Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-04-28
THE LABOR QUESTION.
President Cleveland Proposes . Cover
ment C0mmlssi0n.

WARRINGTON, April 4-The fTeSloens
to-day sent the folio wing message to con-
gress:
The constitution imposes on the president
the duty Of recommending to the consider
alton of congress, from time to time, such
measures as he shall judge necessary and
expedient. am deeply impressed with
the Importance of Immediately and
thougtfully meeting the problem which
recent events and a present condition have
thrust upon US, involving tho settlement
of disputes arising between our laboring
men and their employers, that am con-
strained to recommend to congress legisla-
tion upon this serious and pressing sub
ject Under our form of government the
value OF labor as an element Of material
prosperity should be distinctly recognized,
and the welfare Of the labOring man should
be regarded as especially entitled to legis-
lative care. In country which offers to
Ill its citizens the highest attainments OF
social and political distinction, its work
ingmen can not justly or safely be consid-
cred as irrevOcably consigned to the limits
of class and entitled to no attention and
allowed no protest against neglect The
laboring man, bearing In his hand an m
dispensable contribution to our growth
and progI ess may we'll insist with manly
courage and as right upon the same recog-
milton from those who make our laws as II
accorded to any other citizen having .
valuable interest in charge, and his reason
able demands should be met In such .
spirit of appreciation and fairness as to
induce q coutented and patriotic co-opera-
tion in the achievement of grand nation.
al destiny. While the real interests OF
labor are not promoted by q resort to
threats and violent manifestations, and
while those who under the pretext of ad-
vocacy of the claims of labor wantonly
attack the rights of capital for selfish pur
poses, or the love of disorder, SOW seeds OF
violence and discomfort, should neither be
encouraged nor conciliated, all legislation
on tho subject should be calmy and delib-
eratelY taken, with no purpose of satisfy
ing unreasonable demands or gaining
tion of the relation between capital and
labor are far from satisfactory. The dis
content of the employed is due In large
degree to the
GRAsPING AND NEEDLESS ExACTIONs
of employers and the alleged discrimination
in favor of capital as an object of govern
ment attention. 1t must also be con-
ceded that the laboring men are not
always careful to avoid causeless and
unjustifable disturbance. Though the
Importance of q better accord between
these interests is apparent, it must bs
borne in mind that any effort in that
direction by the federal government must
be greatly limited by constitutional
restrictions. There are many grievances
dress, and many conditions which cannot
by such means be reformed. am satisfied,
however, that something may be done
under federal authority to prevent the
disturbances which 80 often arise from
disputes between employers and tho
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 difficulties. But I suggest
that instead Of arbitrators chosen in the
dispute shall arise, there be created q COM
mission of labor, consisting of three men,
bers who shall be regular officers Of the
government, charged, among other duties,
with the consideration and settlement,
when possible, of all controversies between
labor and capital. A commission thus or
ganized would have the advantage of being
: stable body, and its members, as they
gained experience, would constantly i'm
prove in their ability to deal intelligently
and usefully with the questions which
might be submitted to them. II arbitrator
arc CQOS0u 1OT toUIpOloTy ocA vlCos I'D OoSA.
case of dispute arises, experience and
familiarity with all that is involved in the
question will be lacking, extreme partisan
ship and bias will be the qualification
sought on either side and frequent com
plants of unfairness and partiality will be
court of q duty foreign to the judicial func
tion as the selection of an arbitrator IN
such cases is 1T least of doubtful propriety
The establishment of federal authority OF
such bureau would be . just and sensible
recognition of tho value Of labor, and OF
its right to be represented In the depart
ments Of the government. 30 far as III
conciliatory Offices shall have relation to
disturbances which interferred with transit
and commerce between tho states, Its OK
istence would be Justified under the pro
visions ct the constitution which gives tc
congress the
POWER TO REGULATE COMMERCE
with foreign nations and among the sever
al states; and in the frequent disputes be
tween the laboring men and their employ
ers of less extent, and the consequences OF
which are confined within state limits, and
threaten domestic violence, the interposi
ton of such a commission might be ten
dered upon tho application Of the legisla'
ture or executive Of state, under the con-
stitutional provision which requires the
general government to ''pr;s ect" each Of
the states ''against domestic violence" II
such q commission were fairly organized
the risk of a loss OF popular support and
| svmpathv resulting from a refusal to sub
NIT to SO peaceful an instrumentality
would constrain both parties to such dis
putes 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 t.
| it for advice and counsel, frequently re
! sulting in the avoidance of contention and
Misunderstanding. II the usefalness o.
such q commission is doubtful because II
much encouragement is derived from the
conceded good that has been accornp
plished by the railroad commissions
which have been organized IN many
| of tho states which, having little
than sdvtsory ower IN hsbs sbs set s1
Element Of disputes between conflicting in
forests. In July, 1884, by law OF con
| 9ress bureau of labor was established
and placed in charge OF a commissioner o
labor, who is required to "collect informa
ton upon the subject OF labor, its relation
! with capital, the hours of labor and th'
! earnings of the laboring men and women
| and the means Of promoting their mate
! rial social, intellectual and moral prosper
ity.h The commission which l sugges
could easily be engrafted into the bureau
thus already organized, by the addition Q
two more commissioners, and by supple
menting the duties now imposed upon it b!
such other powers and functions as wou]t
permit the commissioners to act as arb1
traitors, when necessary, between iabo
and capital, under such limitations an
upon such occasions as should be deeme'
proper and useful. Power should also b
distinctly conferred upon this bureau Il
investigate the causes OF all disputes q
they occur, whether submitted for arbitra
ton or not, 20 that information may al
! wavs be at hand to aid legislation on tn
subject, when necessary and desirable.
| GROvER CLEvELA1D.
Executive Mansion, April 2, 1885.
| Rather EmbsrraSslnE.
The Boston Beacon tells of youn;
man who wishei to send some compli