The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-08-31
to their ability to bear them
Labor Question.


81 have referred 70 the Investigation
Of International controversies under
a system which does not bind the
parties to accept the findings OF the
court OF inquiry. This plan can be
used in disputes between labor and
capital.
''If II is unwlse to make the en-
ployer fhe sole custodian of the
rights and interests OF the employees,
il Is equally unwise to give the EN-
ployes uncontrolled authority over the
rights and interests OF the employer
The employees are no more to be
trusted to act unselflshly and disin-
terestedly than the employers. In their
zeal to secure a present advantage
they may do injustice but even for
felt larger future gain. The strike.
the only weapon Of the employe at
present Il two-edged sword and
may injure the workman as mich as
the employer and even when wholly
successful Is apt TO leave ranking
IN the bosom OF the wage Garner that
should not be there
Society moreover, has something
az stake as well as the employe and
employer, for there can be no consid-
cradle strike without considerable loss
TO the public. Society, therefore, IS
justified IN demanding that the differ
ences between capital and labor shall
be settled by peaceful means. II the
permanent. impartial board Is created
TO which either party Of an industrial
dispute may appeal OF which can Of
Us motion institute an Inquiry public
opinion may be relied upon to force
the finding. II there Is compulsory
submission 10 investigation II is not
necessary that there shall be compul-
sorry acceptance of the decision. for
f,,l and fair investigation will in
almost every case bring about set
tiement.
mo reference TO the labor question
Is complete that does not include some
mention OF what Is known as govern
ment by injunction. As The main pur-
pose OF the writ is to evade trial by
jury II Is really an attack upon the
jury system and ought to arouse an
unanimous protest. SO long as the
mesnest thief Is guaranteed a trial by
jury. a Jury ought not to be denied TO
wage earners. However, as the writ
is uscally invoked IN case OF strike
the importance OF the subject would
be reduced by the adoption OF a sys-
tenn OF arbitration. because arbitration
would very much reduce, even II II DID
not entirely remove the probability OF
strike.
"Just another word in regard to the
iabOring man. The struggle 10 secure
an elght-hour day IS an International
struggle and It Is sure 10 be settled
in favor OF the working man. The
producer has enormously multiplied
his capacity hut so far the owner
OF the machine has received too much
OF the increase and the laborer to-
little. Those who oppose the eight-hour
day do Il am convinced more be-
cause OF ignorance OF conditions than
because Of lack Of sympathy with
those who toll. The removal OF work
from the house to the factory. has
separated the husband from his wife
and the father from the children.
while the growth OF our cities has
put an increasing distance between
the home and the workshop. Then.
too. more is demanded Of the laborlng
man now than formerly. he is a citi-
zen as well as a laborer. and must
have time to study public questions
II he Is to be an intelligent sovereign.
To drive him from his bed to his
task and from his task back to his
bed is TO deprive the family of his
company. society of his service and
politics OF his influence
81 hope the Democratic party VIII
not only Challenge the Republican
party to bring forward effective legis-
lation on the subject bit viii set an
example by refusing TO receive cam
palgn contributions from corporations
and by opening the books SO that ev-
cry contributor OF any considerable
sum may be known TO the public be
fore an election The great majority
of corporations are engaged in leelti-
mate business and have nothing TO
fear from hostile LEGISLATION and the
officers should not be permitted TO
use the money OF the stockholders 10
advance their own political opinions.
Contributions should be individual not
corporate. and no party can afford to
receive contributions even from indi-
/ viduals when the acceptance OF these
contributions secretly pledge the party
! to course which II cannot openly
avow. In other words. politics should
be honest and mistake present con
dltions In America II they do not re-
ce.ve improvement in the cond9ct OF
campaigns.
Trusts the Paramount Issue.
"While men may differ as 10 the
relative importance of issues and
while the next congress VIII largely
the lines upon which the coming
presidential campaign viii be fought,
/ think II is safe to say that the para
mount issue In the minds of a large