Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-11

such powers as will allow them TO look
into the very heart of this question. IL
is reproach TO our civilization that
this Senate and country-perhaps the
Senate has no control over IL beyond IN
vestigation-stand here now witnessing
these two armed forces in battle array,
and we confess we have no power ex-
cept to inquire. Why inquire? What
is the use of asking the bloody story to
be recited il there is nothing to be
done? If this war is to go for ever,
why meddle with it? Let it be solved
as it may; you must find some princi-
pie by which this thing can be done.
You can not ask these LABOR
ers to become slaves, because
if it is true, as claimed by some, that
capitalists have right to hold over the
heads OF their employees the rod OF dis
missal at their pleasure, American free
dom is gone, and the vote will be cast
by the masters who holds the bread OF
the voter. You must give to the vother,
il you mean that he shall be independ-
emit, fixity Of employment so that he
may defy the employer and say TO him,
'My tenure depends not on my vote,
but my tenure depends upon my good
behavior, upon my fidelity, my honesty,
my industry, and not upon my vote"
II some solution is not found In that
direction, this army of employees will
be controlled by the employers, and
there will be established an aristocracy
more terrible than exists in any free
country, and this nobility OF wealth
will become our governors. But
may be asked: Shall these
men. lose their property? BY
no means. They shall hold their prop
erty subject to this public obligation,
and in that alone we shall find solu-
ton of this labor trouble.
Capital and labor are confronting
each other now. What is the condi-
ton? The employer attempts TO con-
troll his property by force. Why is that
| so? Because American governments,
Federal and State, have neglected their
duty. We have stood upon this
! volcano aud now we per-
ceive the eruption, and it will
occur constantly. These men are hold
| ing their position, as l maintain, right
fully, because they have right to en-
| ployment on reasonable terms.
What, then, is the fault OF the Gov
eminent? The Government has as yet
furnished no agency by which their con
troversies can be adjusted, and until
that is done this blood is upon the hands
of every government, State and Fed
eral, until they have exhausted all the
resources OF reason and experience In
finding some mode Of avoiding these
troubles.
We may talk about the effect Of these
labor difficulties politically. 1 find my
self quoted, Mr.. President, as having
spoken OF. the influence Of these troubles
upon the Presidential election. If
said anything on that subject to the re
/ porter who interviewed me, / comics;
it was an utterance that ought not e
have been made, for when we stand In
the presence OF these perils-for they
| are perils, and the firing on this boa
may be the beginning OF a civil con
flict; we cannot tell say TO speak o.
their effect upon the near approaching
election is but little short OF crime.
l hope the Committee on Edu-
| cation ana LdOOT, III bu6 I6Solu
tion goes to that committee, will fee
that when they furnish the Senate will
history of this transaction they have
performed work of supererogation
They ought to furnish the Senate
with some principle or rule by which
these controversies can be settled, be
cause il it is true that they do not ad
nit of settlement, if there is no rule o.
reason which can be applied to thei
solution, then they must be fought out
Either capital will be master and TIT
people slaves, or the people of the coun
try will be involved in anarchy ani
capital destroyed.
1t can not be in this countr!
that with the reason, the patriot
ism, the Christianity, and intelli
gence which characterize GU
people we shall fail to find some solution
of this trouble l have indicated TIT
only road out Of the difficulty which ha
/: yet occurred TO me.