The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-04

plied to international. controversies 4.
10 DIS important that we shall have
fooee al nome as that We shall live
peaceaoly with foreign nations and
p0ae Is only possible when il rests
upoi justice. In advocating arbitra-
20 u o~lnsrences between large cor
Porase employers and their EMPLOYEES
l oedieve We arc defending the hiehest
interests or &c parties 20 those dis
puOeS, VIZ: The employees. he en-
plosees and n public. The employee
Ansor De turned " TO the employer
W De dealt with as the employer NAV
pIease. The question sometimes ask
81. cannot conduct my business
70 suit myself" is a plausible one
put "nen a man in conducting MS
business attempts TO arbitrarily fix
the conditions under which hundreds
OF employees are to live and TO deter
mine the future of thousands OF human
beings, l answer without hesitation
cnat ne has no right TO conduct his
business IN such n way and 10 deprive
MS employees II their right TO life
Iloerty and the pursuit IF happiness.
10 support this position, | need only
reler TO the laws regulating the safety
Of mines, the factory laws fixing he
age at which children can be employed
n usury laws establishing the rate
OF interest. The effort Of the empIOver
10 settle differences with arbitration
mas done much 10 embitter him against
those who work for him and to es-
TRANCE them from him-a condition
deplorable from every standpoint.
But If il IS unwise 10 make the en-
plOver the sole custodian Of the rights
n interests Of the employees II is
equally unwise TO give 10 the employ
ee5 uncontrolled authority over the
rights and interests Of the EMPLOYER
The employees are no more TO be trusted
to act unSelfishly and disinterestedIy
Than the employers. In their zeal u
secure a present advantage, they NAV
not only do injustice, but ever forfeit
a larger future gain. The strike, the
only weapon Ct the employee ut pres
ent, is a two edged sword and may
lnjure the workman as much as the
employer and when wholly success
full, it is apt to leave a ranking in tho
bosom OF the Wage-eaTner that should
not be there
Society, moreover, has something at
stake as we'll as the employer and en-
plOyees for there can be no consider
able strike without considerable loss TO
the public. Society, therefore, is justi-
fed in demanding that the differences
between capital and labor shall be
settled by peaceful means. # a per
manent, impartial board is created TO
which either party Of an industrial dis
pute may appeal, or which can of its
own motion institute an inquiry, pub
lie opinion may be relied on to enforce
the finding. If there is compulsory
submission to investigation, it is not
necessary that there shall be cOmpul-
| sorry acceptance of the decision, for a
| full and fair Investigation will in al
most every case bring about a settle
ment.
GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION.
No reference to the labor question is
complete that does not include some
mention of what is known as govern
Inent by the Injunction.
AS the main purpose of the writ is
to evade trial by jury, it is really an
attack upon the jury system and ought
to arouse an unanimous protest. So
long as the meanest theft is guaran-
teed a trial by jury, a jury ought not
to be denied to wage earnerS. How
ever, as the writ IS usually invoked
in case of a strike, the evil Of the
subject would be very much reduced
! By the adoption Of a system of arbi-
tratiOn, because arbitration would very
much reduce, even if it did not entirely
remove the probability Of a strike.
THE EIGHT HOUR DAY.
T,,c+ nrnfhnp U~npd SH rnO0rI to tho
laboring man. The struggle to secure
an eight hour day is an international
struggle and it is sure to be settled in
favor of the working mans cOnten-
ton. The benefits of the labor ma
chine have not been distributed with
equity. The producer a enormously
multiplied his capacity, but, so far,
the owner of the machine has received
too much Of the increase and the Ia
borer too little. Those who oppose the
s hour day, | am convinced, do so more
because of ignorance or the conditions
than with lack of smspathy for those
who toll. The removal OF the work
from house to the factory has separat-
ed the husband from his wife and
the father from his children, while
the growth of our cities has put an
increased distance between the nome
and the workshop. Then, too, more
| is demanded Of the laboring man now
than formerly. He is a citizen as we'll
as a laborer and must have time for
the study of public questions If he is
to be an Intelligent sovereign. 10
drive him from his bed to his task and
from his task to his bed is TO deprive
Inn of the companionship Of his fami-
". society of his service and politics
of his influence.
CON
TRIBUTIONS.
Thus far | lave dealt upon subjects
which may not De regarded as strictly
partisan. but | am sure that you will
pardon ME If in this sentence [ betray
my interest in those policies for which
the democratic party stands. L have
! not had An opportunity TO make a dem