The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-17
NO FIELD FOR DEMAGOGY.

its old-time demagogism by urging the pas
sage of a compulsory arbitration law by
the next Legislature. and advises all men
not to vote for any who will not
pledge himself TO vote for one. This mat
ter is very important one. since, If the
tariff policy which the Senate has urged
for years shall be adopted by Congress- it
is most probable that wages must either
be reduced so as to enable American man
ufacturers to compete with the low-wage
production of Europe. the increased force
OF which competition will be felt by the re-
moval of protection and the substitution
must close. Now. suppose that. after the
passage Of the free-trade tariff and the
compulsory arbitration act. an Indiana
manufacturer says to his two or three
hundred employees: eff 1 pay the wages
of 1892 or 1898 l shall be forced to suspend
business before the year is out, for the rea-
son that cannot get enough for the goods
you make to pay for materials and the old
rate OF wages. Consequently, if 1 go on,
must reduce wages 10 per cent, which is
still more than 80 per cent. higher than
my European competitors pay" Suppose
that his employees deceived by the dem
agogy of the Sentinel say: I'VE will do no
such thing We have compulsory arbi-
tration law, and we will have you before
the board II creates" Suppose. further,
that there could be constitutional law
which would compel the manufacturer to
appear before an arbitration board, ap-
pointed under the inspiration of Sentinel
demagogism, that is, eagerness to do any
thing which will obtain votes for its ticket.
The manufacturer is brought, with his
onstrates that he will be bankrupt if he
continues to pay 70 per cent. more than his
European competitors. now that the wall
which for years has held them back is
leveled. The demonstration may be un-
answerable; but the two demagogues of the
Sentinel brand on the board simply make
answer that the manufacturer will not only
be compelled to run his factory. but he
must pay the old rate of wages.
That would be what the contradictory
phrase compulsory arbitration as in
Dictated by Mr.. Debs, would amount to-
Such a law would be declared unconstitu-
tional at the outset by any intelligent
court If such were not the case, and en-
ployes were as reckless as those who pro-
pose such a law, most of the factories in
the country would be closed in six months,
because employers could not get money
with which to pay wages. In that event,
probably, the Sentinel, in keeping with its
demagogic instincts, would urge that the
hapless employers be hung
Suppose, on the other hand, that the tri-
bunal should conclude that the employees
must go back and work at the wages Of
fered by the employer. would the Sentinel
insist that they should be sent to Jail or
fined If they refused? Such must be the
logical result of compulsory arbitration
II the Sentinel will but refer to Mr.. Cleve-
lands plan. as set forth in the last section
Of the act of Oct /, 1888, and in his mes
sage to Congress on the subject a few
months earlier 1t will find scheme Of
Cancellation by which the two disagreeng
parties can present their respective sides
to tribunal Of three men beyond the reach
of local demagogues and render an opinion
as to what they believe to be fair in the
premises, but which would not be a de-
cree The probability would be that there
would come a real adjustment along the
lines suggested by such an intelligent and
impartial tribunal.
legal arbitration may be applied, it is in
terstate transportation. That stands in
different relation to the people than an or
binary enterprise like iron mill, for the
reason that all railroads exist by virtue OF
franchises which involve the concession of
unusual privileges and impose conditions
which are i'm the nature OK contract to act
as common carriers.
This subject of arbitration is too far
reaching and grave in it's consequences to
be treated in the spirit of demagogy. such
as seems to inspire the Sentinel in what it
has had to say on this topic.