The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-05
Science and Strikes.

Inc part tAken by the British Asso-
citation for the Advancement OF Science
in terminating the strike in-the linen
factories Of Belfast, is, says the New
York Tribune, exceedingly suggestive.
Strikes are in their essential nature nm.
scientific. On the one hand stand the
owners with their machinery and ma.
terials; on the other the workmen with
empty stomachs and idle hands, The
men want 10 work the employers want
them to be working. The difficulties
which the forces Of nature present have
been overcome, and the obstacle en-
countered Is not in the process Of man
ufacture. The channels OF trade have
been opened and the market is ready
with its demand. Nothing needs nd
justment but q question of wages. II
1t were not matter OF such frequent
experience, IL would seem incredible
that such o question, which ought TO
be the easiest Of all to adjust, should
block the wheels Of prosperity for
weeks at time, wasting vast sums Of
money and bringing want and desola.
tion TO q thousand homes. m =.
Some recognition OF the utterly un-
philosophical characteristics Of their
strikes seems to have dawned upon en-
ployers and employed when they
brought the matter before the British
Association. The workmen came to
its sessions by special though not
strictly official invitation. Essays Of q
purely scientific character upon the re-
lations Of labor and capital had been
read before the meeting. Tie work.
men were then invited to come forward
and state their grievances. They did
so. Very willing would they have been
to make that body Of scientific men the
arbiters OF the disagreement, but this
Office tho Association would not under
take. The mill.owners were also rep.
resented, and their side OF the case was
put before the meeting. Then for the
first time apparently, each side realized
the weakness not to soy the absurdity
Of its own position, and the force OF the
arguments on the other side. Men who
scarcely IN hour before had been Bit
terly opposed and hopeless Of reconcil.
iation, saw in n moment the way to
compromise. The adjustment OF wages
was q mere matter Of detail, easily ar.
ranged at o conference the following
morning; and on the next day the
black plumes Of smoke were rising
from the chimneys OF the linen mills OF
Belfast, after seven weeks OF idleness
and the loss Of q million dollars.
While 1t is clearly evident that the
exposition and comparison Of their DIFF
ferences had the direct effect OF bring
ing about o reconciliation, 1t is also
plain that the reason OF the willingness
Of both sides TO tell their story was that
both had confidence in the impartiality
Of the auditors. A new field for our
scientific bodies is thus indicated q
field Of usefulness where they will have
no competitors. Men who have devo.
ted themselves TO scientific inquiry are
in general the most disinterested per-
sons Of intelligence before whom such
questions could be presented. Their
advice, II they chose 10 give II, would
be OF the highest value, since the whole
business Of their lives ia theappiica.
tion Of common sense TO abstruse prob.
lens. Nothing would be easier than
for the National Academy Of Sciences
or the American Association 10 pick out
a permanent committee OF half dozen
members eminently competent 10 form
q Judgment on this class Of questions.
Now that the example has been set and
the admirable success Of this method
demonstrated, it would seem not i'm.
possible that the experience Of strikes
of great extent or long continuance
might bo relegated to q pastage. There
can be littlo doubt that both parties to
any strike in this country would bo
willing TO lay their differences before
such a committee; and the mere expo
sition. OF the case, with the advice OF
the committee, would in nine cases out
Of ten solve the difficulty. IN