The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-04-29
THE WORKMEN'S CAUSE.
President Cleveland in o Message to
Congress Suggests Plan for the
Settlement of Strikes.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The president to
day sent the following message to congress

WASHINGTON, April 22-The president to-
day sent the following message to congress:
The constitution imposes on the president the
duty Of recommending to the consideration OF
congress-. from time to time such measures Is
he shall judge necessary and expedtent. am
deeply impressed with the Importance OF imme-
diately and thoughtfullv meeting the problem
which recent events and 2 present condition
OF disputes arising between our labOr1ng men
and their employers, that ! am constrained to
recommend to congress- ,egis upon this TINS se .,
government the value OF labor as an element OF
material prosperity should be distinctly recog-
should be regarded as especially entitled to leg
islative care. In country which offers to all
its citizens the highest attainments OF social
not justly or safely be considered as irrevoca-
bly, consigned to the limits OF class
and entitled to no attention and and
laboring man. bearing in his hand an indispensa
BILE contribution to our growth and progress
may well insist with manly courage and a.
make our laws as is accorded to any other citizen
having valuable interest in CHARGE and his
reasonable demands should be met In such
spirit of appreciation and fairness as to induce
a contented and patriotic corporation 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 advocacy
of the claims of labor wantonly attack the
rights Of capital for selfish purposes. or tho love
OF disorder, sow seeds of violence and disc0n-
tent, should neither be encouraged nor concili-
ated, all legislation on the subject should be
calmly and deliberately taken. with no purpose
partisan advantage. The present condition of
the relations between capital and labor are far
from satisfactory. The discomfort Of the en-
ployed is due in large degaee to the
GRASPING AND NEEDLESS ExACTIONS
of employers and the alleged discrimination In
favor Of capital as an object Of governments
attention. It must also be conceded that the
iaboring men are not always careful to avoid
causeless and unjustifiable disturbance. Though
the Importance Of . better accord between these
interests is apparent it must be borne in mind
that any effort In that direction by the federal
government must be greatly limited by consti-
tutional restrictions There are many griev-
dress. and many conditions which cannot by
such means be reformed. I am satisfied, how
ever that something may be done under federal
often arise from disputes between employers
and the employed. 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 of voluntary
arbitration as the means OF settling these difh-
culties But suggest that instead OF arbltra-
tors chosen IN the neat OF cohnctag ia % f,ams m ms
ated q commission of labor. consisting OF three
members, who shall be regular officers OF the
government, charged, among other duties. with
BILE, of all controversies between labor and cap
itai A commission thus organized would have
the advantage OF being . stable body; ;a ana @ It's
stantly improve in their ability to deal 1nteiii-
gently and ussfully with the questions which
might be submitted to them. II arbltrators are
chosen for temporary service, as each case
of dispute arises. experience and familiarity
with all that is involved in the question will be
lacking. extreme partisanship and bias Will be
the qualifications sought on either side and fre-
quent complaints OF unfairness and partiailty
will be inevitable The imposition upon . fed
eral court Of duty foreign to the judicial func-
tton as the selection of an arbitrator in such
cases is at least of doubtful propr1ety The es-
tablshment Of federal authority OF such .
bureau would be q just and sensible recognitlon
So far as it's concilatory oces shall have relation
and commerce between the states, its existence
would be justified under the provisions of the
constitution which gives to congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE
with foreign nations and amcng the several
states: and in the frequent disputes between
the laborng men and their employers OF less ex-
6ned within state limits, and threaten domestic
violence the interposition Of such commission
might be rendered upon the application OF the
legislature or executive Of state, under the con-
stitutional provision which requires the general
povernment to protect" each OF the states
against domestic violence II such commits
sion were fairly organized the risk ot loss loss OF
refusal to submit to SO peaceful an instrument
ality would constrain both parties to such dis
mites 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 1t for advice and
counsel frequently resulting in the avoidance OF
contention and misunderstanding. II the use
fitness of such commission Is doubtful be-
cause it might lack power to enforce its decis=
ions much encouragement Is derived from the
conceded good that has been accomplished by
the railroad commissions which have been Or
ganized in many Of the states which. having
little more than advisory power. have exerted .
disputes between conflicting interests. In July,
1854. by law of congress bureau Of labor was
Established and placed in charge of q commits
sioner Of labor, who is required to collect in
formation upon the subject of labor, its rela-
tions with capital. the hours of labor and
the earnings of laboring men and
women, and the means Of promot-
ing their material, social, intellectual
and moral prosperity" The commission which
suggest could easily be engrafted upon the bu-
reau thus already organized, by the addition OF
two more commissioners. and by supplement1ng
the duties now imposed upon 1t by such other
mowers and functions as would permit the conf
missioners to act as arbitrators, when necessary,
between labor and capital, under such lim1ta-
tions and upon such occasions as should he
deemed proper and useful Power should also
be distinctly conferred upon this bureau to In
vestiQate the causes of all disputes they oGour
whether submitted for arbitration or not SO that
information may always he at hand to aid legis-
lation on the subject when necessary and des1r.
able. GROVER CLEVELAND.