Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1898 — REPUBLICAN LABOR LEGISLATION. [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN LABOR LEGISLATION.

The Sixtieth general assembly of Indiana, having a Republican majority in both branches, gave praccical testimony of the party’s sincere interest in the cause of workingmen by abolishing the prison contract system and taking conviot labor out of competition with free labor; by creating the office of factory inspector, providing for the better protection of the health and lives of operatives, and. in the name of humanity, prohibiting the employment of child labor. It also passed a law creating a labor commission and providing for the settlement of differences between employers and employes by rational and just methods of arbitration. The duties of these commissioners have been so industriously, courageously and impartially performed that labor and capital has shared equally in the saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars that otherwise would have been lost through unreasonable contention but for the wisdom of the Republican party in providing means for the amicable adjustment of disputes and the restoration of harmonious relations. At the same session a law was also passed, providing for the better protection and greater safety of coal miners, and, supplemental to the salutary measures herein enumerated, whioh have already resulted in incalculable benefit to the people and the good name of the state, the governor, in the midst of a most critical period of suspension of the coal mining interests, appointed a commission to visit the mining districts and report on the condition and needs of operatives and their suffering families. This was followed by an appeal by the chief executive to the people of the state for relief for the unfortunates. The response was generous. The hungry were fed, hope was again iustilled where hopelessness had prevailed, and the sturdy 'miners united in heartfelt praise of a governor who had placed himself in close touch with humanity, aud who believed there was more efficacy in the tempering power of bread than in ballets in treating with hapless, hungry men. women and childreu. It was thus demonstrated that a well directed appeal to reason, made in good faith and devoid of selfishness, is a far more potent agent of arbitration and civilization than militiamen with muskets, rashly ordered to subdue domestic discord.