Evening journal., 1892-07-15
LAeoR ANp pRospERITY.

Cicvcland's Message Recommending n
Commission for Arbitration Six Years Ago.
In a special message to the Senate and
the House of Representatives in April
1856 President Cleveland said
Under our form Of government the
value OF labor as am element of national
prosperity should be distinctly recog-
nized aud the welfare OF the laboring
man should be- regarded as especially en-
titled TO legislative care in country
which offers TO all It's citizens the highest
attainment of social and political distinc-
tion its woflyiugmen cannot Justly OF
safely be considered as irrevocably CON
signed to- the limits of class and en-
titled TO no attention and allowed no
protest against neglect
The laboring man bearing in his hand
an indispensable contribution 60 our
growth and progress may well insist
with manly courage and as "a right, upon
the same recognition from those who
make our laws as is accorded to any other
citizen having valuable interest in
charge. and his reasonable demands
should be met in such spirit OF appre.
citation and fairness as TO induce n con.
tented aud patriotic cooperation in the
achievement of grand national destiny
While the real interests of labor are
not promoted by a resort TO threats and
violent manifestations, and while those
who, under the preteXts of an advocacy
Of the claims of labor, wantonly attack
the rights of capital and for selfish pur-
poses on the love of disorder SOW seeds of
violence and discomfort. should neither
be encouraged nor conciliatcd. all logisla-
tion on the subject should be calmly and
deliberately undertaken, with no purpose
Of satisfying unreasonable demands or
gaining partisan advantage
The present condition of the relations
between labor and capital is far from sat
isfactOry. The discomfort of the EN-
ployed is due in a large degree to the
grasping and needless eXactions of en-
ployers, and the alleged discrimination
in favor of capital as an object of govern
mental attention. IL must also be CON
ceded that the laboring men are not
always careful to avoid causeless and un
jnstifable disturbance.
Though the Importance of a better
accord between these interests is appar-
emit it must be borne in mind that any
effort in that direction by the Federal
government must be greatly limited by
constitutional restrictions. There are
many grievances which legislation by
Congress cannot redress. and many con
ditions which cannot by such means be
reformed
| am satisfied, however that some
thing may be done under Federal author
ity to prevent the disturbances which SO
often arise from disputes between en-
ployers and the employed. and which at
times seriously threaten the business in
terests 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 ! suggest that instead of arbitra-
tors chosen in the heat Of conflicting
claims, and after each dispute shall
arise, for the purpose of determining the
same, there be created a commission of
labor, consisting Of three members, who
shall be regular officers of the govern
ment, charged among other duties with
the consideration and settlement when
possible, of all controversies between
labor and capital