The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-24
GOPHERS ANSWER
QUERY OF LABOR
~ -. .------ -.
STEVENSON and Buchanan Reply
to Gompers' Question
-: of Views.
By II. C.S Stevens.

. = - P =
Washington, Aug, 24.-Letters from
man, in reply to one from President
Gompers Of the American Federation Of
Labor, are to be printed in the forth
coming number of the Federationist,
the labor organ.
Mr.. Gompers lets Buckman's reply
stand for itself without comment, but !
in Mr.. STEVENSON case he makes some
comment. Both letters and comments
are given herewith: ..... -,
Buchanan g. Views. ~ ~...
Buckman-1 favor. an. unqualified
enforcement Of the eight-hour law on
forced work Of divers such as may be
necessary to save property in emergen-
cies). l have always favored strict
regulation Of Immigration and more
rigid restriction Of undesirable immi-
grafton. While I believe America
should offer haven for the worthy
and industrious Of Europe, I do not
believe it is consonant with our ma
tional welfare or duty to afford an
asylum for the vicious and INDECENT.
The Chinese exclusion act in my
Judgment is right and I do not believe
it should be tempered with or evaded.
Any system of law involving compul-
sorry service. either civil or military,
;; for free men will never have my sup
port, and as to evils of the towing sys-
tom / am agreed with you perfectly,
! and while I am not familiar with the
seacoast methods, have given the
towing system On our Great Lakes a
good deal Of attention and have been
led to believe the organization of sea-
men has in very large degree cured
old evils. I should be very glad to
support such legislation as you sug-
ernmental function being employed to
coerce peaceful men, and, in this con-
nection, I want to say I have no SYM
pathy with the modern construction and
MISUNDERSTANDING of the fellow-servant
laws by which corporations have been
enabled to saddle responsibility for
their own illegal acts upon their en-
ployes. No more do I believe it is the
function of the government to deny any
wage Garner the right to ask for a bet
terment of his condition.
[ What steenerson Says.
stenerson-I would say that, so far
as the bill of grievances is based on the
assumption that existing laws are be.
ing violated and are not enforced, the
same is more properly addressed to the
executive and judicial branches of the
government in whose hands the enforce
ment Of the laws and penalties for theil
violation has been placed. However
much we may deplore lawlessness every
where. the remedy would seem to lie
more in the direction of stricter en-
forcement and an appeal to the mora
sentiment of the people than in the
multiplication of legislative enact
ments. Regarding the other class Of
congress to enact proposed legislation
Il will say thatsI am in sympathy will
many of the measures and hope to ait
IN their enactment into law in the neal
future, that among these are the meas
ures directed against monopolies in the
products of labor and discrimination.
in the transportation thereof, and meas
ures seeking to further safeguard life
and limb of those employed in thu
transportation Sof interstate commerce
as well as the travelling public. With
out committing MYSELF in advance o.
deliberate, consideration to any specif,
bill, I assure you it will afford me pleas
lure to serve you and the people yol
!; represent.
Editorial Comment-The reform sen
timent of the people certainly shouit
find expression not only in efforts foi
the material and moral improvement
of the conditions of the people, but ais,
in the enactment Of laws PROTECTING
their rights as..well as the strict en-
forcement of existing laws made TO,
their protection.