The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-26

Friendly Arbitration tho Best solu-
tion OF tho Dimculty.
The Chicago Times (straightout democrat)
proclaims in double-leaded article that the
nomination of Greeley at Baltimore will ter
inmate the organic existence of the democratic
party, ''and that the political creed adopted
by the recent conference of liberals in New
York. is in substance the political creed
Of the party Of the future The time for
the organization of the party of the
future is now" The Cincinnati ENQUIRER
Greeley democrat) expresses the opinion that
its Chicago democratic contemporary is work.
ing in the interests of Grant The tumble ia
beginning
The Iron and Metal Workers Union yester-
day, on the part of the strikers forwarded
letter to the Citizens Association, asking that
the employers may meet the employed before
such an impartial tribunal as the association
would name, and there argue out the differ
ences now existing between labor and capital.
How the bosses may respond to this we can
not say. Capital often makes the error Of
refusing anything in the shape of compromise
when it sees its antagonist apparently weak
ening.
Arbitration in matters of dispute or serious
difficulty is, at the present day, mode of set
Element generally favored. Though it has not
proved up to this time successful in the case
of the Alabama claims and has, indeed, given
rise to prolonged controversy, it is, after all,
a safe and rational way of adjusting difficult
ties. Individuals or bodies of men, like ma
tons, are apt to look at their own interests
exclusively; in the strong light of self-inter-
est; and to lose sight of the reasonable claims
or arguments of those opposed to them. In
the excitement of a contention they may fail
to see even their own interests. Sometimes,
indeed, the interests Of contestants are not
inimical when, from hostile feelings engen-
dered by controversy, they are supposed to be
SO. To force result through the superior
power or tact of one side over another
never proves satisfactory, and leaves a
thorn of bitterness behind. Impartial
arbitration, therefore, is best and
tends to give satisfaction. Looking
at the dispute between the strikers and the
employers in this point of view we have urged
this principle of arbitration upon BOTH The
London Saturday Reuie,c, while blaming the
strikers in the British metropolis for being in
some cases unreasonable, and not approving
of the strikes generally, still calls upon the
masters to be considerate and to avert the
evils Of strikes by timely and voluntary and
reasonable concessions. 1t says, eff the
masters wish to counteract the influence of the
unions Grades unions) they should make up
their minds to anticipate demands which are
certain to be made, and occasionally to give
with good grace and from sense of justice
what is afterwards wrung from them with
heavy fine in the shape of interrupted trade"
The London Times, as we have noticed, treats
this important question of the day in much
the same moderate way, and, while not sparing
the workmen for certain untenable demands
they make urges the employers to make
proper concessions 1t considers, too that
arbitration would be best in solving the diff
Guilty, and commends the proposition of the
masters to refer the matter to Lord Salisbury
and Earl Derby.
The movement here in the same direction
made by committees of the Citizens Associa-
ton and Board Of Emigration should be
favored by all who wish to see an end to the
conflict between labor and capital. 1t is
to be hoped that q conference may take
place between the employers and employees
through the mediation of these committees and
may result happily. Though this is not exact
ly arbitration, it has something of that charac-
ter. 1t is pouring oil upon the troubled waters
1t is the friendly interposition of disinterested
parties, who can view both the just and i'm
practicable claims of each side, and show the
advantages Of Cancellation. Should, however the
projected conference of the masters and work
men not end as we hope it may, we would urge
still q committee of arbitration, to be made up
of both sides and an independent and impartial
umpire selected by both. Then let oil be
bound by the decision. In this way the idea
of being forced, which is always extremely re-
pugnant, would be removed from the minds
of both employers and employees. There
would be no heartburnings left, and harmony
would prevail The laborers should remem-
Der that the masters have their capital at
stake, and that under existing contracts and
market prices an increase Of wages or reduction
of hours of labor imposes on immediate sacri-
flee. The masters, on the other hand, should
consider the cost of living to the laborers and
their reasonable aspirations to improve their
condition. In the end the masters can make
the community generally pay for whatever in
creased cost of production there may be and
get as large return for their capital as now,
whilethe workmen have no means of improv-
ing their condition but through enhanced
wages or less hours of labor. We hope, there
fore, that neither will push matters to an ex-
treme to the injury of the other, that o fair
and just compromise may be made, and that
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