The Press., 1891-01-08

speedily correct ed. The dlmculty will not be with the method but with it's applica- ton. Since human judgment must be the ultimate resort in whatever method is h- nally adopted, it is fair to presume that in those matters which are legitimate subjects of legislation, the judgment of legislatures, elected as those in English speaking coun- tries to-day are elected, will be as correct as the judgment of individuals, ambitious only to secure wealth.
 Probably no subject connected with la- Dor differences has been so generally dis cussed as that of the wisdom and riehtful- ness of Strikes and Lockouts. Labor differ ences are the causes of strikes and lock- outs, and it is to be regretted that this whole subject, in many minds, resolves it. self into question as to how strikes and lockouts shall be settled, rather than the question as to how these differences shall be prevented from arising. Strikes are hostile struggles, contests of strength and endurance, and yet as method of settling labor differences they are often upheld as rightful and worthy of consideration. It is asserted by the advocates of strikes that labor has been compelled to fight for every advantage it has ever gained, and that though often defeated, 1t has learned bet ter through strikes how to wage future contests, and has successfully impressed employers with its strength and growing power. It Is asserted also that adherence to the method of strikes has made employ CTS more willing to examine into the just
 ice of the demands made by labor upon them, and has gained recognition for the right of labor to combine and treat in such capacity with combinations of employers. It may be possible to establish that the method of strikes is not entirely vicious, l~,,k oE Aa Go11- eosI can be little doubt. The waste and loss and misery resulting from ssIIkss is un- questioned, and the direct benelits secured are not at all proportionate to the cost. Statistics, too, show that strikes are not, as rule, successful in obtaining the spe- ciic thing demanded. In Great Britian 2, 1852 strikes occurred in the period from 1870 to 1879 and in IA of these the loss of wages alone amounted to over $5, ,O00,- 900. Of 351 English strikes reported by MT. Beavan only 71 were successful. Of 135 strikes reported by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Statistics 45 were successful, while out of 149 reported by the Massa- chusetts Bureau only Is were entirely suc- cessful The census of 1880 gives the re- snlt of 4S1 strikes in the United States, of which 95 were compromised and 227 were unsuccessful.
 There can be no question about the sheer folly of many of these strikes They were undertaken in defiance of all econom- ic laws, in ignorance of the real condition of trade, and without any just cause. The long -shoreman's strike which concerned 50, 900 persons was undertaken because the wages of 84 coal shovelers in Elizabethport had been reduced. The miseries and suf- fering which resulted from this strike, as Ixy& &hor dc 1E khoo oLn ,koI>1 cieties, were incredible. Hunger, debt and broken homes are common attendants of these wasteful and mistaken struggles and yet men who have again and again witnessed the folly of strikes will deliber- ately enter upon contests which cannot after all settle anything. Decisions se- cured through strikes are scarcely ever the l result of judgment and reason. No prin- ciple is established by them, and no ques- | ton decided for to what final conclusion can victory won by violence and necessi- ty contribute ? If the nineteenth century can give no better solution of labor differ ences than strikes, its boast of progress has been valn, and the prospect for indus trial peace is hopeless. At the end of every strike or lockout there always re- mains one practical question which loudly demands. solution, namely, to devise | zation of industry can be made to work without resort to these wasteful and de- moralizing contests.
 The third method of dealing with labor difficulties, based upon the theory of asso- citation, is that of Arbitration. This method contemp plates the reference of disputes and differences to boards or committees made up of equal numbers of employers and employed, each class selecting it's own rep resentatives These boards may permit thorough discussion of the questions at is- sue, hear testimony, and having reached 0 decision should have authority, like courts of law, to make their decisions binding and final. ,s
 The method of arbitration appears to me to easily surpass all other methods in the
 promise that it gives of 8 reasonable, just and right settlement of labor differences.
 Boards of arbitration. if properly constitu-
 ted, would bring to the consideration and
 discussion of labor differences not alone the Judgment of one class, which is apt to be
 partisan or biased, but rather the con-
 bined information and judgment of both
 employer and employed, looking at the questions. from different points of view and
 possessing different kinds of information. II Arbitration is the best of all methods for
 the settlementof differences, because it can
 best take cognizance of existing conditions {;
 it refuses to recognize force, it permits
 due weight to be given to economical
 laws, it removes the necessity and pre-
 text for strikes and lockouts, and in every
 way meets better than any other method
 yet proposed the conditions necessary to
 an intelligent consideration and settlement of labor differences. ''
 The term arbitration is frequently asso- ciated in discussion with another term, the term conciliation, and these terms are often used interchangeably to designate the method of dealing with labor differ ences by boards of employers and employ , ed. These terms, however, do not mean
 the same thing. Cancellation is properly applied to attempts to settle labor differen-
 ces by conference between the parties in- terested or their representatives. Such was the character of the conferences which led to the abandonment of the great En- glish dock strike last summer. Such also was the character of the treaty sought, but not secured, by the New York Central
 railroad strikers a few weeks ago. II
 must be noted, however, that the method f of conciliation has no efficacy except where
 the temper of the parties is such that a ant oop ho yoooho1 bu m pf, al ooroo