Seward daily gateway., 1927-03-23
GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS

GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS
 It will be interesting to observe how the Attorney General will proceed enforce the provisions of the ney regulation and labor measure if it is enacted into law which is doubtful Possibly he could persuade the Territory to fit up watch as sort of travelling court to visit the canneres and satere take the managers and the employees aboard along with their books contracts etc. and after tasting the grub, sleeping in the bunk houses and counting the herngs in the barrels he could issue clean bill or deport the entire outfit.
 The most unfortunate part about these periodical abor bills is their deception Even with background such supplied by controversial labor matters like the annual coal strike and the late railroad strke it is diff cult for government to enact legislation capable of meet ing the situaon because of constitutional provisions such right to contract privately and class legislation Even where the most advanced and equitable labor union has endeavered to fix rules respecting the minimum wage they have encountered obstacles requiring consideration of the question of minimum of output.
 Granting to labor the right and intelligence to ne gotate any contract has the power to enQrce the gov enent has held aloof until such time the general pub lie began suffer from condition engendered through these private anagonsms Even then the action taken was Of cOnclatOry nature.
 From time to time demagogues have ridden to power false promises of securing impossible labor legislation relying upon the faith, creduty ignorance of those whom they claim represent to insure election This camouage does not deceive the progressive labor union i whose is actuated solely by desire to assist his brother worker and who knows that this assistance may best be secured by intelligent action the part of both enploye and employer. Out of this principle has come the cooperative movement which has developed into something tangible and satisfactory to all parties cerned Neither the employees of the Standard Oil pany the great steel corporations Henry Ford asked the aid of legislation to accomplish the ends gained the coal miners asking for governmental action in their present negotiations with the operators. Govern ment action the last thing they want striking anala gous found in the matter ofthe wage scale of the employees of the Alaska. Railroad When their wages arbitrarily reduced by Colonel Mears they did not enjoy the privilege of the employees of privately owned railroad they compelled to deal with the United States government The government took the stand that it could not sign contract with labor union could it set wage that would be interpreted governmental fixing of wage scale which might affect other railroads Both sides to the contention within their legal rights yet the employees the sufferers because it the government and not private individual with whom they dealing. As the government is supposed to be the people, who have chosen their representatives to admin ister their affairs the people pso facto became aligned against labor
 Governments and individuals may go just so far in assisting man, then he must help himself unless he be willing to subordinate full freedom of action with respect
 The present labor bills before the Legislature seek reduce Alaskan labor to the latter standard not accord ing the individual either the mental capacity for help ing himself the right to make whatever contract he chooses. +.
 Judged by some ofthe recommendations the ,Attor- ney General has made to the Legislature the steamer Boxer with it's cargo of schoolhouses went in the wrong direction.
 The Aimony Club need to be cautious in celebrating that Daddy Browning victory There must be catch in it somewhere.