Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-07
Labor Laws for Washington.
itor of The Evening Star

10 the cQltOf Oh LIE Evening star.
President Roosevelt. in his speech at
Sioux Falls, April 8. as reported in your
issue of yesterday. said:
"Of course the national government has
but a small field in which 1t can work in
labor matters Something it can do, how
ever, and that something ought to be DONE
Among other things I should like to see
the District Of Columbia, which is COM
pletely under the control of the national
government. receive a set of model labor
laws. Washington Is not city Of very
large industries but still it has some. Wise
labor legislation for the city of Washington
would be a good thing in itself. and it
would be far better thing because q
standard would thereby be set for the
country as a whole"
II the authorities Of our city would but
take up this suggestion. the employers.
and dare say the unions, in the building
trades. almost the only industry we have
Of any consequence, never were in better
condition than now to cooperate and offer
suggestions on which to base equitable
laws governing q question which directly
affects many thousands of our citizens, and
indirectly the entire population.
The labor question has been the subject of
deepest concern to the employers in these
lines. and has led to the establishing Of
employers associations in almost every
branch. where the question has been stud
led deeply, but, as has been often said, and
truly there are three parties to labor
public, and in all deliberations we have felt
the necessity of the public being repre-
sented either by person or by established
laws.
Agreements have been made, but with
out the responsibility Of the union estab-
lished by incorporation what legal basis
have we on which to establish agreements
unless the public can be made a party. at
least morally. in their enactment?
True the Master Painters Association
has its agreement with it's men which
embodies in 1t the exact recommendations
of the coal strike commission along the
line of conciliation, and the men and en-
ner in which the agreement is working
Other agreements have been made and are
being made, but now at the opening of the
active season OF building the time was
never so opportune nor every one concern
ed SO we'll prepared to assist in carrying
out the Presidents suggestion
We have not here those local political
conditions which do SO much to retard the
enactment of labor laws as in other locali
ties. We have not in the building trades
that large uncomfortable foreign element
that other cities. notably Chicago have. No
city in the country can show higher
average Of Intelligence than we have among
the workmen, and the employer has stud
led the question thoroughly. Still all these
favorable conditions are not sufficient to
break down that barrier between employer
and employee. The public has been the SUI
ferer and public opinion Is always the ar
bitrator In labor troubles.
AS one fairly familiar with the situation
IN our city, I earnestly ask that you use
your powerful influence toward the enact
ment Of labor laws for the District.
A.. n. McGEAN,
President Master Painters and Decorator
Association.