The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-22
HisreHanrpns.
MR.. COyERT'S STRIKE BILL.
and ArbitratiOn--CO
OF the WOrkingmen from all See
tiOns-They Generally IndOrse
the Bill
From the Ohio state Jonrnan

From the Ohio state Journal
House bill No. Ill, presented by
Representative Covert, and providing
for Courts OF Cancellation and Arbitra-
ton for the Adjustment of difficulties
growing out of the relations between
capital and labor, is attracting a great
deal of attention throughout the coun
try. Copies of the bill have been sent
fer by members of the Indiana, Illinois
New York and Pennsylvania Legisla
lures, and bill on the same subject
has since been offered in the last
named body. The laborers In the Ia
borunions generally favor Mr.. Covert's
bill, but it will receive many modifica-
tIons, in accordance with the suggest
ions he has received. Many object to
the provisions in the second section
permitting the reference of any
troubles to common pleas judge as
arbitrator This objection is hardly
well founded, as the bill declares that
the Board of Conciliators shall first
use all means to adjust the pending
troubles. Should they fail it becomes
their duty to select fifth person as
arbitrator, and in case of their inability
to agree upon such person they can
have recourse to the nearest Common !
Pleas Judge. A council of the Sover- |
eigus of Industry of Cleveland sends
unqualified approval Of the bill. A
prominent workingman of Toledo, |
suggests that the bill be so amended as
to compel employers or employees to
submit to the decisions of the Board of |
Arbitration. A gentleman in Illinois,
formerly very active among tine work !
ingmen in this State, expresses the |
opinion that if ''the bill becomes law
and is entered into with tine spirit that
seems to inspire it, by the workingmen
and employers, it cannot but produce
excellent results. No honest friend of |
labor can fail to deplore the great loss
consequent upon strikes and labor
stoppages growing out of disputes that |
might be settled by following the pro
visions of this bill" A society of
workingmen of Cleveland forward
series of resolutions in which the prin-
ciples of arbitration, as comprehended
in this bill, are unqualifiedly opposed.
The society declares that its members
"are utterly unable to see the least
good that could come from such an act
should it become law. Nor can we
see how it can be so amended as to
produce any advantages to society"
The following extracts are from let
ters received by the Commissioner of
Labor Statis'' -. nr. II. j. Walls:
A work = r,l-i1 Dayton says, 81
have stuiI .le bill very carefully,
and have c. -Ilted with men who are
deeply inter -, !. and are we'll pleased
with it, IL fir b-eomes law. we will
be able to prov. TO the world that we
have been, and are now. honest in our
efforts to settle our labor troubles by
arbitration.
A miner in Trumbull county writes:
"The object, l think, is good one
the prevention of strikss. Nothing
seems to me so natural aud reasonable
as arbitration, or, as a. ~ -'~- I: -
ciliation. But, to be If -,..., i.
should be made compulsory"
A workman in Meig county writes;
"The bill was considered by the Work
ingmen's Association and received its
hearty approval"
A miner in Stark county writes: 'It
meets my hearty approval. | hope it
will become law. would be willing
to make it obligatory on all parties TO
arbitrate labor grievances.
A potter in Columbiana county
writes: Arbitration should be com.
pulsory, and the number of arbitrators
should be increased for our trade, in
which there are So many branches"
An iron worker of Trumbull county
says: 81 don't believe in the judge'b be-
ing arbitrator, but wonld have a new
Board appointed whenever the first
conld not agree. In the past employ
ers would never agree to arbitration
until public feeling had been aroused
against labor"
The report OF the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, now in the hands of the
State Printer, very earnestly recon-
mends arbitration as the only possible
plan under existing conditions TO pre-
vent destructive labor disputes in the
nt ar future. 1t declares arbitration
to be both just and polite, and de-
cIares that in no other way can the re-
spoDsibility for labor troubles be prop
erly fixed. 1t gives a short history of
the efforts made in Ohio to settle trade
disputes by arbitration, showing that
in sine cases both parties have appar
emily agreed on arbitration, but very
conveniently refused to agree on the
fifth person, and that where it has
been permitted TO do its legitimat,
work, peace and good will have follow
ed. The report further quotes from
the laws and usages of many working
mems assccia ions within the State,
showing that all are pledged to con
ciliate or arbitrat- trade disputes.
The Commissioner who bas had a
long practical experience in trade dis
putes, is an uncompromising advocate
of arbitration, and believes that both
employers and employees, when work.
ing together in peace, should agree,
and in almost every case would agree;
and that in the future when passions
are aroused, peaceful arbitration
should step in and settle disputes. An
agreement to lrbitrate should be made
in time of peace, for when war COIN es
such an agreement is almost impossi-