The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-31

ploycc had in one of the departments of
the system of railways has been dis
missed '-nm his place. And this, so far
rs VIC. -. cen able to learn, is at the
botr ;his particular trouble. Ar
bith perhaps conference merely,
wol,S nave saved the wages OF en-
ployeeS, prevented the destruction OF
property, and obviated the direct and
indirect losses that have been entailed
upon the general community.
The foundation for arbitration in such
conflict as this, or in any OF these
troubles. must be found in certain prin-
ciples that must be respectively accepted
by the parties in interest. But there is
no reason, except that which is found in
human selfishness, why these principles
should not be accepted. On the other
hand, even if mere self-interest is con-
suited, there is ever, reason why these
principles should prevail, and the waste
and loss of strikes be avoided.
On the side of the employer funda-
mental principle ought to be that those
whom he employs are human beings.
There is danger that this will be practi-
cally forgotten. Especially where a
large number of operatives are en-
ploycd the danger is that they will come
to be regarded merely as so many
''handS." The mill operatives are, as it
were, Il part OF the machinery, the rail-
way employees part Of the rolling
.stock. The question with the employer
is, how he can get the best machinery
for the smallest price or adequate roll
ing-Stock at the least outlay. The very
strong temptation is to put labor in the
same category and to buy it at the least
possible price.
It is this seltiShness OF employers that
is really the root of many of the labor
troubles. Workingmen in too many in
stances have real cause for complaint.
They arc oppressed and defrauded. And
it ali comes from the tendency, not al
ways suspected and not often admitted
on the part of the employer to lose sight
Of the fict that his ''hands" are human
beings and are entitled to treatment ac.
cording to that fact.
This is proved by the fact that in those
establishments where the workingmen
have their rights us human beings, where
their interests are consulted, where they
are participators rather than mere
''handS," there is no trouble, but each
party advances the welfare OF the other.
Workmen have rights as human beings
as well as vendors or labor, and those
rights are fundamental in any question
Of arbitration.
Then, on the part OF workingmen, it
must be recognized at the very begin
ming that the employer cannot submit
to any demands that any outside body
snail dictate whom he shall employ, and
the like. No one can manage a business
successfully if he cannot control it in
all its parts. Just so far as possible he
must eliminate every element OF uncer-
taintv. If a man can never tell whether
or no his workmen, contented with their
own condition, will not be ordered out
on strike because the workmen OF
some other employer are discontented,
he will be very ready to give up the bu-
sincss entirely. In that case what be-
comes of his workmen's opportunity to
earn wages?
Workingmen should realize that this
''boycotting" which they are coming to
use so freely is simply robbery. 1t is
disguised somewhat, but it is rs really
robbery as any that Robin Hood and his
merry men perpetrated on hapless way
farcrs. II the strikers Of the Steam
Company say to a rcstaurant-keeper
that ii he furnishes meals to employees
Of the company he will be ''boycotted,' >
they are threatening to rob him. II any
workmcn carry out a threat to ''boycott'
an employer, they are just rs really rob-
bing him as if they took proportionate
amount OF money out of his safe. There
can be no foundation for arbitration in
any such idea. The ''boycott" means a
using of force to compel an issue which
it is thought cannot be otherwise gained
Arbitration means an appeal to reason,
and it most likely will involve mutual
concessions.
And workmcn must remember as q
basis as we'll rs reason for arbitration
that orders from labor unions, and
strikes and ''boycotts," will not alter in
cxorablc natural laws. They are not
always mindful OF this. Says recent
writer in the "Overland Monthly"
speaking in behalf OF the Knights OF
L@oor, From one thing, especially,
should the laborer be shielded, and that
is from the operation OF the competitive
SYSTEM" The attempt might as well
be made to shield him from the sasera-
ticn OF the law OF grayitation. TIE man.
ufacturer cannot pay above certain
price for labor without interfering with
the living profits of his business. He
too is under the control OF the law OF
competition, and in all his arrangements
must take account OF that law. He can
not, if he would, shield his workmen
from its operation. They must remem-.