Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-01
gats1x "a labor has, n facss been
nodeLen after ~ statutes
MIeE1sss.

Hzl<zg 70 labor has, u iAess Teen
modelled after ~ statutes.
MieEissz.
. The RoIlsWiag lasshAss been enacted
AZ sar osn states
! Coars "a na<a Atom and arbitration
Ho1xs 81 IabcF.-Ea-Flsysasat q eaA-
drcD. young psrscns a1d women ID esf-
tan ezses.--aours OF labor Tor young
persons. rsurs ef sGploy SAINT u
sn.ldrea.--Pfetsetisa Or smpleyez--
bLssers 20 os Used Win emery sneels
aa1 Belts MECHANICS zs<ocisEons-
Homestead szs1pslsna-ffotsetsen Oh
fsNAles Against sxscltle1A-rrotsc-
Len CT ixse< sDEs fEon stay 81 exseu-
tca.~-L ems of 1sc84lIes a1a otHsrs
81 Certain hens upon real properly.
Enough hxs been szla 70 snow me
Gsaszal cnATactsx and scope OF isgisia-
tea II relation 20 lADoE. lt"iii De sui
nclsaE % say that the feiiosing states
have laws similar 70 me foregoing;
ksbrask2. Eew hampsnire. New
ssssy. Sew Asxico, Nes YORK, ONO,
Oregon. PennsylyAnis, Rhode Island.
TsxAs. ysTnsaE, Washington, West
flrxlalA Aaa Wisconsin.
socialism versus fnaiviaaAiism-
Bessrs speaking Of any necessary
legislation IN relation 10 labor, whether
Al . positive or negative character,
must call your attention 70 the func-
ansntai posltiens Of the two great ep-
posing schools Of political thou khs, the
enc sociaIistic, the other lndivIduaiistlc-
The great champion OF the former 70
Carl Marx OF Germany; OF tae latter.
the Eszlisn philosopher, Mr. Herbert
Spencer. The shlhboleth OF the indI-
vidualistlc school is lalssezfaire which
freely interpreted s, "Lss things take
tnet< Own course. IL Is directed
against governmental interference with
the freedom Of intercourse between
nations aud individuals. u may Dc
considered either as policy or
- a principal Considered as
policy IL contends for the right OF IN
divlduals or bodies OF individuals To
make such contracts with their fellow
men as they may deem mutually ad-
vantageous-
Personal Freedom.
The principle OF the law embodied in
the policy Is that nSn-lnterIerence on
the part Of the government - best for
the progress OF society, so Tar As the
operations OF the weAltn-prou ucing
powers are concerned, therefore direct
ed agalnst the interference IN any
manner with the private or pubic OPP
eratons of the ECONOMICS OF industry.
Each man or body OF hen will DC the
best Judge OF the conditions under
which exchange and production may
De successfully carried on. BY the ex-
tremists OF this school tho max u Is IN
tsrpretsd TO mean that each member
OF the community should be allowed to
DO az he piesscs- IL y. OF course, sum
rient 70 point out that the very cordi-
hons Of human life, as we know Il,
preclude the adoption Of any such
maxim as au active principle, the lib
erty OF each person being limited by
he Ike liberty OF all. The let-alone
policy Is. however, generally sanctioned
In the Engiisn speaking world by econ
smisss and thinkers OF any note.
Theories Of sociaiists.
The socialistic school on the other
bard holds that the present methods OF
lnduarsal operation and distribution
ere all wrong, radically wrong. They
would, by organized action, compel the
Individual TO surrender much OF the
rshs Of indiviaoAl initiation which he
cow enjoys. and would extend the
functions of the state 70 the regulation
Of the mnutest Affairs in industrial
pperssisnA The problem Of an equita-
Die distribution, they clam, should
nightly occupy the mInds Of those who
IRE invested with political power.
Under their system society 10 to be re-
constructed ON cooperative bass,
which IL 10 hard to distinguish from .
Communistac society politically based
upon . hard and fast Industrial des-
potism. To the sober and thinking
part Of the community the mere state
nnent OF the sociallstlc program carriss
fsss avn contradiction. The attitude Of
wefksngmen, here and elsewhere. is
oae of more or less complete accept
snce of the socialisisc propaganda; and
10 cannot be denied that the federal
legislation of the past quarter of . Gen.
tnry, by its interference with trade and
industry, mas done much TO foster
spirit Of reliance upon state interview
ton
Fact Stronger Than Philosophy.
For our own part We believe that the
logic OF fact Is stronger than mans
philosophy, and that no resort should
Be had to legislation IN matters best
no theory or doctrine that We can offer
20 society as panacea for poverty or
dsxcontsnL Most of the suffering nd
sofrow which we daily witness, and
/ which We, N our ignorance, are apt 70
sttnbuts TO badness OF legislation, is
due rather 70 causes over which iegis-
Isters has not the slightest control.
Mans inability 10 ADAPT himself TO his
enviroument -. in truth, the great
source 81 human unhsppiness A
nore temperate estimate OF the posi-
hihties OF legislative ameIioration,
would save us from many bitter disap-
peiptFnsnts. Many Of the reforms, or
rather changes. advocated by men who
style themselves "labor rcsormers."
can be shown 10 be physically and
Mechanically impossible.
Year sro.a Mss.sr.~
In conclusion, We ask your attention
20 four measures OF frst-ciass Impert-
ancs. wsch are. IN the brosdest sense
Of the term, labor questions, for they
effect each and al throughout the
length and breadth Of tss Land.
\. Owl service reform.
2. Tar reform.
q A safe and conservative financial
system
4. Freedom of commercial inter
course.
TAis last Al qualified hereafter.
The cause OF labor could not De bet
Ger served than by the Introduction of
clean add busBe~-like methods into
cur municipal, state aud federal adj
aninistraaons. A httlng test OF each
aspliessgs selllty to perform the