The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-09-04

the most conservative countries in tn,
old world. II Is q permanent part
the fiscal system Of most of the coun
tries of Europe and in many places
| II Is a graded tax, the rate beint
highest upon the largest incomes
England has long depended upon the
income tax for a considerable part o
her revenues and an English commits
sion is now investigating the proposi
ton to change from a uniform to {
graded tax. I have been absent too
long TO speak with any authority OF
the public sentiment in this country
at this time. but / am SO convinced
of the Justice of the income tax tina,
feel sure that the people will sooner
or later demand an amendment to the
constitution which will specially
authorize an income tax and thus
make it possible for the burdens oi
the federal government TO be appor
toned among the people In proportion
to their ability to bear them. 1t is
little short of a disgrace to our coun
try that while 1t is able to command
the lives of its citizens in time OF
war it can not even in the most ex
treme emergency compel wealth to
bear its share of the expenses of the
government which protects it. | have
referred TO the investigation of inter.
national controversies under a system
which does not bind the parties to ae.
cept the findings of the court of in
quiry, This plan can be used in dis
putes between labor and capital: in
Drn a nf
setdling such disputes before it was
applied to International controversies
1t is as important that we shall have
peace at home as that wa shall live
peaceably with neighboring nations
and peace is only possible when it
rests upon justice.
ARBITRATION.
''In advocating arbitration of differ
ences between large corporations en-
ployers and their employees | believe
we are defending the highest interests
of the three parties to these disputes,
viz, the employers, the employees and
the public. The employe can not be
turned over to the employer to be
dealt with as the employers may
please. The question sometimes
asked: Can | not conduct my bust
ness to suit myself? is plausible one,
but when a man in conducting his
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, | answer without hest
tation that he has no right to conduct
his own business in such a way as to
deprive his employees of their right
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happinss. To support this position,
| need only refer to the laws regu
lating the safety of mines, the fac
tories, laws, fixing the age at which
can be employed, and usury
laws establishing the rate of interest.
The effort of the employer to settle
differences without arbitration has
done much to embitter him against
those who work for him and to es-
TRANCE them from him-a condition
deplorable from every standpoint
But if it is unwise to make the
employer the so,e custodian of the
rights and interests of the employees,
It is equally unwise to give to the
employees uncontrolled authority over
the rights and interests of the en-
ployer. The employees are no more
to be trusted to act unselfishly and
disinterestedly than the employers.
In their zeal to secure a present .ad-
they may not only do injus-
tice but even forfeit a larger future
gain. The strike, the only weapon
Of the employe at present, is a two
edged sword, and may injure the work
man as much as the employer, and
even when wholly successful it is apt
10 leave ranking in the bosom of
he wage Garner that should not be
here.
Society, moreover has something
at stake, as we'll as the employer and
employees, for there can be no con-
siderable strike without considerable
oss to the public. Society, therefore,
s justified in demanding that the diff
'erences between capital and labor
shall be settled by peaceful means
II permanent, impartial board is Gre
ited to which either party of an in
1ustrial dispute may appeal, or which
,an of its motion institute an inquiry,
public opinion may be relied upon TO
enforce the findings. Ii there is COM
Dulsory submission to investigation it
acceptance of the deci-
sion, for full and fair investigation
will in almost every case bring about
! settlement
GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION.
mo reference to the labor question
S complete that does not include some
mention of what is known as govern
nent by injunction. AS the main pur-
pose of the writ is to evade trial by
ury it is really an attack upon the
Jury system and ought to arouse a
protest. So long as the
neanest thief is guaranteed a trial
1y jury jury ought not to be denied
he wage-earners. However, as the
writ is usually invoked in case of a
strike, the importance of the subject
would be very much reduced by the
adoption of a system Of arbitration,
because arbitration would very much
'educe, even il 1t did not entirely
the probability of strike.
Just another word in regard 10 the
man. The struggle to secure