The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
How to Deal with the Labor Trouble

How to Deal with the Labor Trouble.
To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
In your issue of June 20 you pen the follow
ing editorial paragraph "How would it do to
introduce bill in Congress forbiding any Amer
lean TO undertake to work without first obtaining
permission of the Knights of Labor This
would simplify matters greatly, and would meet
the approval of the Knights"
This paragraph bears upon its face the spirit
of irony and perhaps burlesque. Whether it was
intended to convey this meaning or some other
is matter of small importance; as it serves my
purpose to use text to open up the labor
question and give opportunity to those who de-
sire to put it fairly before the people. The sub
ject of labor and labor organizations can no
longer be ignored by American citizens The
disturbance between the great interests, labor
and capital, cannot longer go unrecognized. and
how to bring about settlement is matter not
easily solved. the subject is of as deep interest
to the United States as home rule is to England
and Ireland. Measuring it in It's length and
breadth / find already it has reached great pro-
portions 1t spans the continent and permeates
all business. Every interest, social and polit-
zeal, suffers account of the now being
carried on py these forces. It is depressing val
ues, entangling business and delaying prosperity
to greater extent than all other causes COM
bined If values are to increase. business olsen
tangled and prosperity restored it must come
through the restoration of peace and harmony to
labor and capital.
/ only wish could point out the way in which
an amicable adjustment could be effected.
While cannot lead or show the way to peace
and harmony, am fully convinced that there is
a way and that that way will eventually be dis
covered. In this. in all other effects. there is
q first cause, and in order to restore equil
to opposing forces the cause must be sought
for. found and removed. If permitted to make
guess as to the primary cause and locate it, l
would say, to the best of my knowledge and be-
lief, that anarchy is the first cause and has its
origion beyond the seas. The Anarchist is an
Importation, and not home product If this
premise il true the deduction is feasible and the
course to be pursued plain
To permit the Knights of Labor to take the
lead and say who shall or shall not work would
be fragrant violation of the Constitution. It
would be class legislation clearly unconstitu-
tional, and would not stand the test of the
courts. 1t would give the Knights special
power, such as legislation grants to no other or
ganzation or class. The spirit of the Constitu-
ton and the laws founded thereon, is that every
American born or adopted citizen has the right
to seek and obtain EN- pioyment In all legitimate
avenues of business without molestation from
law or class. Therefore. to permit any organ
ization under authority of law to restrict the
privileges OF anyone from obtaining subsistence
would be a dangerous break and abr1dgement
OF the natural rights ana nDertleS OF any people.
But In the face OF anarchy, and mobs, and dis
tinctive strikes instigated and led by foreigners,
then / say @ nation not only has the right to
move, but it is an impractive duty she owes to
her institutions and people. Then let Congress
move in this matter at once and say who shall
and who shall not become citizens of these
United States If we are ever to have peace and
harmony, and an end put to destructive strikes,
they must come by an active and determined in
reference of Congress. Our doors have stood
wide open for the entrance of the emigrant. 1t
has never been necessary for him even TO knock
for admission. We babe him come without
money, price or character. We seemed to be
after numbers more than kind or quality. We
certainly have had enough of this. We have
sown wildly and are now reaping a bountiful
harvest. We sowed tares in our wheat field and
both have grown and fourished together and
now, when we want to separate them. garner the
wheat and cast the tares away we find it a diff
cult thing to accomplish. / have frequently
heard this question raised, Gwen if Congress
has the right to interfere and to enact discrimi-
mating laws how are they to be enforcedP'
confess my inability TO fully answer the ques-
ton, as [ have not given the matter sufficient
thought to say how enforcement can be made;
but believe there is way, and have faith in
the common honesty and integrity of officers of
the law, at homo and abroad, to feel that when
such laws placed upon the statute books
they will be strictly enforced. Perhaps the
passport system will answer thu purpose. He
who sIstains a good character for honesty and
integrity at home, and has the record of good
citizen, will not object to be the bearer of a GER
tificate of this Sort when he makes up his
mind to leave his own country to seek another
for permanent residence. Conversely if his record
is bad, he will know that he will not be able,
under the law. to change residence from his
country to that of the United States. There
fore. he will object to this system. This, in
great measure, would bar out the Anarchist
and, IN the meantime, give us an opportunity to
care for and dispose OF those now with u.s. At
the risk of repetition want to write that it is a
notorious fact that most if not all, strikes of
Importance thus far have been headed by for
eigners of the Anarchist class. The spirit of in
subordination is no part of the American char
acter and if the American be left uniniuenced
to follow the dictates of his concience he is al
most sure to go in tho direction of justice and
the right C.
INDIANAPOLIS July A, 1886.