Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-20
DOES THIS ANSWER
A Contsmporsry's Views of tho LGeeis Of
Arbitration.

10
A correspondent has sent us copy OF the |
DAILY ISTELLIGENcER, published at Ian.
caster, Pa, containing long editorial SO. |
vereiy crl,icising our comments upon the |
proposal to arbitrate in certain Cases be-
tween employers and employed. The tone
of the article shows that the editor ct that
paper entirely mistakes our character, and
wholly misun0erstands tho ground oi our
opposition to the measure proposed. He
assumes that the editors Of this psper have
been cradled In ease and luxury. aud are
now "sitting in an easy chair" with q
supreme contempt for working men as
" mere machines" entitled to no consider
alton on the score OF their humanity.
The real editor is very different being
from the Lancaster ideal. H8 went alone
and unfriended into the world before he
was fourteen years OF age, and has had no
holiday since, but the Lords day of rest.
| and such other annual iespites az arc In
| the statutes made and provided for every
| laborer. Though just past the ordinary
| limit OF human life he claims no exemption
| from toll on account Of his 'ihree score
| years and ten" but performs his unre-
| hitting toll without vacation in winters
cold or summers heat, and through at least
| twelve hours Of every secular day. Nor Is
| tho "master" his "subscribor aud friend
| with whom he lives In such social and
business intercourse" that bo cannot or
| dare not have any "ieeliDg and sympathy"
| for those who, like himself, earn their
bread In the sweat OF their face. II the
| Lancaster editor would CANVASS among the
| poor and unemployed OF both sexes who
| throng the EDITORS house and tud un-
| opstructed access to his oflio In search Of
i needed aid and comfort, he would hear u
far different story from their lips.
Nor do we oppose arbitration In tho cases
| cited, rs the critic suggests, becauHe In our
| judgment the mill-owners or railroad mag
mates are always right, and the weavers
/ a,,Aa anti aara nrt I'm anVa nd Hran IN
are always wrong, but because the contest
| In one that cannot be settled fairly, no mat
ter which OF the contestants IL right, by any
| such Intervention.
We do not retort that the Lancaster edi.
tor may be bound, soul and body, to some
trades union or Its followers, upon whom
no Is dependent for his subsistence, and
whom no must uphold right or wrong, be-
cause, In the first place, we know nothing
abDut his associations and In tho second
place, II this was true, IL would have moth
ing to do with tho argument
| Arbitration IN legitimate only as II pro-
poses to compromise dispute having refer
ence to something that is already past az
the ground Of sction, and which IL COM
pletoly settled when tho award IL mnde
and complied with by the parties In In
terest. Two men have made contract
which Ia differently interpreted by them.
They cannot agree as to the meaning Of it's
terms IL II II to be carried out or Rs To the
/ meaNurO OI UuUNABes III IL DAH Desn NIblatau.
A disinterested person, familiar with the
subject, Is called In ana the whole dispute
| In lett to him to say what IL right between
them. Tho engagement IL then fulfilled
| according to the meaning he gives to II, or
| tho violation In condoned for on the terms
| he imposes, and the matter Ia settled. Or
an employer and his workmen are at
variance ~ to tho terms upon which they
have been hirod or upon which they have
undertaken Some service. They agree upon
a reference, and each party tells his own
story. The referees then decide upon the
| terms OF settlement.
i But the issue to which tho arbitration we
oppose Is TO be applied is altogether OF
another character. 1t Is not as to tho IN r.
probation Of an agreement, or d queatio OF
damages rs 10 the violation of covenant,
but hitch in the making OF an agreement
| for service. A mill owner has machinery
and capital and orders for goo6s. He
offers certain spinners and weavers given
| price for their service. They refuse to sc-
| cept the situation on the terms proposed.
| IL makes no material difference whether
| they have worked for him before or are
| fresh hands who for the first time have sp-
| piled for employment The employer
| oilers all he thinks he can afford to give, or
sum which he believes To be q fair re-
| muneration for the service he requires. 1t
| makes no difference in our argument
whether this is more or less than no ought
to have offered, The laborers band tc-
gether and unite In demanding larger
sum az their proper wages This In re-
fused, and no agreement results from their
| conference.
Here steps forward the despotic power
I which shakes its fist In the face OF the em-
ployer, aud attempts to coerce him into the
making OF contract on terms which he is
unwilling to concede. He Is prevented
from hiring any help but those who desire
his service on their own terms. IL others
offer to engage with him on his terms they
are called by foul names, and IL that is not
| sufficient are beaten, stoned or clubbed,
and driven away, wherever this Is possible
IL tho product OF his establishment IL one
that can be reached by such su Influence
he Is boycotted aud his customers are men
aced ana threatened II they continue their
| patronage.
And here committee OF some band of
disorganizors propose to him that IL no
Is not satisfied with his treatment that no
shall leave the dispute 10 arbitration. He
shall hire no one outside the dispuiing body
II they can hel p II, and his only remedy, as
they claim, Is to submit to their demand or
| TO leave II to some one having no interest
In his business on what terms he shall
make contract IL he gives up his Abso-
lutte right as one OF two parties to say upon
what terms he will make the engage.
| ment, and consents to allow and arbiter to
dictate the agreement, he Is helpless when
It comes to enforcing It. Ifths rate OF wage
| the arbiter decides upon Is more than he
can afford to give, he must nevsrl heless
disburse Ia to its fullest extent but II 1t
be less than the workmen are williug 10
accept there Is no power to conn ei the sm,
| ployed to render its fair equivalent In faith
ful service. He must pay all he is hidden
to pay, but they Will do only the work they
are willing to perform Tor " hat they get and
he may discharge them in order 10 hire any
| one who will do bettei
To submit to an arbitration the que stion
whether contract for future service shalt
be made, and upon what terms II shall be
made, is to place out of ones own hands
| power every true mans self-resIect will
Insist that hs shall retain subject to bis own
| judgment Of what his interest requires TO
insist that he shall arbitrate a question of
this character IL gross impertipeuce
| which has no reasonable excuse. After
contract has been made all questions as TO
Its meaning or how to adjust a failure to
fulfill 1t are q fair subject of arbitration.
But the attempt TO force q man by such in.
reference to make contract to which he
IL an unwilling party, is the outrage we
have denounced, and which our critics are
seeking to defend by such unssvory srgu-
ments and appeals as We have quoted.
| No wonder baby protests against such
doses as people will give II, DR.. Bulls Baby
| syrup Il the pleasantest ana safest remedy
| known for infants.
| person often bears the large of laziness
| when u Is only poorly acting liver or