The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-01-12
LIND and VAN SAINT
ROTH GOVERNORS REFER TO LABOR
~ THEIR MESSAGES.
Governor Van SAINT Recommends an
Fight Hour Day ON All Public
WUrk-ItetirinG Gov. Lind RECON-
mendS CHmpIi!SOry irbit trntiOn.
Incorporation Of Labor Or.nnizn-
tiomH-PriSUn Labor IL Menace.

Both Gov. Lind and Gov Van SAINT
referred to labor in their addresses to
the legislature. Gov. Van SAINT spoke
as follows:
Sight flour Day.
OF all the trill,nphs of our American
civiIiznIiuIl there are none to compare
with the. advanced position of the la
bO,in" ,.l;lSs's, ami no one thing has
50 much cont attributed to our wonderful
,ln"r,S IS as tn" condition of our work.
in4 people, Where labor is we'll paid
and rinyS equal rights, there will YOU
find not only Il healthy and prosperous
state. but also an intelligent and pro-
"rrSsivc people.
Minnesota takes Il front rank among
the states in labor legislation. TO our
bureau of labor we are indebted for
many wise laws. Upon our statute
books you Will find cnactments guar
anlrrinS 10 Wagr-rarners the right to
organize and protecting them against
blacklSting: laws for the regulation of
child labOr: those requiring healthful
sanitary conditions and protecting then,
against accident in their places Of en-
luymcllt. These and other laws have
rightly placed Minnesota in high
rank. would suggest one more and
urge its age--eight hours a legal
days work on all public works author
iZ'I by the state.
W.. must take no backward step, but
must continue the legislation necessary
to open to labor new safeguards of
protection and other irlds of employ
mrnt.
Compulsory Arbitration.
Gov. Lind had nothing to say on the
eight hour day. but he did speak quite
furcably ON two other subjects of in
tcrrst to labor. His reference to COM
pulsury arbitration and prison labor
shows his deep int rest in the ques
tons. Th"l" is no doubt but that he
has given the questions much thought
and study. His reference is partially
as follows:
Let the law recognize labor organi-
ZAton and permit their Incorporation,
as it now recognizes benevolent asso-
Citations and lodges. So organized, with
their charters and bylaws filed in the
office of the commissioner OF labor,
they. and through them, their members
corporations are reached.
If difference then arises between
employer and employees, the employer
], would not as he now \. !. oojsets, have,to
deal With 81 ali irr egpo M KING
delegate He would instead have to
deal with a duly Incorporated body.
acting through it's legal officers. If
any differences could not be amicably
adjusted, then Il law, providing that
either party to the controversy might
apply for compulsory arbitration and
hat pending arbitration wages and
employment should continue as though
no difference existed, would remove
every occasion for both the lockout
and the strike. The arbitration tribu-
nal might be constituted Of two men,
herS selected by each side and fifth
member, to be either judge Of the
district court in the district where the
difference arose. or a judge Of the sup
RENE court. Such a tribunal would be
fairly constituted and as likely to do
= justice to both sides as any plan that
human ingenuity con devise. It's de-
cisiOn we are bound to assume would
be fair. 1t would have the support of
public opinion and in ninety-nine cases
out Of every hundred would be cheer
fully accepted by both parties, as has
been the result in New Zealand, under
similar legislation Forfeiture of mem.
bership in the union could be imposed
for failure to comply with a decision
fairly rendered. 1t is not, in my judg.
mtnt. the penalties which such boarG
would have the power to impose. thai
would give it's decision effectiveness
1t is the fact that the decision, Whar