The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-19
Mr.. SCOTT'S REPLY.
Kansas Congressman Talks About
Charges of Antagonism.

CAdLSCS "a SC44SAus
washington. Jan. 19-While the bill
providing Tor the esta blishment of tho
new department Of commerce was IN
der discussion in the house Thursday
afternoon, Congressman Scott of Kan,
sas delivered five-nlnute speech which
elected much applause and congratula
ton from his colleagues Many radlcai
speeches had been made by Democrats
the tendency of which was to array
class against class. It was argued that
the interests of capital and labor are so
antagonistic to each other as to render
it imoracticable to merge them under
one government department. The DEM
ocrats argued that each should be given
separate and distinct representation IN
the cabinet.
Answering these arguments, Nj.
Scott said;
Mr. Chairman. I had not expected to
ask for any time in the debate upon the
pending measure. and I should not do
so now were it not that I feel impelled
to place on record my very emphatic
dissent from some of the views which
have been expressed here this after
noon.
Nearly all those who have expressed
opposition to this bill have based that
opposition upon the declaration, in sub
stance if not in set terms, that the in
terests of labor are so divergent FROM
if not absolutely antagonistic to the in
terests OF commerce that 1T would be
wholly illogical to include both these in
terests in one executive department. II
has been declared here in effect that
this new department, if created, would
be dominated SO completely by the cap
itsHstic interest that labor would re-
ceiVe but scant consideration. If indeed
the interests of labor were not actually
sacrificed and betrayed.
To all such expressions. Mr.. Chair
man, I must emphaucally dissent.
have no sympathy whatever with the
sentiment which assumes the division
of the people Of America into distinct
and necessarily and inevitably antagOn-
istic classes. 1t is utterly repugnant to
all my instincts as an American citizen
to hear labor spoken of as a distinct
and clearly marked class. and the in
terests of labor alluded to as something
wholly differentiated from and neces-
sarily hostile to other American inter
ests. There is no such distinction III
fact and there certainly ought to be
none in legislation.
To strike out from this bill that part
of 1t which provides for the incOrpOra-
ton in the proposed department labor
bureau, with the plain purpose, as we
all perfectly understand, of hereafter
demanding the establishment of a sep
arate executive department devoted to
labor alone. is in effect for this congress
officially to declare that the alleged CON
tlict between capital and labor is moi
only inevitable, but irreconcilable. and
that the best the statesmanship of the
future can hope to do is to give these
Two classes a Ialr neId and no 1aVOrs
and let them fight it out.
7 cannot subscribe to that sentiment.
1 believe that the interests of commerce
and labor are mutual and not antagonis-
tic, and shall support this bill because
1 believe 1t viii do mora than any meas
ure that has yet come from this house
to demonstrate this mutually of inter
ests, and in that way help to hasten the
good day which however long it may be
delayed. we all hope is coming, when
strikes and T6cIrorFfr hox
weapons Of industrial and commercial
warfare will be as obsolete as the cross
bow and the eatapult are as weapons of
physical warfare"