The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-28
WAR OF TRUSTS.
With Money on One Side and
Labor on Other.
People Are Between the Upper
and Neither Milestone,
SAYS JOHN j. INGALLS,.
The Only Remedy For All La
Dor Disputes.
Let Congress Establish Conseils
of Cancellation.
SAYS JOHN j. INGALLS,.

q. J. Ingalls, In the New York JournaD
Any laborer, artisan or mechanic has
the right to refuse to work for wages
that an employer is willing to pay. Be
ing employed, except upon special con-
tract, he has the right to demand increase
of compensa ton, and if this is not grant
ed, to quit. He has the right, by reason,
argument or persuasion, to induce others
to stop work at whatever loss to the en-
ployer or inconvenience to the public. He
has the right to contribute to the sup
port of those who become dependent by
relinquishing wages they might have re-
cefved. He has the right to appeal to
the sympathy and emotions of those en-
ployed elsewhere to bring further duress
upon the Obdurate employers and secure
greater advantage for themselves.
But when the labOrer goes beyond this
and says 1 shall not work for the wages
he was unwilling to receive, and II ac-
cept the employment he has abandoned,
1T shall be at the risk of mutilation or
with my inherent and inalienable rights
and becomes malefactor. who should be
mas taught labor the power of com bina-
ton 1t has been bloody instruction
that has returned to plague the inventor;
Labor has been slow to learn, out 1t VIII
never forget: Labor is a commodity
more or less intelligent, with small need
commodity of which there is a constantly
whether employed or idle, contented or
exaa,sIPerIn!tt t has a vote; o,,ar7s If
US all. With the money trust one side
and the Ia Dor trust on the Other the peO-
pie are between the upper and neither
milestone. Employers and the employed
are ranged in two hostile camps. suuen
and menacing, ready on the instant to en-
gage in battle For the past twenty years
country: It exists now in the mining re
gions of Colorado and the northwest, in
Cleveland is at this time a beleaguered
city. as much as Richmond during the
rebellion. The laws are resisted and de-
fed, traffic and transportation are inter-
rupted, the innocent suffer, the people are
yio GEseu ana disorder prevail Blood IS
shed, cars are stoned, and employees VINO
the places of those who have voluntarily
abandoned their posts are assaulted and
and wrangle and gOuge and maui each
other like brutal ruffans in a subter-
an hour or two more or less in the length
and hundreds of millions of property,
wages. profits, destroyed while the pa
lie. like a duh ass that will not mend its
pace by beating, is made the victim of the
cowardice of political parties, and the pu-
sillanimous pOltroOnery of political dema-
gogues. The money trusts make enorm-
Gus contributions to the campaign funds
for the election of presidents and legis-
lators. so that however loud the platform
attorney. general fnds all laws for their
POWER OF THE BALLOT
The labor trusts have the votes. and
P 6ai e9aerS and are gef aIraa 10
eTs become boIder ana more reckless from
the belief that the people sympathize with
public opinion is Justly opposed to rioting
Strikers. and nothing Contributed more to
the estimation in which Grover Cleveland
is held by his idolators than his vigorous,
fearless treatment of the railroad strike
at Chicago in 1893. His assertion of the
national authority stirred the heart of
the people like the blast of trumpet-it
covered a multitude of sins. 1t was one
virtue linked with thousand crimes. but
the inspiration no doubt came from
Napoleon Bonaparte was the incarna-
ton of modern democracy. He was the
typical representative of the might and
majesty and meanness of the nineteenth
century. He was not only the supreme
military genius of history, but he was the
best legislator; the most dexterous pohti-
clan and the biggest liar that ever lived.
His resources were fnexhaustible his ca
pacity boundless. He was equally at home
negotiating treaties with vanquished mon
arehs or settling tie 5 accounts OF Jose
or too small for his consummate powers.
on human institutions and society he
stands easily at the head of the natural or
titular kings of mankind.
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM.
For The prompt and Inexpensive pc , settle
tween employers and employed. and the
execution of laws and regulations affect
ing manufactures and trade, he establish
ed in 1906 tribunals known as "conseils des
prud hommeS" by a decree under which
by the minister of commerce upon the
the city IN which the PROPOSED conseII IS
chief Of state whose term is three years
a secretary appointed and removed by
bers not less than six, half of whom are
employers and half employed, each class
Certain qualifications of age, residence,
character and experience are prescribed,
They hold for six years and are eligible
for the second term. They have no salary,
bers. called the private bureau and the
general bureau The sole function of the
to hear complaints Informally. and to con
eiliate. if possible without trial. Failing
erai bureau. Where another effort is made
to settle the controversy by agreement
itv Of At me members decides Where the
hundred francs there is no appeal. Be
tribunal of commerce or TO the CIVIL
courts.
The decisions have the authority OF ju-
ike the Judgment Of other courts The
submit the question on written statements
brought by complaint and summons, and
witnesses are examined under oath. The
been of immense advantage to French in
dustry. In a single year the sixty-nine
e Of t Mhic6 Is ooo we ear setted BY
Citation in the private bureau, 81 by ad-
vice of the cOnseil. and in only SO was
formal judgment entered. Strikes and
lockouts have almost entirely disappear
ed, because a competent tribunal being
established by law, where right can be
enforced and wrongs redressed, public
opinion no longer tolerates the brutal ar
bitrament of personal and private vio-
Ience. with the loss and suffering and de-
Management which this entails. The .ex-
sting condition of affairs in the United
Sta ties is not creditable, either to the cour-
age OF the intelligence of the people. 1t
IS a reoroach to popular self-government
If stains civilization. We can learn some
thing from the practical genius OF Ma
poleon Let congress establish conseils