Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-11-03
THE LABOR QUESTION.
GovERNoR STEVENSON SAYS

G0YERN0R STEVENSON SAYS
The important question involving /
the relation between capital and labor
the rate of wages and the proper dis
tributior of wealth, is by no means a
new one:
The time is, hope, forever passed
in Idaho when practical force shall be
relied upon for the settlement of these
questions.
1t is propers.and fully as essential
for labor to organize for its own pro-
lection and rights as for capital, but
as organized capital under poor and
unwlse management will soon be
wasted and destroyed, 50 will the
benefits of labor organizations be lost
and destroyed if their conurol and
management falls into the hands of
selfish and designing political dema-
gogues. Boards of Arbitration for
the adjustment and settlement of dis
putes between labor and capital, and
especially those peculiar to our great
mining interests, would, | think, be
beneficial to us. Yet while everything
possible should be done on the part
of the Territory TO protect the rights
and improve the social conditions of
the laborer, he should also remember
that honesty, diligence, intelligence
and sobriety are the only trustworthy
means by which success and perma-
nent prosperity can be obtained.
My feelings and sympathies are
with the laboring classes, and would
be glad to see them all obtain com
potency and make provisions for sick
ness, reverses and OLD age, and the
Territory should tender the laborer
all proper and reasonable assistance
ia his efforts in that direction, both
BY removing from his path the allure
ments that tempts him to intemper-
ance and dissipation and wasteful-
ness, and by encouraging the estab-
lishment of such moral institutions as
will train him to a systematic and
economical management of his hard
earned wages.
IN MESSAGE TO FIFTEENTH SESSION
The important question involving
the relations between capital and la
Dor. the rate of wages, and the proper
distribution of wealth by honest toll
is one of the greatest questions of the
day.
The honest wage workers of Amer
lea do not wish to correct any of their
wrongs by violence, anarchy or com
munism, but by organization and a
unity of a purpose, they naturally and
properly desire to benefit their condi-
ton IN life, and it should be our aim
to study their wants and listen to
their complaints and in kindly way
to intelligently distinguish between
their real and imaginary wrongs. 1t
should be our pride and pleasure to
more generally recognize their claims
to public offices and public positions
of honor and trust, and not bestow
these favored positions on wealthy
men who obtain first their nomina-
ton, and second election By the lavish
use of money, rather than any real
merit of their own. This fact has a
tendency to discourage men of mod,
crate means from seeking official pc
sitions, and creates the conviction in
the minds of working men that this
distinction is not within their reach
unless they are able to furnish saloon
keepers and professional political
managers with whatever amount of
money they may demand
Poverty, overwork, poorly recon-
pensed, is one of the greatest sources
of discomfort among our people, and
also the knowledge that labor does
not receive its fair proportion Of the
reward which industry and honesty
ientitle it to share; and the further
fact continually staring them in the
face that with all their energy, dill.
gence, frugality and sobriety they are