Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-14

Arbitration and the Labor Troubles
The presence OF strong military iorce
at East ST. Louis has had the effect oil
preventing further demonstrations OF
violence and Iawlessness there. There
are no indications. however, OF an I'M
; mediate settlement OF the southwestern
labor troubles. The strikers are recelv-
ing money from outside sources and Will
be able probably to maintain their threat
enipg attitude for several weeks. II the
troops are Withdrawn they may even be
able to stoD the movement Of trains again.
. or course they still insist upon arbitra-
tiou, and the railroads continue to refuse
/ to confer with them upon any matter, for
/ the reason, as they allege, that a they
do not want to employ any of the strikers
they see no occasion for any arbitration.
OF course the troubles may yet as
sumo phase much more serious
than they have at any previous
time. As the strikers begin TO
near the end Of their cash and their credit
they may have less respect for the law.
Hunger is not apt to be accompanied by
cool Judgment.
General Master Powderly is quoted as
saying that when this strike ends there
will never be another railroad strike in
this country. 1t IS to be hoped that his
statement will prove to be true, and it
would be a source Of satisfaction if he
could also say, with a reasonable degree
of certainty, that the strike and the boy
colt would be substantially abandoned by
-, I IL.
ployment. These weapons Of dissatisfied
workingmen do about as much
damage to the interests Of labor
as to those OF capital. In about half the
cases, probably more than half, in which
a strike or a boycott is ordered, the ma
jorty Of the workingmen who are par
ticularlay interested are controlled and
led by glib-tongued demagogues and those
who have little or nothing at stake.
II would be folly to say that working
men have no grievances, or that employers
readily respond to requests for redress of
alleged wrongs, but it would be greater
folly to insist that the quickest and surest
way to get redress is by means of the
strike OF boycott.
Indeed, the boycott and strike are a
worse form of tyranny than are any of the
the means employed by capital to accom-
plish its ends, because capital does not
attempt by violence and lawlessness to
rob labor of its freedom. When labor
uses the boycott and strike, however, it
aims not only to control itself but to con-
troll capital by coercion, if not by actual
force.
II the boycott is carried out to its legit-
innate conclusions it will bring the bust
ness and industries OF the country to a
standstill.
II the leading idea of the knights of
-arbitration-could be carried out
it would doubtless almost entirely take
the place OF the strike and the boycott;
but unfortunately too many hOt-headed,
Unbalanced, irresponsible men get con-
troll of the labor organizations. They, to-
gether with the demagogues, render it
! very difficult for arbitration to be
successful. If it were possible to push
! such men into the background labor and
| capital would get along much more har-
! moniously.
Congress will soon begin an investiga-
tion of the causes of the southwestern
labor troubles, and it is hardly probable
that there will be any bill passed for the
settlement of labor differences until it is
| concluded. There are two bills pending
-O'Neill's and lngalls'-one providing for
/ voluntary and the other for compulsory
arbitration; but both, it is admitted, are
exceedingly crude measures. No one ap-
| pears to see any way for the settlement
| of labor differences, however, except by
arbitration. Mr.. Andrew Carnegie, the
millionaire iron and steel manufac-
turer of Pittsburg, in an article in the
/ April Forum, discusses all the means for
! settling such differences which have been
suggested, and concludes that the ONLY
thing practicable is arbitration. A good
way to bring arbitration into greater
| favor and make those who have griev-
ances look to it for redress, is for the gov
eminent to use all the force that is neces-
sary to protect property, and wOrkin ing
men who are willing to work, in cases
where strikes exist.