The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-03-19

trial fields proof that the principles he
advocates are correct Experience has
demonstrated that the representative
system is as useful in business as in gov
eminent. For the last 30 or so years in
many large industries in England all
questions Of conditions of work have
been settled, without strike or lockout,
by "joint boards, " "boards Of concilia-
tion" or arbitration boards" " on which
the associations of employers and en-
ployees have both been represented by
delegates duly chosen and empowered to
legislate for their constituents, and on
these boards the employers and employ
ees have always had an equal represon-
tation. In our country also and in Bel
gium such boards are known and have
met with equal success, but the practice
Of justice with us has been neither SO
long nor so widely extended as in Eng
land, and, strangely enough, employers
here, instead Of instinctively recogniz-
ing that this is the only solution of the
difficulties of the "labor question, " as
sumo tone of arbitrary ownership and
proclaim their right to issue orders
which must be obeyed.
From business men one might have
expected more practical" conduct, since
it is very evident that those who adopt
this position do not succeed in avoiding
labor conflicts and disturbances which
cause them great loss and trouble, while
the employers who recognize the justice
Of their employees claim to joint con-
troll in questions of common interest do
escape them.
In the cases where "joint boards
are formed the preliminary step usually
is the mutual recognition that both
sides are about equal in strength, that
each can injure the other seriously, but
that neither can conquer the other The
proof Of this necessarily comes from the
experience of a long series Of alternat-
ing strikes and lockouts-the employees
making unreasonable demands when
trade is good, the employers doing the
same when trade is bad, system "mu-
tually predatory" Finally it occurs to
few men OH one side or the other that
the whole thing is unworthy of intelli-
gent men who make their living by the
help of each other.
This sounds simple enough, and to
disinterested observer seems the only
reasonable method of settling questions
which are Of the greatest Importance to
both employers and employed, which
cannot be settled except by mutual con-
sent, either forced or voluntary, and
which must be settled if business is to
continue.
And yet the obstinacy and arrogance
of men make this reasonable arrange
ment very difficult one to accomplish.
FAIRNESS ON BOTH SIDES.
The two sides must be about equal in
strength, or, in other words, both must
be "well organized" d"-there must be
strong association of employers and a
strong trades union or other labor organ
ization, both of which shall represent
the majority Of the employers and work
men in the trade. This is necessary be-
cause the "joint committee" or "wages
board" must be composed of representa-
tives who are authorized to bind their
constituents otherwise their agreements
would be empty words.
Besides this, however, both the repre-
sentatives and the organizations they
represent must in the main be honest
men, intelligent men, or the plan will
fail. JOSEPHINE SHAW LOWELL.
New York, March, 1896.