Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-01-17

j broGght discredit upon several states.
This fact bears witness TO the law
abiding character of our citizens. It
emphasizes, also, the obligation which
rests upon tie law-making body of the
state TO watch carefully and impair
TALLY the interests of all classes OF
citizens and to enact laws, as they
may become necessary, to meet the
changing industrial conditions; laws
which shall ensure TO labor the Just
and fair recompense OF toll, and at the
same time encourage capital in the
development of our enormous re-
sources
1t has been charged that there has
come TO be among corporations employ
Ing large numbers OF men, system
! of blackllsting, so called, under which
an employer having grievance
against a former employee advises or
warns other employers Tot to give en-
: ployment to the person against whom
the grievance exists. While there may
be cases in which mcapacity or
reckless disregard of duty by an EN-
: ploye, leading TO his discharge on that
ground, might Justify an employer In
warning other employers from taking
} such person Into their service: or,
where an employee has betrayed in a
} dishonest manner trust former
employer might be justified in protect.
; Ing Others by proper notifications;
nevertheless, 1t would seem to be true
that where an employee, entirely faith
J full and competent, quits service In
manner not to endanger public safety,
because Of grievance real or sup
posed: or, because compelled to do so
; by the action of an association to
which he belongs, simply exercises his
right to quit, and neither commits nor
incites violence, 1t Is without justifca-
ton.
II Is for the public interest that, so
far as may be, every Industrious. sober
and competent man should be EN-.
poyed. ! cannot but regard an ar.
rangement among large number of
employers not to employ or permit to
be employed, IL they can prevent II,
competent and faithful men, simply
because they quit the service Of some
other employer, as conspiracy which
ought not to be tolerated by the law.
This comedies the right of employers
to choose their employees and to dis.
charge them at will, unless restrained
by contract The right of employees,
unless similarly restrained, Is Just as
complete and just as sacred. The EN-
ployer is not to be punished by boycott
or black-listlng for exercising his right
to discharge, and the employe Is not
to be punished by boycott or black
listing for simply exercising his right
to quit. The employer has no more
right TO be protected by the law from
q conspiracy ON the part Of employees
than employees have to be protected
by law against a conspiracy on the
part of employers. This exemption Of
employees or laborng men from perse-
cutlon by employers for quitting Il Pc
culiarly important in this day of CON-
merclal distress. IL the law as II now
stands does not protect men who have
quit the service of employers from
black-listing, such as have indicated,
1t should, In my Judgment, be so
amended as TO plainly include It,
II Is Of the highest Importance that
the best possible relations should ex.
LIST between capital and labor. Neither
should be permitted TO invade the
rights OF the other; each should deal
with the other In the spirit of coneilla.
ton, and in the settlement of differ.
ences, arbitration should, so far as
possible, be made to take the place of
strikes and lock-outs.
/ confess | do not see my way clear
to any efficient scheme of compulsory
arbitration, under existing comstltu-
tional provisions; nor am certain that
such a scheme Is possible, without In
yolying the surrender, by both labor
and capital, OF rights which men hold
to be very sacred 1t must be borne
In mind that the right of men to con-
tract with each other Is fundamental
In our constitution, and that any
slibrogntion Of this right must work
serious disadvantage to all concerned.
l am not willing to admit. however,
that the state may NOT, through the
Investigation and conciliatory inter-
fNHNDta VI VhNtttiS HiVNiutu lOI ny
law, do much toward bringing about
the adjustment of differences between
labor and capital which shall be at
once honorable and fair to both sides.
The object is 50 important OF accom-
plishments as to justify experimental
legislation upon the matter bcspeak
for the subject your most thoughtful
and careful dcliberatlon, with, assur-
ance OF earnest executive cooperation
IN any feasible plan which your wis
dom may devise.
Conclusion
In conclusion permit me to express
the hope that the session now opening
may be characterized throughout by
sincere regard for the public interest.
Economy may well be the watchword
OF the servants OF commonwealth 50
well endowed with material resources
as ours; but 1t r. true economy
which the people desire; and economy
which tends rather to wise expendi-