St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-10
ARBITRATION A SUCCESS.

eSos ~ SVhSiOoos
ARBITRATION A SUCCESS.
The trouble between TIE employees and
the receivers of the Northern Pacific
railroad promises to be settled in an
amicable and satisfactory manner.
The recent decision OF Judge Jenkins
perpetually enjoning the employees
from striking was body blow 10 those
whose universal panacea for all ills to
which the industrial body is subject is II
strike. The decision was substantially
to the effect that the company, being in
the hands of receivers appointed by the
federal court, was substantially under
the protection of the United States gov
ernment, and that therefore rebellion
against the receivers was tantamount to
rebellion against the authority of the
government, and might be construed as
treason. Although the decision has
been denounced from one end of the
country to the other, no one has yet been
able to overthrow it upon legal grounds.
The point raised was a novel one, never
before broached, and hence the interest
created by the decision has been uni
verSal.
One effect of the decision was seen in
the results of conference held at Mil
waukee on Thursday between the re-
ceivers of the corporation in question
and representatives of the various labor
organizations connected with railroad
ing. The latter were among the fore
most in the country III men who have
devoted the greater part of their lives to
the work of improving the condition OF
their fellow WOrkmen, and who have
been conspicuous for the common-SenSe
methods they have employed In the set
Element of disputes between the employ
ers and their wOrkmen. Men like Ar
thur, Sargent. Wilkinson and Johnson
are not of the class to profit from the
stirring up of strife. They have the
Interests of their associates at heart,
and know full well the folly of resorting
TO violent methods for the adjustment
of wrongs. They are opposed 10 strikes,
except where other means of obtaining
redress fail, but when one is ordered as
dernler resort, they are as lmmovable
in their position as the eternal hills.
The conference met upon friendly
ground, and the whole situation was
thoroughly and dispassionately can
yassed. They net as arbitrators should
the one side armed with facts and
figures proving the Justice of their con-
tentlon; the other side without preju-
dice, willing to make amends for any
wrong done in the past, and to give
guarantees for the future. The result
has been, as far as results have been
reached, most satisfactory. 1t has been
decided by the receivers that they will
ask Judge Jenkins 10 so modify his re-
cent order as to enable them to restore
the scale of wages existing prior to the
recent reduction, to the end that all
cause of dissatisfaction with the man
agement of the road may cease, and the
efficiency of the service be thereby pro-
NOTED. This is satisfactory to the com
planning employees, for there is no reason
to doubt the compliance of The court.
There is in this incident a lesson to
both labor organizations and employers.
1t is seldom that the differences be-
tween the TWO are caused by animosity
or jealousy. More material grounds
underlie the troubles. And in nine cases
out of ten harmony may be obtained by
means of arbitration, while strikes ONLY
engender hatreds that are lasting and
| baneful in their effects. When the EN-
| ploying and the employed classes get
together to discuss their relations to-
wards each other it is seldom that there
will be violent disagreement. There
plnnT9IIE nnah nf InCtina q
of wrong on both sides. In some cases
right may be wholly on one side. But
where there are mutual wrongs to re.
dress and mutual interests to serve,
nothing but good can result from con-
ference and arbitration. Labor does no
seek to destroy capital. for by doing so
| it would destroy the source of its own
support Nor does capital seek to need
lessly Cypress or destroy labor, for by
such means it would cut off its own
! source OF supply.
Arbitration of such differences is the
only common sense course to pursue.
| Strikes sometimes result in the redress
| Of wrongs, but more frequently they
| utterly fail. In all instances they leave
behind them feeling of bitterness be-
tween the parties interested that can
never be effaced. Men in every con-
| dition are more literally endowed with
! obstinacy than they are with reason.
They refuse to be driven, but may often
be led by the frailest of silken cords
This characteristic of the race is be-
| coming better understood as the rela-
tons between the classes become more
intimate, and 1t will be universally rec
ogniZed ere long, and courses Of action
will be employed which shall keep this
fact constantly in view. In that good
time coming we shall hear little OF
strikes, but far more of arbitration.