Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-12-25
TO ABOLISH STRIKES.
views of Former Labor Leader on This
Intricate Sub ject.

views oil Former Labor Leader on Ihi'
Intricate ubject.
George S. Boyle, a gentleman whose
prominence years ago in labor circles in
this region made him well-known here,
offers the following suggestions in the
Wilkes-Barre I6Iephone as remedy to
prevent strikes:
In order to avoid strikes and establish
legal remedy for labor disputes | would
suggest something like the following.
| Suppose that when the state conventions
| are held to nominate the various candi-
dates for governor, lieutenant governor
and secretary of internal affairs, would
1t not be good idea for each political
party to nominate single candidate for
the position Of labor commissioner to
hold equal tenure of office with the
governor and to receive an equal annual
salary. If such an official were elected
by the citizens of the commonwealth, it
is almost certain that only candidates
duly recognized by their respective con-
stituents as being men of learning,
ability, and integrity of character, would
be honored by being named for such an
exalted position as chief Judge advocate
of a standing court Of arbitration.
In times of peace he could fulfill what
ever minor duties might be assigned to
him as commissioner Of labor affairs, and
thus exercise executive authority and
general supervision the factory inspec-
tors, and the inspectors of mines, if
necessary. Whenever any disputes or
grievances between employers and en-
ployes occurred in any branch of labor
or industry, both sides of the matter at
issue should be forwith referred to the
judge advocate of the court of arbitra-
ton, for immediate settlement.
The laws abolishing such a tribunal
might stlpulate that two representatives
of both parties to the dispute be appoint
ed to attend the sitting of court and after
an impartial presentation of all argu-
ments and testimoney in the case it
should be promptly decided by the Judge
advocate, whose decisions together with
the pleadings and testimony should be
entered on public record, and the chief
points thereof published in the news
papers.
If after such trial by such a court
satisfactory and righteous verdict were
not rendered. the general verdict of
public opinion would be swift to con-
denim the judge advocate and such
result would prove a political injury to
the party which nominated him. This
in brief will give my idea of a new and
much needed general law embodying
the principle of compulsory arbitration
as substitute for the ruinous and bar
borous policy of strikes and lock-outs.
Theoretically, the plan proposed by
Mr.. Boyle appears to contain few good
points, but the principle of compulsion
which underlies the suggestions offered
is antagonstic to the spirit of our laws
and to the liberty and freedom of action
OF our citizens. Togive one man absolute
power to end difficulties between labor
and capital would be placing the entire
laboring element of the state at his
mercy, and to believe that the fate of
the party which elected him could be
made dependent upon his decisions is to
ignore the fact that a majority of the
voters of this Experimentation state
are already bound, body and soul, to the
will of one who is an acknowledged en-
bezzler, perjurer and destroyer of homes.
The so-called judge advocate would owe
his election to Matt Quay, who dictates
the nominations for more than half
million of men who dare not assert their
independence, and the acts and decisions
of that judge advocate would be only the
reflections of the debased opinions of
boodler who could not be honest if he
tried. Mr.. Boyle's suggestions, if en-
bodied in law, would make both work
ingmen and capitalists playthings in the
hands of corrupt and depraved poll
tician.