Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-29
THE WoRKMEN's CAUSE.
President Cleveland in a Message to
Congress- Suggests a Plan for the
Settlement of Strikes.
A eoyERsMENr coMMussroN suoeEsrEp.

A GOVERNMENT COMMISSION SUGGESTED.
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 as
he shall judge necessary and expedient. am
deeply impres sed with the importance OF imme-
distely and thoughtfully raeeting the pronlem
which recent events and present condition
have thrust Upon u.s. involving the settlement
OF disputes srising between our laboring men
and their employers. that ! am constrained 70
recommend To congress- legislation upon this Sc
rfous and pressing subject. Under our form OF
government The value of labor as an element OF
material prosperity should be distinctly recog-
nized. and the welfare Of the laboring man
should be regarded as especially entitled TO leg
islative care. In country which offers to ali
its citizens the highest attachments OF social
and political distinction, its workingmen can
not Justly or safely be considered as irrevoca-
bly, consigned to the limits OF a class
and entitled TO go attention ana ana
laboring man bearing in his hand an indispensa
BILE contribution TO our growth and progress
may well insist with manly courage and as
right upon thu, same recognition from those who
make our laws as Ia accorded to any other citizen
having q VARIABLE interest in charge, and his
reasonable d,mands should be met in such q
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 VINO under the pretext of advocacy
OF the claims OF labor wautonly attack the
rights of capital for selfish purposes, or the love
of disorder sow seeds of violence and discon-
tent should neither be encouraged nor concili-
ated; all legislation on the subject should be
calmly and deliberately taken, with no purpose
of satisfying unreasonable demands or gaining
partisan advantage The present condition OF
the relations between capital and labor are far
from satisfac 5ory The discomfort Of the en-
ployed is due IN large degaee to the
CRASHING AND NEEDLESS ExAcTIoNs
Of employers and the alleged discrimination in
favor Of capital as an object of government
attention. 1t must also be conceded that the
laboring men are not always careful to avoid
causeless and lujustifiable disturbance. Though
the Importance of better accord between these
interests is apparent, IL 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 griey-
ances which legislation by congress cannot re-
dress, and msaiy conditions which cannot by
such means be reformed. / am satisfied, how
ever that something may be done under federal
authority to prevent the disturbances which so
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 wlich to proceed is that OF voluntary
arbitration AZ the means OF settling these diff
cuities But suggest that instead OF arbltra-
tors chosen in the heat of conflicting claims,
and after each dispute shall arise. there be Gre
ated commits sion of labor, consisting OF three
members, who shall be regular officers OF the
government, charged among other duties, with
the consideration ard settlement, when possi-
BILE, of all controversies between labor and cap
ital commission thus organized would have
the advantage of being stable body, and its
members, as they gained experience. would con-
stantly improve in their ability to deal intelli-
gently and ussfuly with the questions which
might be submitted to them. If arbitrator 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 fire.
quent complaints OF unfairness and partiality
will be inevitable The imposition upon fed
erai court of duty foreign to the judicial func-
ton as the selection Of an arbitrator in such
cases is at least Of doubtful propriety. The es-
tablishment OF federal authority OF snch a
bureau would be just and sensible recognition
OF the value OF labor and of It's right to be repre-
sented in the departments Of the government.
So far as its couciliatory offices shall have relation
to disturbances which interferred with transit
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 among the several
states; and IT, the frequent disputes between
the laborinR men and their employers of less ex-
tent, and the consequences of which are con-
fined 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
government to protect each of the states
against domestic violence" If such commits
sion were fairly organized. the risk OF loss OF
popular support ard sympathy resulting from a
refusal to submit to so peaceful an instrument
atty would copstrain both parties to such dis
putes to invoke its interference and abide by its
decisions. There would also be ODD reason to
hope that the very existence OF sucn an agency
would invite application to 1t for advice and
counsel frequently resulting in the avoidance of
contention audi misunrt Outstanding. II the use
fulness of such commission Is doubtful be-
cause it might lack power to enforce its decis-
ions, much announcement 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
most salutary influence in the settlement of
disputes between conflicting interests In July,
1884. by a law Of congress bureau OF labor was
established and placed in charge of 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 experimenting
the duties now imposed upon it by such other
powers and functions as would permit the conf
missioners to act as arbitrators, when necessary,
between labor and capital, under such limta-
tions and upon such occasions as should be
deemed proper and useful Power should also
be distinctly conferred upon this bureau to in
yestigate the causes of all disputes as they occur
whether submitted for arbitration or not, so that
information may always he at hand to aid legts-
lation on the subject, when necessary and desir-
able. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, April %. 1886.