The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-07-14
COUNTY oFFIGl AIS.
or WAGE DIS
PUTJLS.

1t was Talleyrand who said that
speech was given to man to conceal his
chougits. Senator Palmer opines that
speech was designed to demonstrate the
possibility of perpetual motion. We
confess our inability to conceive OF the
possibility of any happening or occur
renee that would not serve Mr.. Palmer
rs an excuse for talking. The position
assumed by him III his discussion OF the
Homestead tragedy and, the questions
connected with it,i certainly very far in
advance of that occupied by any other
conspicuous political leader. The argu-
Inent by which he seeks to justify and
maintain it is quite as radical as any
which the boldest agitators have dared
TO advance. Senator Palmer occupies a
remarkable position. He is fnll OF the
vigor of yONth although an old man.
As things go he cannot possibly attain
higher political honors than he has al
ready won. \ close student OF the
higher theories and phases OF govern
Tnent, entertaining the same sentiments
that made him raise his voice and later
on lift his sword in behalf of the manu-
n1issiom OF the slaves of the south, he is
fitted to take advance ground on those
graver questions which younger and
narrower men halt at and hesitate to
encounter. But is the senator g position
really right? Were the men who de-
Tended Homestead from the Pinkerton
jprAsion justified in the act by that
fsigher law TO which Senator Palmer
.eloquently appeals? Is it true that
under changed conditions such works as
&:arnegie7s have become quasi public
and auust therefore be in Il measure
under government direction2
Senator Palmer has raised a momen-
tons question. a great deal has been
said on the subject, and the many fine
arguments in favor OF arbitration have
heen met by as many fine arguments
sagainst it. Sweeping all these aside,
rthe fact stands forth that the state is the
~x9onserrator of the peace of the citizens.
1t establishes and maintains courts for
-efle purpose of settling the rights oi
property which may be in the dispute.
1t seeks to cover every question that
may arise between one individual and
another or one class and another, in or
der that resort to force to obtain or re-
tain rights may he averted. When the
basis OF the present system of state gov
rnmeut was laid labor and capital hat
s1rSt drifted into hostility. Had the,
done so the state builders would have
dealt with the matter as they dealt viii
o her forms of disputes. 1t may be as
sumed that so far as the state fails t.
provide Il means for the settlement o
quarrels b tween its citizens, to that eN
tent is the state deficient in performin;
a fundamental duty-the preservation
OF order
The question was brought up in til
senate on Tuesday, when Senator NooI
hees offered resolution declaring tha
I'm all disagreements and controversies
between employers and employees, tn
principle of arbitration should be pu
into practice for the settlement of diff
cIIlties; that refusal to arbitrate and
resort TO violence for the solution OF dii
ficulties were methods inconsistent wit
the principles OF the existing form {
government, and instructing the CON
nlittee on education and labor to inquir
into the expediency and propriety {
preparing and reporting to the senate
bill making provision for commissio
of Labor.