River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-11-22
LABOR CONGRESS.
It Discusses the Relations Of EIn-
ployer and Employed.
Arbitration and Cancellation the Main Top
les of Consideration = Congressman
Springer Speaks of His Bili-Com-
missioner Wright Speaks.


CHICAGO Nov. 15.-The opening SEES
sion of the congress of industrial con-
ciliation and arbitration was called To
order by Lyman j. Gage. Prof. Z. r.
/. Gould, of Johns Hopkins university,
read paper on the History of In
dustrial Arbitration in England and
the Continent"
Judge William A. Vincent presided
at the afternoon session. James Pea
body, editor of the Railway Review,
speaking on the subject of 'Arbitra-
tion in Railway Affairs" said that the
law was now powerless to prevent the
Gripping of railroads by the striking
of employees. Some law was needed,
he thought, to prevent men from get
ting in a body without warning. The
public was more to be considered than
either railroad managers or employees.
l.. 5. Coffin, of Iowa, of the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen, thought
that railroad employees, as in every
sense public servants, should not Grip
Pile the public service. but the rail
road should also pay them fair wages.
He believed that labor should have the
right to combine and make a strong
plea for Sunday rest for railroad en-
ployes. He was opposed to giving
state and national commissions more
power in regard to the settlement OF
strikes. Let their work be merely
advisory.
Springer and His Isill.
NN;Ilia,, NJ
spoke on his bill for arbitration of
labor troubles between railroad en-
ployes and employers. This bill is
now on the congressional calendar. 1t
asks for a national commission of arbi-
tration of three members to be APP
pointed by the pre- sident at salary OF
$4,000 each, to hold office for three
years. Mr.. Springer believed that the
Difference to public opinion of both
parties to labor controversies would
make them abide by any decision rem
dered by a national labor commission.
Rev. DIR. John III. Barrows, of this
city. presided at the evening session
1.-The Distinction Between Arbitration
ami Cancellation" was discussed by
Josephine Shaw Lowell, of New York.
Voluntary arbitration only came in
this country. she said, after a long
siege between capital and labor, and
the public had entirely lost their
patience. The result was generally
satisfactory. The best plan, inste I'd
of trying to arbitrate troubles and
strikes, was to prevent them. The
character of employees and employers
81 h. oh IL. EhriG ffaf
feeling should prevail and concilia-
tion was the word that applied.
Wednesdays Sessions.
CHICAGO, Nov. 16.-Miss Jane Ad-
dams, of Hullhouse, presided over the
Wednesday morning session. John d..
Weeks, editor of the American Manu-
facturer and Iron World. spoke on tn e
relation of manufacturers and en-
ployes. Strikes he looks upon as the
greatest of evils. The trouble cannot
be met by competition or the doctrine
of laissez faire-leave alone. Legisla-
tion or compulsory arbitration are out
of the question Public opinion, he
thought, in addition TO some method
OF getting the sontending parties to-
gether for peaceable settlement, is
the most potent factor.
NJ. NJ. Garland. president of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and
Steel Workers, treated If the sliding
scale system and its workings lie
said:
THE amalgamated iron anG steel workers
have solved these labor difficulties, and their
solution has been in operation or twenty
eight years The sliding-scale system and
fairness in the counsel-room have bror ght
about a peaceable settlement. To be sure, we
have sometimes disagreed, but eventually the
ironworkers and their employers have come
together"
Carroll ID. Wright, United States
labor commissioner, discussed the
I'D stinction Between Compulsory and
Volun tary Arbitration DISTINCTION
Between Compulsory Arbitration and
Public Investigation of Labor Dis
putes" and distinction Between Adj
Indication of Past Contracts and Set
Element of Future Ones" He said that
the labor question broadly stated sim
ply means a struggle for a higher
standard of living. A strike in itself
is simply a protest against changing
conditions adversely 1t is only
through conflict that good ever comes
in this world. So the labor coufli ct
means the uplifting of the labor
ing man AID the lettering of his
condition. There should always pre-
cede arbitration, he said, an attempt
at Cancellation. Compulsory arbitra-
tion is not to DC thought of. law
compelling vorlxmen or employers to
accede to a decree of the court under
penalty could not be enforced. Mr.
Wright believed in public investiga-
ton. Publicity is always salutury.
Let the responsibility for the trou bles
be fixed, be said, and public opinion
will do the rest. 1t is more potent
than mandate of the courts.
Prof. Adams, secretary of the inter
state commerce commission, read a
paper on Economics of Arbitration"
There coald be no industrial liberty
without industrial ownership of prop
cry, according to his views. He recog-
nized, but two classes of persons-the
property holders and those who have
no property. Without proprie torship
the labor question could never be
solved. There existed no interest
common to all laborers. Each trade
had its own interests and no cOmbina-
tion of all trades was possible. No
more was great labor party a possi-
bility.
William III Sayward, of Boston. sec
rotary of the National Association of
Builders, spoke on 1.-The Relation Be
tween Employer and Employe in the
Building Trades" The worl;men, he
declared, have never applied to en-
ployers for sympathy; it is sole justice
that workmen want The interests of
employer and workman are not identi-
cal Their relations are of the buyer
and seller.
As final remedy the speaker advo-
Gated organization of both employers
and work ingInen which would lead to
conferences and agreements between
the two classes.
As a substitute for Cancellation and
arbitration. as generally accepted. the
speaker would substitute primary
agreements and thus do away with
any causes for trouble. Cure the causes
for all strife instead of stopping in
dividual cases.
Necessity for Mutual Organization
was the subject assigned Samuel Com
pers. president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. He declared that
the man who assisted, in any way, the
organization of labor was a public
beuefactor, inasmuch rs organization
aeS;ota1 Ia consolidation and arhitra-