The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-03-19
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A Series OF Articles Contributed to These
Columns by Advanced Thinkers.
INDUSTRIAL CANCELLATION.

Whenever strike or lockout is of
sufficient importance to attract public
attention, after it has continued for
few days there begins to be talk of Car
bitration" on the part Of the press and
Of the workingmen who are engaged in
the contest
If arbitration is resorted to, the ques-
tions in dispute are referred to one or
more arbitrators, who hear both sides
and decide between them. This is, of
course, judicial process, except that
the submission Of the question on both
sides is purely voluntary, as neither can
force the other into court, and the obli-
cation to abide by the decision is moral
only; there is nothing legally binding
in it.
Usually strikes and lockouts are set
tied in less formal way by the inter-
vention of persons inspired either by
private or public interest, who act as
go betweens and run from one side to
the other, gaining a little concession
here and there, smoothing away one
difficulty after another, and finally ar
ranging matters with as little loss Of
dignity as possible to the contending
parties.
But between civilized bodies of men
whose services are vitally important to
each other, who make their living by
the help Of each other, it is disgrace
that there should be these constantly re-
curing contentious.
They arise only from the selfshness
and tyranny Of men, unrestrained by
nobler qualities, and selfishness and tyr
amy are equally hateful and mischie-
vous whether exhibited by employers or
employed. Unfortunately, whichever
side has had the power has usually ex-
ercised 1t in so arrogant a manner and
with such unrelenting harshness as to
goad the other side to resistance, result
ing often in a state Of open warfare
which has continued either until one
side or the other is quite conquered,
when the old series of acts is begun
again to end in the same way or until
both sides are exhausted.
The fact needs to be emphasized that
the same qualities have been exhibited
by both sides, that human nature, when
undisciplined, is very much the same
thing Sin masters and in men" and
that neither side has a right to cast
stones, but both should cry inca culpa,
mea culpa" At times it is the labor or
ganizations which are dictatorial, while
the employers cringe and relinquish all
their rights to maintain peace, bth more
frequently the employers are arbitrary
and furannica1 accartinn 1o,I1x that
they "intend to manage their own bust
ness as they choose and will not be in
terfered with by their workmen.
IN SOLVING A PROBLEM USE ALL THE FACTORS
Here is the weak point-there will
never be justice between employers and
employees, and consequently there will
never be lasting peace, until the pub
lie and the employers recognize the
claim Of the employees to voice in the
settlement Of questions relating to the
conditions of labor. These questions are
Of vital importance to the employees,
and do, in fact, more nearly concern
them than they do the employers, for in
the case of the latter it is only their
business success or their living which is
involved, while with the employees all
interests are at stake. 1t can scarcely be
expected that American citizens who
have been born and bred with the in
stincts Of freemen will submit tamely
to system which places their welfare
entirely in the hands Of others.
The above suggestion will be now to
many, and may seem to be unreason-
able, but the more it is considered the
more just it will show itself to be, and
it will finally be acknowledged to be
true. As Mr.. William II. Sayward, sec
retary of the National Association of
Builders Gan association of employers),
says in lecture on the "Relation of
Employer and Workman -
1.-THE labor question has two compo-
nent parts, the employing or profit labor
and the performing or wage labor, and
1T is folly to attempt to deal with the
question at all unless both parties are
united i'll the consideration. Neither
party to the joint interest can handle
the question alone.
HON. C. F. ADAMS on ARBITRATION.
The next question is the practical one,
"How can employees be taken into the
councils of their employers?' and the
answer made by Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams, for many years state railroad
commissioner in Massachusetts and for
many years also president of the Union
Pacific railroad, in an article entitled
"The Prevention Of Railroad Strikes, -
is one which must cause a responsive
thrill in every American breast
1t will be impossible to establish
perfectly good faith and the highest
morale in the service of the companies
(railroad) until the problem of giving
this voice to employees and giving it
effectively is solved 1t can be solved in
but one way, that is, by representation.
TO solve it may mean industrial peace.
1t is impossible to dispose of these
difficult matters in town meetings.
Nevertheless, the town meeting must
be at the base of any successful plan of
disposing Of them. The end in view is
to bring the employer-whoi in this case