Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-04-23
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The message OF President Cleveland te
Congress, which appears in our tele-
graphic columns, will be read with inter
est by all clssses throughout the country.
1t is a calm, dispassionate document,
replete with incontrovertible facts, sound
reasoning, thoughtful deductions and
wise suggestions. The labor question is
assuming such proportions all over the
country that it can no longer be ignored
by Congress without serious danger to
the national welfare, and the President
has acted wisely in recognizing its i'm
portance by making it the subject OF
special message. That the matter has
received his careful attention is evinced
by the manner in which it is presented,
and that he has fully mastered its details
is proven by the clearness with which
they are related and commented upon.
Without the slightest approach towards
demagogisrn, he recognizes the grievances
of the laboring classes and the necessity
for their redress by such judicious legis-
lation as will attain that end without en-
croachment upon the rights OF employers,
which are equally considered in the mes
sage. While discountenancing all vio-
lent manifestations and condemning all
lawless. proceedings of whatever char
acter, he does not lose sight OF
the causes which incite them, nor
fail to criticise severely, the exactions of
capital or the legislative determinations
in its favor which render them possible.
His assertions that the present relations
between labor and capital are far from
satisfactory is self evident, and will not
be disputed by any intelligent person
who is watching the daily progress OF
events. The method proposed for the
settlement OF all disturbances which may
hereafter arise has already been accepted
as the true theoryby the head OF the most
powerful and intelligent labor organza-
ton in the world, and its adoption ad
vised. The President, however, suggests
that instead OF arbitrators chosen
in the heat OF conflicting claims and
after each dispute shall arise, that
a Commission of Labor be instituted and
invested with official authority to con-
sider and settle, when possible, all con-
troversies between capital and labor.
The President is OF the opinion that such
n Commission, even although not pos
sessing the power to enforce its decisions,
would have beneficial effect, as it would
invite advice and counsel from both sides,
and neither would care to risk the loss of
popular support and sympathy by refus-
ing to submit to so peaceful an instru
mentality. The Railroad Commissions
established in number of States, which
possess but little more than advisory
powers, are cited as proof OF the efficacy
of such bodies.
We believe that the method suggested
by the President isnot only the wisest that
could be devised under the Constitution,
but that il will be acceptable to the labor
ing classes and all others who desire fair
and equitable adjustment OF such dis
turbances as are at present agitating the
country, and which threaten to eliminate
in a general conflict which will require
stronger than Executive or legislative
power to suppress. The message as a
whole is an able, statesmanlike and
patriotic document, refecting equal credit
upon the heart and brain of the author.