The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-14
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS
THE RIGHT OF THE EMPLOYER OF
LABOR.
Gov. WAite's Views.

Gov. Waite's Views.
Philadelphia American.)
The right of an employer, regardless
OF the hours of labor per day or rate of
wages which prevail by law, custom or
general consent, to make contract with
an employe for the rendition of service
at either an increased number of hours
per day, or less wages, as the parties
may agree upon, is denied upon the fol-
lowing principles:
1. Liberty.
Natural liberty consists in the power
of acting as one thinks fit without any
restraint or control unless by the laws
Of nature. "-Blackstone.
Political or civil liberty Is the power
of doing whatever the law permits
that liberty of member of society
which is no other than natural liberty
SO far restrained by human laws as is
necessary for the general advantage Of
the public "-Blackstone.
Moral liberty, or natural liberty is
the right which nature gives to all man
kind of disposing of their persons or
property after the manner they judge
most consonant to their happiness, on
condition of their acting within the linn
it's of the law of nature, and that they
do not in any way abuse it to the
prejudice of any other man. "-Burlam-
agui.
Andersons Law Dictionary, GIG.
2. Rights.
"a right in any valuable sense can
only be that which the law secures 20 it's
possessor, by requiring others TO respect
and abstain from its violation. Rights
then, are the offspring IF law; they are
born of legal restraints. Civil Liberty
is the condition in which rights are cs-
tablished and protected by means of
such limitations and restraints upon the
action of Individual members of the po-
litical society as are needed to prevent
what would be injurious to other indi-
yiduals, or prejudicial to the general
welfare. "-Anderson's Law Dictionary,
$40.
Every member of political cOmmu-
nifty must necessarily part with some Of
his rights, which as an individual not
affected by his relation to others, he
might have retained. Sucn concessions
make up the consideration he gives for
the obligation of the body polite to
protect him in life, liberty and prop
erty."-Anderson's Law Dictionary, $40.
",The laborer has right to employ
ment which the state should recognize"
Bismarck, May, 1894.
III. Health.
"All sanitary cordons and preventive
regulations come under the right Of
preventing more serious injuries by sti-
fling the sources of evil
'The preservation of the public health
is an absolute right Of personal security
and is one of the chief purposes of local
ent."-Anderson's Law Diction-
airy, SOC.
Factory laws prescribing conditions Of
light and ventilation with regard to
health Of employees, and also child Ia
Dor laws. and laws limiting the hours Of
labor depend upon the above legal prin-
ciples.
Nv, Personal and General Welfare.
I'm the contest for the possession Of
child, the welfare of the child is the
controlling consideration. The father
will be given the custody OF 1t, unless
he is shown to be incompetent or unit
for that Office, or unless the welfare of
the child demands a different DISPOSE
tion."-Anderson's Law Dictionary, It's.
So in all cases where the principle is
applicable, the general welfare is
equally imperative.
v. Labor.
Eight hours shall constitute days
work for all laborers, workmen and me-
chanics, who may be employed by, or in
behalf of the United States. u. s.
Statutes.
The duties of the U. S. commissioner
of the bureau of labor, are described as
follows:
'He shall collect information upon the
subject of labor, it's relation to capital,
the hours of labor, and the earnings of
laboring men and women, and the
means of promoting their material, So
cial, intellectual and moral prosperity"
Labor is property-as such it merits
protection. The right to make it
available is next in Importance to the
rights Of life and liberty. 1t lies to
large extent at the foundation of most
forms of property, and of all solid indi-
vidual and national prosperity. '-l6
Wallace Gu. S. Reps.), 127. Swayne, J.
VI. Arbitration.
"Whenever the parties, iniuring and
injured, submit all matters in dispute
concerning any personal, chattel or per-
sonal wrong excepting crimes and mis-
demeanors) to the judgment of two or