way to enforce the judgment
OF the arbitratOrs. and therefore it
was nullity. lie had not the least
concern on that score. He had no fear
that after railway corporation and its
employees had united IN an arbitration
that its Judgment would be disobeyed or
not acquiesced in as final and conclusive.
Refusal 10 obey the judgment of arbitra-
ton would be the exception and not the
rule, and an award honestly reached
would be sacredly observed. Either party
believing IL had genuine grievance, and
inviting the other to arbitrate, would
occupy a vantage ground which the other
could not successfully defy, There was
"a sense Of fair play among the people
crystalliZed into public opinion, aud 10
railroad corporation, no labor union, could
long hold out against a fair demand backed
by willingness 10 submit the justice OF
that demand 10 a board Of competent ar.
bitratOra.
HEWITT FAVORs PROFIT SHARING.
Mr.. Hewitt, OF New York, said that
arbitration had OF recent years been de-
veioped az a means for the equitable dis
tributiOn Of the proceeds OF labor 50 as 10
reward every man according 10 his
deserts. His objection 20 the bill was
that 10 would arrest the healthy progress
which had been going on. The profit
sharing system. he said, was the tnal
solution OF this great question. Profit
sharing had come into esteem IN Great
Britain aud was rapidly extending, and
il we allowed our workmen and employ
ers to come together in the same spirit,