The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-02-07


and Labor Leaders.
WAsHINGToN, Feb I.--The amend,
labor arbitration bill, ngraed on by Il
house committe" on labor, after Confe
ences with repre- ,entiJiyeS Of the
ganizatipns uf locomotive cnginnnr
trainmen, iiramcu m1 conductors. Ii
been reported to the house by Mr.. Er
man Pa Incorporated in the repu
accompanying the b.u are two lettr
addressed 10 Cha lam McIann a.
proving lha bill, one irom Non Caro-
.. Wright, commissioner OF iaoor, an
Jhc Uthor f-Ou the iab II representative
above referred to-.
The bill agreed upon Ey the commit
tee, Wright sets iusth in lis letter, COZ
tains all tho vital principles included /
the bill presented by himself and M
Herman aS an outcome of the investi.o
ton Of the Chicago strike. at is .
bill" he says, which, in its provision,
seeks to place labor ON II more thorough
basis than II now occupies. 1t also, il
its most material sections, especially z
8 and ., brings to labor organizations
the opportunity for really perfecting
their work and for cooperating with the
managers of railroads in preventing
strikes and all manner of violence, in
avoiding threats and i'll eliminating in.
Limitations. 1t also gives employees an
opportunity TO be heard when receivers
are in control of railroads upon the ques
ton of the reduction of their wages
and the conditions Of their employment
should changes therein be sought by re.
Ceivers.
THE bill in no sense aims at compul
sorry arbitration, and only provides so
far as arbitration is concerned, for i'm.
mediate action, first to secure concilia
ton or mediation, and failing in that,
the constitution Of u board of arbitra.
ton, the awards Of which may be final
If the parties coming before it agree
that they shall be. The rights, privi.
leges and prerogatives of both labor and
capital, as represented in the operation
of interstate railroads. are thoroughly
secured and protected by the bill, and
it so nearly COmpreleuds all the feat.
ures of the bill which was drawn by the
majority of the recent strike cmmission
that | see no reason whatever for criti
while it will not solve the labor prob.
lem, nor prevent strikes entirely, it will
in my opinion, do much TO steady the
forces involved and afford powerful
and even effective balance wheel in in.
terstate controversies. In the interest
of successful railroad operation, which
must be preserved in order to have our
industries properly carried on, | trust
m lln nj
nous action of YOU committee, which
has SO promptly responded to the call
made upon it.
The other letter is signed by +. L.
Clark, Order of Railway Conductors
Frank p. Sargent and f. NJ. Arnold
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
p. NJ. Arthur, Brotherhood of Locomo.
tive Engineers; ID. l.. Cease and w. &.
Edens, Brotherhood of Railroad Train.
men, apd w. V. Powell, Order of Rail.
road Teiegraphers This letter sets
forth that the organizations of railway
employees represented are in hearty ac.
cord with the general sentiment in
favor OF arbitration as means for set.
tling disputes and favor the enactment
of laws by the national congress as
preferable to any shat might be enacted
by the legislatures of the different
states.
"Our petition" the letter says, sis
based on the fact that these organiza.
tions are composed Of reasonable and
law-abiding men, who ask no especial
favCrs and desire nothing bat what is
right and fair. We are not disposed to
allow any of our personal preferences in
matters OF detail to stand in the way of
the enactment OF some law that will
give arbitration Il fair test"
The writer's point ont that they have
never been willing TO subscribe to the
idea of IL permanent commission, or a
fixed arbitrator named in advance, and,
agreeable to that idea, proposed the
amendment regarding the organization
of the arbitration commission already
pointed out in these dispatches. AT the
same time they think it essential there
should be some government officer
whose duty ii is to Immediately take up
the matter of settlement of disputes by
conciliation or mediation, and if this is
unsuccessful, to attempt To secure arbi
tration before war is declared
In objeCting To section 10 of the bill
as originally drawn by the attorney
general, which gave the government
right to bring suits in equity 10 prevent
o continuance of strike, the labor
men say they believe it covers ground
not contemplated by the preceding pro-
visions of the bill, and that it could
easily be construed in such way rs to
entirely defeat the objects aimed at
1--WE believe that it contemplates in.
vesting the representatives Of the gen
eral government with authority, which
is not consistent with the accepted un
derstanding Of the rights of property
owners or individual citizens In short,
we look upon it as a long step in the di
rectiCn of government paternalism, OF
eventual government ownership Of rail
ways, OF TO use "A briefer and stronger
Term, state socialism, pure and simple
TGLEGRAMS POUR M
President Cleyeland's Plan Generally Az
nrOXp1 ThrnupbOnt The