The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-17

OF horseshOer examiners with argument
which possesses some force, should not misunder-
stand position with respect to that legislation.
We do not object to according to the mechanics who
follow the occupation OF shoeing horses any protec
ton which may be necessary to elevate the standard
of their trade keep out of it disqualified in
competent operators. Our point was that there is
stronger for invoking the sovereign power
of the State in behalf of that occupation than in be-
half of the occupations Of building houses, carrying
hods setting type writing shorthand, or, in fact any
other trade known to Our domestic economy.
Doubtless it is important that horseShoers should
be competent SO it is important that cooks, walters
and dishwashers should be competent But no sane
person would propose bills requiring the Governor
TO appoint boards to examine and issue licenses to
men who follow those occupations 1t IS, indeed,
better for the people that all professions should be
left to work out their destinies since interference
with them tends to convert them into close corpora
tons and restrict and stihe their development We
are opposed TO all paternal legislation on this ground
We stand soldly for the utmost freedom OF speech
and occupation believing that it is only by allowing
do as they please within the law that the best
civilization will eventually triumph :.
There is no objection to horseshoers. combining
for the Improvement OF their craft On the contrary
such organizations should be encouraged Unionism
is defensible principle when administered by
rational for the good OF themselves and the pub
lie Strikes usually prove failures because they are
precpitated either to accomplish unreasonable ends
or to turn aside the overpowerng stream OF progress
But no sensible person can deny that the. bane of
labor is oversupply OF and any rule OF action
which will regulate this supply, elevate the standard
Of work, dignity the occupation and maintain the
scale OF wages is of benefit to community.
The foundations Of state are said to repose upon
the muscle of its working classes, and those ounda
tons must be more stable when the men who labor
are comfortable, happy, capable and prosperous.
But while all this is admitted, it is not conceded
that laws should be passed to interfere with freedom
of contract or restrict stie the development of
any trade or occupation. The horseshoers may or
game and adopt rules for the regulation of their
business with perfect freedom. The Master Horse
shoers National Protective Association should be
encouraged, and it has good wishes and support
But it does not need and should not lave State
Commission appointed by the Governor, with
salaried clerk jantor, messenger and stenographer
attached to its organization. We now have boards
of horticulture viticuture, silk culture, labor Stats
tics and public works. besides railroad commissions
bank commissions, medical commissions dental
commissions and other similar devices for expend-
ing the peoples money, which quite sufficient to
show that the policy of regulating private affairs by
law is ali wrong. Instead of more boards being
ated some of those already in existence should be
abolished.