The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-01-11
MANKATo FREE Press.
STRIKE LESSONS OF "a.
The Social Science Club Attempts to
Extract Some Therefrom.
Mr.. A. G. Matter Reads an interest
ing Paper Thereon.

The first meeting of the Social
Science, Club, for 80, was held Tuesday
evening at the Y. M. Q. A. rooms,
and while the attendance, from var
ious circumstances, was not as large
as usual, the meeting was above the
average in interest.
The withdrawal of Rev. "A. Il. Tay-
lor from the membership OF the club,
owing to his removal from the city,
was received, and accepted with
regrets. Mr.. b. ID. Smith made a
few appropriate remarks, speaking OF
the part Mr.. Taylor took in the for
nation of the club, and the interest
he had always taken in its welfare,
and moved that he be elected an hon
orary member of the club, which
motion was unanimously carried.
Rev. f. NJ. Washburn was elected a
member to fill the vacancy thus made.
Mr.. A. G. Matter read a paper on
Lessons from the Strikes OF 1894,
which commanded the close attention
and was enjoyed by all present. The
first part of the paper was given to a
brief review of the strikes Of the year,
and the causes which led to them.
He thought that one thing which the
strikes Of the past year demonstrated,
was that the peaceful strike was very
rare and that seldom could it be con-
Quoted on a large scale without
violence. A lesson he thought should
also come from the great losses con-
nected with strikes, which fall
heaviest perhaps upon labor, but
which also effect the employer, and in
many instances, like a railroad strike,
the public. From this some relief
ought to be secured, and he believed
that it ought to turn the attention OF
all to the question of arbitration. 1t
is growing more and more in favor
with those who have studied the
question by this path. Some method
ought to be evolved by which disputes
between capital and labor may be
peaceably settled, and the two drawn
more closely together rather than
driven apart. The substance of his
ideas of the lessons Of the strikes of
the past year, was, that while we may
have more great strikes with their
attendant violence, yet the result of
the past year has shown that such
methods do not settle the questions at
issue, and that where disagreements
arise we must look to peaceable
means founded on facts to settle
them. That there should be progress
to a higher plane of education and in
telligence in adjusting the relations
between capital and labor. He closed
with several extracts from the report
of the commission Investigating the
Pullman strike, in which it advOcat-
ed the creation of permanent strike
commission to investigate into the
causes of all strikes and make recon-
mendations and secure settlements
thereof.
Prof. Kenaston opened the discus
sion on the paper, and took rather of
a radical view Of the situation. His
remarks served to stir up spirited
discussion which was undoubtedly one
of the things he was aiming at, and
the abuses Of the combination of cap
ital, remedies therefore, the radical
ism and hotheadedness of labor Or
CARNATIONS, orrather labor leaders,
were touched upon, nearly,every mem
Der present taking part.
The next meeting will be held Jan.
%, at which time Prof. G. f.. Koehler
will read paper on cold and New
Political Economy"