The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-30
LABOR'S NEW PLANE
Philosophy of Department Of Com
merce and Labor Bill.
frs "a -
TALL PLUME FOR NELSON'S HAT
Passage of the Bill in Its Present
shape Rests With Labor
Entirely.

xs.isaing, Wash;nct.n, $500
Washington, Jan. 30-Senator Knute
Nelson of Minnesota, is likely to step
out onto the national stage as very
widely known and famous individual He
is already on that stage, but hitherto ne
has been merely the representative, IN
part, of one of the states. His bill es-
tablishing the new executive department
ofScommerce and labor will probably make
his name familiar in all parts OF the
country, and among all classes OF the
people.
It was happy move when the title OF
the Nelson bill was amended SO as to In
clude labor. This amendment, while
made primarily for the purpose Of salts
flying Influential labor leaders, who did
not want their department put into the
BILL will have the effect of d1gnlfytng Ia
Dor and placing 1t on an equal fO0tihg
before the government with the other lm-
portant branches Of national activity. The
new secretary will be more than mere
merchant or business man. familiar with
trade and the many questions growing out
OF the money side OF it; he will be also
man who is actively and alphabetically
in sympathy with the men who toll. I'm
der the operation Of the Nelson bill as it
has passed the senate, commerce and
trade must always be considered by the
government with especial reference to
their bearing on labor; they will not be
considered with especial reference to
profits and loss. labor figuring incidental
ly or theoretically. The great body Of
organized labor is hereafter to have an
important voice in the shaping of trade
and commercial policies and those poll
c1ss Will receive an impetus, through the
desire of labor to be steadily employed.
Instead of following, labor will now step
forward into the ranks as a leader. It
will be taken fully into the confidence of
the government. and nothing will be done
by the government In matte directly
affecting 1t which will not first have been
carefully considered and agreed to.
Views of Labor Leader.
Said prominent labor leader to me
to-day: 1919
I regard the Nelson bill. as it has passed
the senate, as the most important bit of pro-
posed legislation since the period of recon
struction following the civil war For years
labor in this country has been uneasy and at
times discontinued. The ebb and flow Of
prosperity was not clearly understood by our
people. and they were inclined to hold the
party in power responsible for hard times and
falling prices. This was in a large measure,
I believe, due to the fact that labor had
voice in the affairs of the government It is
true there has been for some years now a
very efficient labor bureau. but the gulf Is
very wide between a bureau and a cabinet
office. The bureau head was busy with his
little affairs and did not come into direct con-
tact with the president, the cabinet or con-
gress, save when he had something importa ant
to say; and even then he had no voice in the
settlement of the great questions which were
nearest the hearts Of the people he repre-
scented. 1t will be vastly different under the
Nelson law, should 1t pass the house in it's
present form. which I assume it will do.
Some proper person will be named a secretary
active voice at all times in the administra-
ton OF the affairs of the government. Moth
ing will be done without his knowledge. He
will be consulted, and his vote will count for
as much as that of the secretary of war or Of
state when it comes to deciding questions of
administration. Taken thus into the full con-
fdence of the government, labor will be more
ready to accept policies than it heretofore
has been, because it will understand them
and will have a voice in determining their
character. =. $3.50
l do not mean by what I have said that it
will be the purpose Of organized labor to de-
mand that mere labor leader be made Sec
rotary of the department; far from it. We
will ask for man who thoroughly under
stands all of the many questions growing
out Of our trade relations, domestic and for
eign, and Is able to handle them intelligently
and with promDtness: but we will also ask
that this man shall as thoroughly understand
the many questions which confront labor, and
be able to handle them, too. intelligently and
promptly. Such man will not be easy to
ind; but the president will see the Importance
OF selecting properly. and we are willing to
trust his judgment.
Arbitration fastened. ~.
lis it your Judgment" I asked "that
this new department will hasten the day
OF general arbitration Of all labor dis
putes?'' The reply came:
1t certainly is. The new department will
not have been long in operation before the
government will see the unwisdom Of strikes
and all labor disputes. The new secretary will
present the case from the point of view Of
capital as well as of labor. It will be under
stood that the interests of the two iden-
tical, and that what harms one does not help
the other. We believe this now, and pretend
to practice 1t. but an immense practical ad-
vantage which cannot now be attained will
follow the creation of the new department
The day will come, in my judgment, when
congress will provide for arbitration and
compel 1t, when public sentiment will insist