Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1890-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. G. |
May 9th. 1890.

question: tuat Has pioWiy pus soiSiy
arisen from the merest obscurlty
to be one of the great unsolved
problems of the day.-The labor
question.
Twenty years ago the Knights
of Labor and other kindred or
carnations were not heard of. Ten
years back and they began to be
q power. Now let tie word be
given, hundred thousand work
men will lay down the implements
of their trade and quietly quit
work. An organization that can
thus control its members when the
question is one of bread or no
bread is unguestionably strong.
The recent move for eight hours
and more pay has demonstrated
this. 1t is universal, l,-not coz
fined to our Country but extends
over the civilized world and when
we hear of men quitting by the
thousand in every city where
skilled labor is employed is it a
wonder that intense interest in
the struggle and apprehension as
to the outcome should result?
The employers are recognizing
that the question as to their ex-
elusive right to regulate wages for
those they employ is an issue to
be finally tried and decided for all
time and al once. They have
carried the war into Africa, they
have resorted to measures of CO.
operation and mutual protection,
and the demands of the strikers
are steadily. refused, and if by
any possibility they can break the
back Of the move they seem de-
termined to do it.
Credit to the strikers that they
have put under foot the elements
that nave heretofore been the
cause Of faiiure,-that of follow
ing the leadership of force and
violence, of bad whisky and riot,
that leadership that believes in
the destruction of property and
the violation of law as a means of
enforcing their ends. This will
win to their side the press and
popular opinion, without which
they cannot hope to succeed. Let
them but adhere to the determina-
ton they have started out with of
winning their fight from the jus
tiee of their cause, and united
as they are will win. Let the
striker keep sober, respect private
rights, demand what is reasonable
and he will get it. He can demand
all that capital can afford to pay,
more he cannot and will never get.
But give him even this and we
viii see and appreciate the marvel
Gus change for the better. The
colossal fortunes in the hands of
individuals which represent moth
ing more than the accumulated
toll of thousands will as surely
sink to normal level as if the
Government put its hands into the
money bags of these millionaires
and scattered their gold to the
multitudes. Thus it is that what
is sought to be accomplished by
the might of very doubtful legis-
lation can easily be effected by the
right of a just compensation for
services performed.
A combined service and depend
ent pension bill has passed the
House. 1t embodies all the pro-
visions of the Senate dependent
bill which makes proof of disabili-
ty to perform manual labor in
stead of disability incurred In
the service and line of duty the
test of a right to pension, and in
addition gives a service pension
to every soldier sixty years of age.
The latter clause was objection
able to the Senate and was reject
ed in the Committee and on
the floor, and will without
doubt cause disagreement in
the conference ordered on the
bill. The Senate insists that the
bill passed by it is liberal enough,
and the House complains that ii
is not liberal to the right parties,
and skillful committee work will
have to be done to avoid hope
less disagreement that may delay
and possibly defeat the measure.
Another clause in which the
House takes great credit to itself
is that of cutting down the fee Of
agents and attorneys to s. in each
case. They claim this resulted
from the exorbitant demands of
unscrupulous agents for political
favor using their influence with
the old soldier to threaten and
3oerce the favorable action of the
powers that be. Thus it is that
he honest and deserving are made
o pay the penalty that should be
inflicted On the guilty alone.