The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-10

| ntteu Is even worse.
The labor organization has also con-
tributed toward the shortening of the
hours of toll. and it should not cease its
Efforts until the eight-hour day is Sc
cured approximately one-third of the
twenty-four hours must he given to
sleep; IL another third of the day lis de-
voted to manual labor, only eight hours
arc left for eating, for going to and
from the place of work. for the reading
OF current news, for mental improve
ment. recreation. social intercourse and
! domestic life. Since the hours occupied
| In eating and travel can not be en-
! croached upon. every hour added to the
days labor must he taken from the time
| devoted tn istellectual development, rec
realion and the family.
| The labor organization has been con-
sistent and persistent advocate of the doc
| trine of arbitration, although il is difficult
to see why the burden<of this reform
| should be thrown upon the laboring man.
| surely the employer, IL he would take 4
comprehensive view of his own interests,
! would be as much benefited by arbitra-
| ton as the employee, and because every
prolonged contest between labor and capt.
| tai brings interruption TO business and pc
| cuniary loss to those who are in no way
responsible for the disagreement, society
| IN general Is even more interested than
employers or employers. The desire for JUS
tice is so universal that the public can be
| depended upon to support the finding of
an impartial board of arbitration GER
| tainly as IL can TO support the successful
! contestant In a lawsuit. The court of ar
| bitration is one of the certainties OF the
| future. and when Ii is secured and per-
fected. we shall wonder why its coming
| THE black list, by means of which en-
ployers combine to deprive the discharged
! workman Of unemployment. is one of the
more recent menaceS TO the laboring man.
/ The independence of the wagc-earner de-
| creases as the difficulty Of obtaining en-
\ ployment increases. and the skilled work.
I man whose life has been spent in ac-
| quiring efficiency i'm certain trade or
I occupation. becomes practically the chat
/ tei OF the employer II every opportunity
| To make use of his experience is closed by
I agreement between employers.
THE laboring man is also interested IN
legislation prohibiting oriental immigrd-
/ tion. IL is unfair To the American work.
man. who is the foundation of the nations
' wealth in time of peace, and its defense
I in time of war. to subject him 10 the dam
ger of having his occupation given to an
/ oriental laborer. often brought in by con-
! tract. who has 10 permanent interest IN
our government. II the Asiatics come
here. work for a few years. live on a low
| er scale and then carry home the net pro-
ceedS Of their toll the drain upon our
money supply viii he similar 10 that
caused by landlordism in other coun-
tries. The political objections to oriental
labor are scarcely less weighty than the
economic ones. Race prejudice cannot be
every Industrial depression. race animos-
tiles result in riot and bloOdshcd. Wo
cannot afford 10 bring into this country
those who cannot amalgamate with our
people.
1.-The attempt 10 use the iniunc-
tion 81 "A court to deprive the laboring
man Of trial by jury should alarm all our
people. for while the wage Garner is the
first Ia feel its effects. the principle which
undcrlies government by Injunction is 50
far-reaching that M one can hope 10 es-
cape ultimately. The thing forbidden by
an injunction would. without the iniunc-
tion. be either legal or Illegal III il would
h. legal. the judge usurps the function of
the legislature when he forbids II. II
hn H. %
court Is unnecessary. for anyone who Vio-
lates the law can. upon conviction. be
made - suffer the penalties prescribed
for such violation. The meanest thief ana
the most brutal murderer are entitled II
trial 10y jury. why should this right be
denied the iahoriug man. Those who OBJ
pose government by injunction are not in
favor II lawleSsneSs. they are. on the
contrary. the best friends of law ana or
der. They DENY the right OF any man TO
violate the law in an effort 10 advance
his own interests but they insist that IL
is Inconsistent with our ideas or govern
ment and dangerous 10 all classes 10 IN
vest anv judge with the thrce-fold power,
first. "a make the laws. second. To bring
accusation against those charged with
the violation OF the laws. and third, to SIT
IN Judgment upon The case. tnNernmcnt
By Injunction Is 81 indefensihle that The
anti-iniunction bill. Endorsed by tho Chi
cuGo PLATFORM. passed the senate without
"a Yea and nay vote being demanded. and
since that time no party platform has
specifically Endorsed government by IN
party ms entered upon 4 defense or me
system. vet corporate influence IS Sd
strong that it has thus far been imposSi-
h.e to secure any remedial legislation
The fact that United States senators ara
elected ny legislatures rather than by the
people directly. lessons the lahoring man ;
legislation. when the action Of 4 political
convention must be submitted % the vo-
ieTS Tor ratification At the polls. the CON
yenti1u is constrained To- nominate cam
but when senator Is chosen
9 ~ IeEisia 1 co5 lag ind' Fysn
when direct bribery is not employed. tho
indirect influence which corporations can
exert is resortcd 10. and more frequently
St4A. money Is secretly used TO aid ltgtsl3-
tiv. candidates in close districts Such OBJ
legations are usually repaid IN the caucus
ana. as rule, the majority IN the caucus
controls the party which has the sclec-
tiun OF the senator. II thiS question was
submitted to the voters, the majority IN
favor OF the election OF senator's by 81
rec- vote of the people would be over
Whelming. and vet partanship has de-
layed the adoption of this amendment.
The people submit Ia policies which they
Do not Ike. rather than secure improve
ment by change in party affiliations
The laburing man faVOrs direct leGis-
lation wherever practicable. for the same
reason that he faVors the election OF SEN
ators by popular vote.
Direct legislation brings the govern
ment nearer 10 the voter. There IS more
Virtue N the people IMAM ever mus ~
precision through their Representatives.
To hold that representative can act for
the people better than they can act Tor
themselves. IS To assert that he is as mucn
iuUert.- Lcu in the people as they are IN
themS Ives ana that his wisdom Is greater
than the combined wisdom OF the majority
OF the people. Neither proposition is
sound Most. if not an. of the evils com
planned Of i'm government. are tracCaDle
L. the fact that the representative of tne
people has personal interests At Variance
with the interests Of his constituency.
Corruption il municipal state and fed
cral governments is due to the misrepre-
sentatiOn OF the people by public ser
wants. who use their positions for private
advantage. The people should have an On-
portunity 20 vote on public questions when
those questions can BE- submitted without
too great Inconvenience and expense. But
the laburing man Is even Interested in the
proposition 10 establish a labCr bureau
with a cabinet officer al its head. Such a
bureau would keep the executive I'm con-
slant touch with the wage earners of che
country. and open the way To the redress
OF their present and future grievances.
II labor il given place in the presidents
official household, the man selected Will
necessarily be "A worthy and trusted rep
Tesentative Of the people for whom he
sneaks. and his presence at cabinet meet
inus will give To those who toll for their
daily bread assurance that their interests
will be properly guarded.
Mr.. Csompers. the chief executive Of
the Federation of Labor, in his CORE
Spondence with the secretary Of the treas
urv. - ably presented the laboring mems
reasons for opposing a gold standard and
a national bank currency that Il Is not
necessary to discuss those questions at