The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-12-26

y uos.vA % hn eignt nout oay.
/ From the Madison Square speech)
The struggle to secure an eight
honr day ie an international ssgng-
gle and Il issure TO be settled in
favor Of the WoFkingman'e con-
tention The benefits of the labor
saving maohing have not been dis
tributed with equity. The pro-
ducer has enormously multiplied
his capaeity, but so far tine owner
of the machine has received too
much of the increase and the
laboreF too little. Those who op-
pose the eight hour day do it. lam
Convinced, more because Of iRuor-
ance oi conditions than becanse Of
lack Of sympathy with those who
toll. Tbs removal of work from
the o % the factory haa 0epa.
rated the husband from his wife
and the factory from his children,
while the growth of our cities has
pnt an increasing distance be-
tween the home and the workshop.
Then, too. more is demanded of
the laboring man now than former
ly. He is 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. To
drive him from his bed to his task
and from his tack to his bed is to
deprive the family of his oom.
panionship, society of his service
and politics of his influence.
ARBITRATION IN LABOR DISPUTES
From Mr.. Roosevelt's Message.
The commission appointed by
the president October 16. 1902, at
the request of both the anthracite
coal operators and miners. to in
quire into, consi der, and pass up
on the question in controversy in
connection with the strike in the
anthracite regions of Pennsylvania
and the causes out IF which the
controversy arose, in their report,
finding, and award expressed the
belief "that the state and federal
governments should provide the
machinery for what may be called
the compulsory investigation of
controversies between employers
and empl loyes. when they arise"
This expression of belief is deserv-
ing of the favorable consideration
OF the congress- and the enactment
o. its provisions into Law. A bill
has already been introduced to this
end.
In thissg of great corporate and
labor combinations neither en-
ployers nor employees should be
left completely at the mercy of the
stronger party to a dispute, regard
lees of the righteousness of their
respective claims. The proposed
measure would be in the line of
securing recognition of the fact
that in many strikes the public.
has itself an interest which can not
wisely be disregarded; an interest
not merely of general convenience,
for the question of a just and prop
or public policy must also be oon-
sldeEed In all legislation of this
kind it is well to advance ceutious-
ly. testing each step by the actual
results; the step proposed can sure
ly be safely taken, for tee decisions
of the commission would not bind
the parties in legal fashion, and
yet would give chanoe for public
opinion to crystalline and thus to
exert its full force for the right.
(From the Madison Square Speech
I have referred to the investiga
ton of international controversies
under a system which does not
bind the parties to accept the fnd-
ings of the court of inquiry. This
plan can be used in disputes be-
tween labor and capital; in fact, it
was proposed as a means of settling
suoh disputes before it was applied
to international controversies. 1t
is as important that we shall have
peaoe at home as that We shall live
peaoeably with neighboring nations
and peace is only possible when it
rests upon justice. In advocating
arbitration of differences between
large corporate employers and
employees. believe We are defend
ing the highest interests of the
three parties to their disputes, viz:
the employers. the employees and
the public. The employe can not
be turned over to the EMPLOYER 70