Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-03
Mckinley on Labor.


City Journal, that representiyes of the
American Federation of Labor should
call upon President Mckinley and OBJ
tain from his own lips a declaration
favorable TO the organizations of labor
ers to convince the American people
that their president is heart and head
in sympathy with the laboring people
of the country. But the secretary and
president did call upon President Nc
Kinley and got from him decided ex-
preston:
Il regard the organization of labor as
a natural and legitimate effort 70 secure
its rights"
These are the words credited to Pres
ident Mckinley. No effort is required
20 believe the credit accurate. The
words are like President Mckinley.
They are in accord with his well known
views. He has record as private
citizen, as legislator and as governor
entirely consistent on this question.
While governor Of Ohio in 1892 Nc
Kinley recommended legislation for the
safety and comfort of railroad en-
ployes and repeated the recommends
ton year later, and specifically urged
the furnishing Of automatic Couplers
and air brakes to cars IIe drew atten-
ton to street railways and urged leg
islative requirements for the safety Of
employees and travellers The legisa-
ture Of Ohio upon his recommendation
passed a law requiring vestibnles on
street cars to protect the motormen
1t was in congress that he made q
speech elucidating the principles of ar
bitration as it had not been done be-
fore, applying the principles to labor
troubles as well as to international com
plications, and two months later the
Massachusetts, law creating state board
of arbitration was passed, the first of its
kind. During his first term as governor
the state board of arbitration was Great
ed, after the pattern of the Massa-
chusetts board, the Ohio board being
the third of many state boards. This
law was passed in Ohio as an admin
istration measure, having the hearty
support of Coy. Mckinley. Under the
the law during NcKinlsy's term num-
ber of settlements of labor troubles were
made, the chief being the settlement
of the great Massilion miners strike.
But aside from this record Of efforts
put forth for good laws in the interest
Of laboring men, President Mckinley,
by reason of his championship of laws
for the protection Of American work
ingmen, deserves the confidence Of the
people. His whole tariff system is
founded upon consideration Of the
rights and needs of labor. This feature
of what has been called McKinleyism
has been denounced, denied, misrepre.
sented and ridiculed by tie opposition
for years, but the history of recent
years in industrial life in the United
States proves conclusively the correct
ness of President McKinley's position
Those who denounce McKinlc"ism de.
nounce the rights Of American labor.
The republican party is committed
absolutely to policy of protection 10
American labor. The immigration laws
which have been passed received the
warm support of republicans. Free
J homesteads were the gift of the repub.
lican party to the farmers of America
The republican national platform on
which Mckinley was elected president
pronounced in favor Of national
board Of arbitration to settle labor dis
putes. The party is committed to q
policy in line with the record Of the
president.
The query put to President Mckinley
by Mr.. Gompers was unnecessary, bu,
the answer was right, and just what
ought to have been expected. The
laboring people Of the United States
will fare well under the present ad
ministration.