The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-11

greas merit, which every insslligsns lesis-
Iator should carefully study-Judgs Glib
bons' Tenure and Toll. I" dealing exhaust
ively with the topics Of land, labor and
capital.
Judge Gibbons Is known to the bench
and bar Of the country as the learned editor
of the American Criminal Reports" and
Is the aushor Of many valuable confrleu-
tions to current legal discussions Last
year be Was elected on the Republican
ticket In Chicago as one Of the judges OF
the circuit court His Tenure and Toll
IS very able and impartial presentation
Of the many phases of the subject. and
abouncs in honest advice and warnings TO
laboring men and TO capitalists
AZ the very threshold be reminds them
that .this is a government of Law. not of
force- The theory OF our government Is
based upon the idea that its laws are in .
measure seli-executory. for each citizen Is
deemed guardian of the state and con-
SENATOR of the peace. There Is but one
Law for the native-born and the stranger.
the rich man and the poor. No man,
however powerful, and no class OF men,
however numerous. can be above the law
or beyond ii. The Law sanctions the
largest liberty Of the individual consistent
with the safety Of the state. There - no
liberty without law. That which men call
liberty without law. means license, which
is the twin fury of anarchy"
Judge Gibbans points ont ''the shifting
of the basis of power from skill to num-
bers, which is rapidly taking place in labor
organizations today" and which, as he
forcibly contends, necessarily involves
the excavation of the individuality of the
members. and consequent impairment of
their Independence as men," He favors
viii not suppress or destroy free. intelli-
gent citizenship. and viii "eschew all IN
just and intoierant methods"
1T is in the upbuilding of the man, and
not Of the masses.sthat lies the greatest
good to the greatest number. The virils
virtue of the independents man Is the true
insignia of free citizenship" The strength
and pride of American citizenship, draw
ing Inspiration from the civil and religious
liberty and practical equality nowhere
else SO fully enjoyed, he finds truly mani
fest in perfect Independence Of the man
consistent with and conducive to the peace
and prosperity Of society"
These inestimable privileges and bless
ings, priceless heritages by birthright or
adoption Of all citizens OF the republic,
can only be preserved and enjoyed
through the fullest and freest exercise of
al the rights of citizenship. Any organi-
zation which seeks TO restrict such free
exercise of individual action in any pur-
suit of life, dwarfs the manhood and de-
stroys the independence of its members,
utterly disquaiifying them for the noblest
duties of freemen.
These are sound sentiments. strongly
expressed, aud in pressing them upon the
attention of workingmen Judge Gibbons
is performing the duty of q conscientious
and patriotic publicist. His view of the
thus stated: "Whiie advocating the
of the Inan from the thral-
dom of the masses, do not mean thereby
to condemn labor organizations as such.
Trades unions and associations of that
nature when properly conducted are pro-
ductive of much good. They will prove
beneficial in educating the workmen, in
inviting discussion respecting propos-
ais advanced looking to the eleva-
ton of labor-beneicial in assisting
members in times of sickness and distress
beneficial in bringing before the public
their wants and molding public opinion in
favor of relieving them-beneficial from
political point of view. because by united
action they may obtain legislation which
as individuals they could not secure. But
when they go beyond these lines, az they
sometimes do, our lawmakers are at fault
In not having made adequate provision for
the settlement of the troubles which in
evitably arise between the members Of
such organizations and their employers"
What does Judge Gibbons consider
an adequate provision" for this pur-
pose? Compulsory arbitration.
There seems" he says, ito be . con-
sensus of opinion among the wise and
thoughtful of today tha. in arbitration
voluntary or compulsory-must be sought
the settlement of these perplsxing ques-
tons. and the former having so fire.
quently and utterly failed to effect the
required results. there exists imperative
necessity for resorting to the latter.
"If," he continues, arbitration is made
compulsory and the decree OF the arbitra-
tors enforced, the manner of creating the
tribunal clothed with jurisdiction to hear
and determine the issue is Of vital import
ance. There is no serious objection TO be
urged against the appointment by the
governor of three competent persons as a
board OF arbitration and conciliation,
similar 10 the Massachusetts, plan. one of
them to be sn employer of labor. one an
employe connected with some labor
organization and the third to be appointed
on the recommendation of the other two.
should they unite in such recommends
ton within q specified time after their ap-
po.ntment. and In case they did not that
he be appointed By the governor on his
own motion.
Ii should he the duty OF this board,
whenever any controversy not involving
questions Of private eon.ractual nature
exists between an employer and his en-
ployes, II he employs twenty-five or mere
persons. 10 visit the locality. make careful
inquiry into the cause. hear ali persons
interested, and IL the matter in dispute