The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-11
FAVOR ARBITRATION.
Citizens Of Topeka Almost Unani-
mousIy For It
In sETTLENEET OF DIFFERENCES
Between Employers OF Labor and
Their Empl0yeB-TmeervGew With
Representative Men

Their Em DA0y Sw-AmEGEVASW wv AGA
Representative Men
This is a time when public opinion on
the situation Of the country is valuable
The following opinions have been
CLEANED from well known Topeka peo-
pie by JOURNAL reporter in answer to
the question: "How can labor troubles
be avoided in the futures" They are
taken just as they came without being
culled or selected in any way and repre-
sent a fair average opinion:
Major VIM. Sims-~I have always adj
vocated arbitration of such Disagree
rnents A few years ago the farmers
and shippers felt that they were not be-
ing treated right by the railroads and
they asked for board to which griev-
ances could be referred, aud so we had
the board Of railroad commissioners
which, when the corporation has re-
fused to listen 10 the shipper or other IN
teresred person, may take up his case,
listen to both sides and make ruling.
The results have been generally salts
factory and what we must have now 10 a
board to act as between the corporation
and the men rendering service to the
corporation the same as we now have Der
tween the corporation and those for
whom the corporation does service. l do
not look for less trouble until something
of the kind is done"
A.
the only way out Of it, As to the details
Of the question I can not speak It re-
quires great deal of thought"
E X. Hilton, vice president Of Topeka
Investment and Loan company-"One
thing ought surely to be done The rail
roads should % required to give thirty
days notice when any one is to be dis
charged and the same rule should follow
with employees. Then arbitration should
come ia TO adjust the differences. Every
trust and com binatiOn of capital and
every union are alike cOnspiracies. One
is largely esponsible for the other and
both should be prohibited Every rail-
road should have its own grievance COM
mittee on its pay rolls and the men IN the
employ of the company should have
chance to be heard Of course that in
wolves civil service rules in the control Of
railroads.
J. s. Collins="I believe that not one
IN ten Of tho men who are making the
trouble and destroying property ever did
a day Of railrOading in their lives 1t Is
done by the vicious and low classes
which have been collecting in Chicago
for years. thought from the first that
the center of disturbance would be Chi
cagO and San Francisco because of the
bad element in those places. 1t seems to
me that in these strikes there Is too much
power vested in one man. If Mr.. Debs
has had the authority which he has eX-
ercised he has more than the president
Of the United States. If he has not these
other men acted in bad fifth with their
employees when they acceded 20 his de-
ID nds.
There is little sympathy with Pullman.
He has always been unjust l spend
perhaps one fourth Of my time on the
railroads aud his rates are exor bitant and
extortionate. He could reduce his rates
one half and his income would be increas-
ed / surely think that these troubles
p lad ,w,tr o~Ia1
bitration is always better than litigation
and / favor it even in private affairs.
The system should be national and
should have a binding effect upon all
parties interested am not well enough
advised to know whether arbitration
should be used in the present trouble,
but have seen no reason why the rail-
roads should be called upon to arbitrate
in this case-ther is however some diff
ference between Mr. Pullman aud his
men. In all these troubles it would be
well TO remember one thing-the inter
ests of the two forces are almost identi-
cal; labor cannot exist without capital.
neither can capital exist without labor"
W. A L Thompson: Sooner or later
the strikers and la Dor organizations must
realize that their methods are unpopular
These troubles viii not be avoided but
can be terminated much more speedily
by government laws which will effect
lively protect the property and people of
the nation As far / can find out the
majority Of the laboring men are not in
sympathy with the strike. AS far as the
question Of how these troubles can be
avoided l cannot say. 1t is very com
plicated question and would REQUIRE
much thought The people are entirely
in sympathy with the laboring men but
they are not in sympathy with their
methods Of adjusting grievances"
David Overmyer only should
the area of corporate activity be reduced
70 minimum limits and corporate activi-
ty within those limits be the object Of
the watchful and vigilant supervision of /
the state with participation in profits
but private persons and individual firms |
who conduct large enterprises should,
upon reaching a designated point of |
power, be subject to state visitation and 4
supervision, and in case OF disagreement |
between employer and employe to state /
intervention. courts Of general jurisdic- |
ton should be given full chancery DOW +
ers IN such cases, to make all orders nec-
e lsary 70 protect both labor and capital,
VI tn the right to either party to demand |
a jury TO find especially as to any dis
puted question Of fact"
Rev. s. B. Alderson-~We have ad /
vanced too far into Christian civilization
and progress to return to war and riot
for the settlement or our difficulties In /
my present light I know of no better
way than Tor each state to provide some
means OF arbitration for the grievances
within its own bounds-their decisions TO
be appealed from to a supreme and in
corruptible national board of arbitration
whose decision is final Certainly the
country ought 10 be delivered from the
strife between labor and capital
Eugene F. Ware-aPullman ought to
meet with his men and adjust their trou-
bles. Wouldn't it be better for all the
III ~