Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-08
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
Special Message From the Presi-
dent on the Subject.

Il
Congress from time to time such measures
as he shall Judge necessary and eXpedient |
| am so deeply impressed with the lmpOr-
lance of Immediately and thOughtfully
meeting the problem which recent events
and present condition have thrust upon
us, involving the settlement of disputes
arising between our labOring men and their
employers, that am constrained to recon-
mend to Congress legislation upon this seri-
Gus and pressing subject. Under our form
Of government, the value of labor as an ele-
ment of national prosperity, should be dis
tinctly recognized, and the welfare of the
labOring men should be regarded as es-
pecially entitled to legislative care. In
country which offers to all its citizens the
highest attainment of social and
political distinction, its working men
can not justly or safely be considered as ir-
revOcably consigned to the limits of class
and entitled to no attention and allowed no
protest against neglect. The labOring man,
bearing in hfs hand an indispensable contri-
button to our growth and progress, may well
insist, with manly courage and as a right,
upon the same recognition from those who
make Our laws, as is accorded to any ether
citizens having valuable interest in charge,
and his reasonable demand should be met
in such a spirit of appreciation and fairness
as to induce 4 cOntented and patriotic co.
operation in the achievement of grand
national destiny. While the
REAL INTERESTS OF LABOR
are not promoted by resort to threats and
T violent manifestations, and while those who,
under the pretext of an advocacy of the
4 claims of labor, wantonly attack the rights
/. of capital. and for selfish purposes or the
4 love Of disorder, SOW seeds of violence and
i discomfort should neither be encouraged
/. nor cOnciiated. all legislation on the sub
+. ject should be calmly and deliberately un-
q dertaken, with no purpose of satisfying un
u reasonable demands or gaining partisan adj
vantage.
FL The present condition of the relations be-
tween labor and capital are far from salts.
factory The discomfort of the employed is
due in a large degree to the grasping and
y needless exactions of employers, and the
T alleged discrimination in favor of capital i,
q an object of governmental attention. II
q must also be conceded that the la5Oring mer
e. are not always careful TO avoid causeles:
C. and unjustitiable disturbances. Though the
&c importance of better accord between thest
m interests is apparent, it must be borne il
mind that any effort in that direction by th'
federal government must be greatly Limited
by constitutional restrictions. There ar;
many grievances which legislation by Con
n. gress cannot redress and many condition
le which cannot by such means be reformed
: [ am satisfied, however, that something ma.
n, be done, under federal authority, to preyen
n, the disturbances which so often arise from
:. disputes between employers and the ELL
IS ployed, and which at times seriously threat
er en- the business interests of the country
u and in my opinion, the proper theory upol
v which to proceed is that of
VOLUNTARY ARBITRATION
Ell as the means of settling these difficulties
he But. I suggest that instead of arbitrator
q chosen in the heat of conflicting claims, AM
il after each dispute shall arise, there be ere
Ill ated commission of labor consisting o
aiI three members, who shall be regular officer
of the government, charged among Othe
duties with the consideration and settle
ment, when possible, of all controversial
between labor and capital.
A commission thus organized would hav
ne the advantage of being stable body, an
its members as they gained experienc
would constantly improve in their ability
deal ntelligently and usefully with tn
e' questions which might be submitted to Thea
'u- IL arbitrators are chosen for temporary sc
ere vice as each case OF dispute arises, expeI
'aS ence and familiarity with much that is i
es- yoIyed in the question will be lacking
iS extreme partisalship and bias will be q
'iio qualifications sought on either side, an
Sc freouent complaints of unfairness and pa
Ine tiality will be inevitable. The impositiC
eu' upou federal court of duty, foreign TO q
e' judicial function, as the selection of an a
&c" bitrator in such cases, is at least of dOut
ide full propriety. The establishment by feder
lai. authority of such a bureau would be ju
'eu and sensible recognition Of the value of
e" Dor and Of its right to be represented in
departments or the government.
are So far as its cOnciliatory offices shall ha
ng, relation to disturbances which interfer
Win ITaflslI duu COtuLuCltt OCs"CNh
ect states. its existence would be justified und
her the provisions Of the constitution whi
gao gives to Congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE
ten with foreign nations and among the sevel
mes states. And, in the frequent disputes
had tween the laboring men and their emplOye
nur- of less extent and the consequences
ex. which are confined within state limits. a
threaten domestic violence, the interpo
and ton of such commission might be t.
the dered, upon the application Of the legis
Tue ture or executive of state, under the q
inst stitutional provision which requires
cast general government TO protect" each ST
ar against domestic violence" II such
een. commission were fairly organized the r
Hes of loss of popular support and sympa
1ner resulting from a refusal 10 submit tO
u ,I'S q peaceful an instrumentality would constr
!, he both parties to such disputes, 70 invoke
leet: interference and abide by its decisio
eIeu There would also be good reason to n
only that the very existence Of such an age
lem- would invite application TO it for advice
o DC counsel, frequently resulting in the av'
ance uf contention and misunderstanding