, 1877-08-08
THE REMEDY or ARBITRATION.

Tho Ohio Republicans very sensioy anu
very opl,ortunely Incorporated iu their pint
form q plank demanding 81 that provision be
made for statutory arbitration between em-
ployers and employees, to adjust controver-
sfca, reconcile interests, and establish Justice
and equity between theu,." In connection
with thin declaration, tho Detroit Tribune re-
calls so,no interesting facts connected with
the arbitration system Of Alr. bfuSnEIIA,
tho wcll-known friend OF English working
men, which will bo of more than ordinary
interest i'll tho present disturbed condition
of tho relations Of employers aud employees.
During tho we1l-known contest In Noting
linn bctween tho manufacturers and their
workmet, and when, both atdes wors In do
spair Of cyer settling their grievances by
separate action, Mr. MuxDE1L.A, who IL him.
self manufacturer ~ we'll III inomber OF
Parliament, proposed system Of arbitra-
ton. Tho flrnt Doard was composed of nino
employers mud nino employees, to whom tho
question Of wages wns submitted for finnl
decision, Tho employees nominated an Gill;
rtoysr for Freailent, nQd tho etn-
| rloyers nominated m omployo for Vice.
President. When tho vota was 10
close that the question had 10 bo settled by
the presiding officer, tho roto WIS cast by n
,lisintereeted person. Tho system was nt
once successful, aud 10 successful that
It was followed In other branches Of bust.
ness, and colliers, miners, hosiery, and other
1loarsls wero spcodity organized uron the
satno baAia, As to the usefulness Of those
Ioartls, aIr. 3{usDEI1A says: i" Since their
organization strikes ar0 ut nj end /; lcyIcs
to sustain them nro unknown; md one shil-
lIuv a year from, cacll ulanbar sutllccs 10 pay
MI expenses" His opinion IL TINT ''Arbitra.
tion, in ortlcr To be effective, must 10 tho re-
suit of open and friendly bargaining. in
which masters and mon meet together and
freely talk over their common interests.
Engineers cannot iegislate for tailors, nor
tnlors for engiaoors; each must lcgislate for
himself"
The 9uccess Of the arbitration gystom Il,
Great Britain Is porhapa cue Of the strongest
arguments for tho Introduction Of tho aa,no
system in the United states, for 1t labor CON-
tests can be settled there by 1t, thoy can ba
settled here. II anything. strikes, lockouts.
antl complications between employers and
employees have been morp frequent and wide.
spread In England than in tho United States.
It is the commou-sousa why OF set.
tling every question iu dispute, mud
1t IL tho only plan tint acconp1ishes
dsfluiso and permanent results. Il strike Il
tho WORT resort that tho workingman car
a4lopt, because it settles nothing. On tl1t
other hand, It lisoraauizcs labor, apreatl'
confusion, breaks up als existing harmony
engendcrs bitterness OF feeling, tompsa Il
; violence and destruction Of property, ant
thus entails fresh niscries upon tho workin!
class. Especially IL this true whom strik'
IL matle upon falling market. We hava oui.
to look at tho events OF the past few week
in Ill the largo cities Of this country to flu
. the truth OF this statement. Here was
: strike inaugurated at q t;ne when bushes
was dull, when tie demand for labor llas
fallen of, aud when r.ices were steadil.
= dropping It spread from ono end Of tn
T. country to the other, and was participated il
= by thousands upon Thousands Of operatives
aud yet what las 1t accomplished except
\ feeling OF bitterness between employers an
j. employees, widespread destruction Of prop
y esty, loss Of life, interruption Q
l. business, and an Infinitely wors
u condition Of things than existed before th
u stzike9 Tho employees Lave not gainel In,
= thing; On the other hand, they nro worsa O
Is now than they were before, aud have SUI
!. ceeded In 80 demoralizing labor, part
" lying the market, aud throwing q
commercial interests into confusion, thi
!. it will be little less than miraculous
b. they do not find mex. winter tha: The
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