Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-04-19
Arbitration in Trade Disputes

Senator William A. Wallace has beer
making an interesting argument in the
Senate OF Pennsylvania in favor Of 9
bill introduced by him into that body
providing for the submission OF trade
disputes to special tribunals created for
the purpose. The details of the bill
seem to be intelligently arranged. The
argument comprises an interesting re.
view OF what has actually been done in
different countries by applying the prin.
ciple of arbitration. In this country
we have happily been so free, compare.
lively, from the labor troubles which
belong peculiarly to older and more
crowded countries, thatw we could scarce.
ly expect much TO have been done with
device that can only come into general
use after the need OF it has become
clear, constant and imperious. More.
over, the success OF such device, con
sisting as it does merely in the avoid
ance Of trouble, is not Of a conspicuous
or startling kind The most important
success has been gained in the iron
trade in Pittsburgh, in which for some
years quarrels were avoided BY purely
voluntary references Of the questions at
issue. In England the building trades
at Wolyerhampton and the m,nufac.
lures Of hosiery aud gloves at Noting
ham have been for years conducted by
arbitration. But the greatest successes
of the principle have been won in
France, where there are annually sub.
mitted to the tribunals organized under
legal protection from 10000 to $1,000
cases OF difference between employer
and employed, and there are over one
hundred Of the tribunals. 4 system
much like this prevails in Belgium.
1t is much to be hoped that the sys.
tenn may take root in this country
Every employer and every workingmau
who considers the wastefulnesz ofstrikes
must be anxious to see some system
established which will do away with
strikes. "All Gghting,' it has been
said, "is a trial of strength" II nations
could foFesee before war was begun
how it would end, the war would not be
fought, but peace would be had upon
the same terms upon which peace il
finally made after great waste Of
wealth. And what is true Of war "a
true Of strikes, which are in fact the
wars Of trade. The only moral test
which can be applied to a strike is that
OF expediency. If a strike succeeds il
is justified if it fails, it is condemned.
But in any case the time and the say.
ings consumed in it are absolutely lost
and wasted. If impartial boards could
be established to look into all the con.
dltions upon which the success or failure
Of strike depends, so az to say when a
demand for higher wages is made
whether the demand ia likely to be sue.
eessful if enforced by a strike, or when
sreduction Of wages is ordered whether
the reduced rate is all that the condi.
tion Of the business enables the mana.
ger OF it to pay, and to make an award
accordingly, it is clear that their estab-
lishment would result in great gain.
That is to say, the end Of war would be
attained without the waste of war
OF course the power Of the law is
limited. The law cannot hamper free.
dom of contract nor prescribe that men
shall abide the decision Of any other
tribunals than the courts Of Justice.
What the law can do is to facilitate the
submission Of differences to tribunals
before which both parties are fairly rep
and which command the con.
fdence Of both by their intelligence
and integrity. The habit Of submitting
to arbitration must be form.
ed, so that men who differ about any
question Of trade will naturally think
first OF reference and not OF strike
Any legislation which tends to establish |
his habit ia to be commended, and