Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-09-21
Glass Legislation.

leSlSldtlOl, Iue NEW 1OIh ooUf 'e~o "
Commerce maintains that such legisla-
ton of any description is always to be
deprecated, and many of those who
have been so enthusiastic over the at
tempts of lawmakers to reform society
by these special enactnents have been
led by the disastrous results to recall
their Endorsement. If the motives OF
those who have devised the laws in tt e
supposed interest OF the wage-earner
had been pure and their purpose sin
cere and unmixed with a desire for
their own selfish advancement by
toadying to the claims of the class thus
recognized, the legislation would he
none the less worthy of the severest
condemnation. To give any one class
special rights and privileges is always
to deprive others of their natural in
heritance. 1t is precisely as if the boon
! was donation of money. Whatever
is thus appropriated must be con-
tributed by the remaining members of
the community. This is one of the
evils of the protective tariff. Just SO
| far as this operates to build up class,
or to favor special interests, it is an ex-
from those who are not included in the
gift. The Creators hand is the only
one that can give without first receiv-
ing. The law can pour nothing into
| +.,1r of
another's portion.
! For this reason if the legislation in
| question was really boon to the
laborer it would be given at the ex-
pense Of others, thus required to con-
tribute of their rights or means or
privileges to fill up the appropriated
bounty. But the most of this favoring
policy has been at the best misguided
philanthropy. Others have been de-
prived of their substance, while the
objects of the provisions have not re-
| ceived the benefits designed. Let US
run over the list enumerated. There
is not a factory in the land to-day
| where operatives would not be better
off in every way if nine-tenths of the
so-called factory laws" had never been
enacted. They are generally SO far as
enforced an obstacle and hindrance
to the salutary outworling of these
natural relations between the two
classes thus pitted against each other
which best promotes their mutual
interest. In poverty-stricken districts
abroad there may be cruelty in the
tasks assigned to the very young and
the feeble, but in this country there is
no need for any such restraints on the
employment of labor, and perfect
freedom on both sides is manifestly
best for the interests of all who are
concerned.
The ellen laws'' have been an I'M
healthy imposition on constructive
enterprise from the first day of their
enactment. For every one whose
rights have been defended or vindi-
Gated by these provisions IA hundred
have been restrained and fettered by
them to the manifest injury of the
community or actually defrauded by
their inequitable operation. The EN-
ployers' Liability laws" have been
equally promotive of injustice and
selfish exactions. The claws relating
to wages and hours of employment, :"
in all their length and breadth, have
been wanton and aggressive inter
ference with the rights of employers,
and have done more than any other in
the whole list to injure both classes
concerned in their operation. There
| is not a shadow of reason in free
country for law limiting the hours
during which a man may work, unless
it is the restriction of such Sunday
labor as may interfere with the rest
and worship which are the inherited
rights of others. The interests of the
employer and his workmen are best
promoted when both parties are left
perfectly free to make their engage
ment with each other, without any
outside interference. The Bureaus
and Tribunals" established for the
purposes suggested have been a failure
everywhere.
Not one of the laws enacted by Con-
gress or the States solely to promote
the welfare of the laborer has operated
to remedy his grievances, enlarge his
rights or increase his comforts" In
the outlook over the whole field the
greatest menace to the common pros
perity of this country visible to-day
comes from the condition of things to
which these several enactments have
so largely contributed.
Malone wants no Candidates for Con-
greSs.