Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-25
is TRUE AS STEEL
The Hon. Gerritt j. Oiekema
Assures His Traducers
Ne IS ATRUE FRIEND TO LABOR
Hot~ithsranGiag the Bitter Attack Made
Upon him - Designing Men
IN Labor Unions.

The democratic scheme 70 enlist the
supports OF the trades unlons Tor A. A.
Elils. tno populo-dsmCcrat.c candidate
for attorney general, nas received
sewers snoex. GerriLs j. Dleksms.
whose legislative record was attacked
IA paper presented 70 the trades
council Two weeks ago By l. 4. iossy.
returns the IRE with az answer sum
Gent 20 eonVncs any falf-mlnded man
that als course IA the legislature had
been Ia the interests OF the iaoonng
people. Mr.. Dlekema's answer IS as
folloss
HuDsos. Mich, Oct IS.
To the Detroit council OF Trades and
LABOR mons
GEsfIEagEa-Atthe asst regular meet
Ia o. your UOdy paper Has nitro
duCsd setting forth my attitude on
three labor measures introduced dur
lng lhs seasons Of the legislature al
winch I had the honor 10 represent
distract Ia The county OF Ottawa. IT
- not necessary 70 20 through as en-
tire record, but reference 10 lew OF
his actions IN each session OF The legis-
lAtuIs - sufhclent 10 illustrate tue
SaOle," reads tue paper, but believing
a 10, that trades unions are founded
upDu tie broad American basis OF JUS
tice and rgnI, l contend that i . TAR
O. 20 tnrougn my enure record, and
ahsO.utsly adjust % angle out lew
measures anu attack me tom That
standpoint.
Prepared q Reply.
After reading tue action Of the couu-
Gil IA Detroit paper. and desiring to
SET myself rignt before the working
men 0i the state. / went out OF my way
10 Detroit aud held consultation with
Presdent James Dunn and Secretary
Pnihp Ltersch. After making
leug by verbal statement to these gen
o. N Ia, VINO treated me courteousiy
and acted as falr-mInded men, We
discussed the matter pro and con. At
the conc uson OF our talk Mr.. Dunn
assured me that would De gwen far
play by ina council, and suggested
that / prepare a statement for presen-
talou at the next regular meeting, CIV
ing my attitude and vote upon labor
legislation during the four sessions
was ID the lower house. Although en-
taling mucn wurk. / assured Mr.. Dunn
that / would gladly comply with his
request and prepare such statement.
The Arbitrator Measures
The paper introduced at the last
meeting dwells A. some length on the
JasnOSskl oil. 10 provide for the annie
able adjustment OF grievances and dis
putes that may arse between employ
ers aud empl yes, and 10 authorize the
creation OF the state board OF medlca-
ton AID arbitration. Few bills nitro
duced IN the leg stature became avs
without some changes beng made from
the original copy coming from the
hands OF the lntrOducer, and this Dill,
IN common with many, had some
changes made in IT before il Was finally
passed. / did not vote tor the measure
when & was discussed n committee of
the whole, but when the measure
came up for final passage on Thursday,
June %, 1889, | voted in favor OF II
and sm so recorded on page 2O72 Of
the house journal IF that year. The
bill AZ that time was good enough tor
Jasnowski, Murtagh aud WettIaufer,
and was gOod enough tor me.
Appointed a Democrat
As speaker OF the house during the
same session II deyolved upon NE to
appoint the COMMITTEES, and as repub.
lican | showed my friendllness TO the
democrat labor members by appointing
Frank GIll, the weli-known cigar ma
ksT, of Grand Rapids, and August
Wettlaufer. the earnest single tsxer Of
Detroit, TO places upon the labor COM
miltes. lad I desired 20 be unfrleudly
10 the interests of labor | certainly
should not have appointed those
siaunch trade unIouists, whom many
OF you are acquainted with, 10 posi-
tons upon the committee which has
cnarKe OF all bills introduced IN the
interest of the wOrkiugmen aud work
ingw0msu of Michigan.
Against Cesviet Labor.
During the session of 1885 | voted for
house bi.i No ,. being bill introduced
by Brsut, TO regulate the employment
Of children, young people and women
"a certain cases.
Bill NO. 10, 10 repeal certain sections
Of Al existing .sw bearing upon the
management of the state OF sons, which
had TOR ~ object the abOhshlng OF
contract convict lshor. Introduced by
Representative EEsn.
BIZ No n. % regulate and govern
state house OF correction snd reforms
tory a. Iona, having for Is object the
dong away with the manufacture of
cigars IN tnst institution. Introduced
By Egsn.
Bill s.. go. 20 regulate the trial Of
action arisng from neg gence. Intro
ducsi bv 8raut
Bin y So. to regulate the sppOiBt-
nent a deputy snerlifs, under shsri Z {.
sad sherifs altes. commonly called
the Finkerton detective oil aud nitro
duced oy Long.
Hsw ~ voted
Piu 40 f4s. 90 provide for the IN
corporation II societies for tas promo
t,nn OF me nteTesrs Of trade and labor.
introduced bv Ersn&
Hal So. lGs, co prohibit the use of
scr.p or store orders I'm the payment OF
Vases Of .arnrars IN saOts and fac
tprsa. introduced bv Barry
BnI So. i4A a hIi CD establish :
hoari cf tu3d'ng Inspectors iu and
for tne cfg ct Dsirtt and - define q