The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-04-08
THE NEWS OF THE NATION.
ctiAuNcYM. DEPEW INTERVIEWED D ON
THE LABOR QUESTION.

efah Differences, and Says There Should
be y Law Compelling It--Congrem Daily
Ing Too Long with Minor Affairs.
WAsnINoToN, April Z, - Chauncey. M.
Depow, president OF tho New York Central
railroad, registered at the Arlington hotel.
VI shall be here for 1vo days" no said TO a
representative Of tho press "Mn Dopew
Is not we'll and my little boy is not In good
health. This Is the first rest have taken In
two years and | have como over hero for that
alone.n
Commenting on tho fact that congressional
proceedings had takon very dull turn this
winter, Mr.. Depow saidi ~ think there Ia q
general lack OF interest throughout the coun-
try In what congress Ia doing and tho fault
believe s with congress- Congress does not
appreciate apparently what progress this
country has been making and Ii goes on dc.
batting the same old subjects. The people OF
the country arc getting tired Of seeing con.
gress thrash over old straw. We have really
no great issue before us to-day
"This labor question, Of course, Ia a peril,
mont ono. | have not looked over tho arbitra-
tion bill that passed tho house, and 10 | can
not criticiso II, but can say that | am In
favor OF establishing some method OF arbi.
trating. Even II II does nothing more II sayp
10 tho country that tho congress OF tho United
States has recognized arbitration as the right
method OF settling tho differences OF opinion
betwocn employer and omploye suppose
tho senate will give this subject moro serious
consideration than the house, There Ia not
such large vote involved, and evory ono
will not bo rushing pOll-moll 10 vote on tho
question on that account, The senate will be
able 10 give the matter moro time and moro
thorough consideration. have never really
formulated my ideas ON tho subject, but
speaking In general should think II would
bo possible 10 mako arbitration In a manner
compulsory,
NOW, W Now York, whom IL was proposed
TO establish railroad commission, | at nrst
opposed II, but afterwards favored tho pro-
JOct and assisted in obtaining legislation. At
first there was Wild olamor from rcformors
for an entire revolution Of tho railroad sys
tenn OF the state Tho board told the com.
plainants to present their grievances In writ
ing and they would bO investigated. Then
they sot up the cry thht the commission was
usoloa, After awhile they began TO put their
grievances Ia writing and they were fow-
very fow-comparod 10 what thoy wero whom
thore was no means OF redress, Tho board
sOnt copy Of each complaint 10 tho railroad
company II did not dare refuse 10 answer
10, II II should thu board had tho power 10
bring all the officers and their books before
II and compel them 10 testify, Now, what
was tho RESULT Tho railroad question coassd
10 bo state issue, II couldn't even become
n county or town issue. II u man had real
grievance II was rOdressed at nm expenditure
OF two cents for postage, II no had no grisv-
Anoo tho railroad company proved before tho
proper tribunal that ho had none.
"Now, should think somo broad minded
man In congress-somo man who has had
wide experience In tho employment OF labor
and who has learned 10 sympathiZ- with II; a
man whose workman have shared with him
In prosperity and who have denied them
solves with him whom times woro hard-I
should think some such man could evolve
plan say for tho establishment OF National
board OF arbitration, with subsidiary boards
IN the droront judicial districts Let thom
30 mon OF experience and broad viows, with
long torins OF service and an assurance that
they would not DO removed except for cause.
When thoro would arise difference OF opln.
ION between railroad company and lts EN-
ploycs, lot tho board on complaint proceed
immediately 10 tho spot and examine tho
mattor. Suppose man wOro discharged
and won't 10 his local labor assembly, com.
planning that IL was without cause, thoy
would not dare order a strike whom the means
Of arbitration was within call. Public senti.
mont would not sustain them And suppoeo
thoy complained and an arbitration was had,
and II was proven that tho nlan was dia.
charged for ca,isoi That would sottlo hs
casc, for public opinion would not for
moment tolerate u strike when tho strikers
hnd boon and woro known 10 bo In th
wrong,
suppose, on the other hand, tworo proven
that tho man was discharged merely because
ho wN member OF n trade organization, M
they often claim No employer Is going TO
stand up before tho country and say ho will
net employ men who are members OF trades
unions, and II an employer, aftcr arbitra.
ton, refused 10 right his wrongs public son.
nmcnt would DO with tho employee, and In
sasc OF strike public opinion would bring 10
bear such reasoning, such threats OF logisla.
tlon that tho railroad compan, would bo !
Obliged 10 abide by tho arbitration. do not
bcliovo In 0ling tho Judgment Of arbitrator
In court, however, and having shorifr OK. |
ocuto You have tho whole powor of state
and general government bchind board Of |
arbitration 10 enforce law aud order, and |
popular opinions 10 enforce Ia iudpmentaLn