Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-07-29
AS TO ARBITRATION.

accepted and observed in good faith,
in preventing and settling labor
troubles has made it popular, and
it is always suggested and frequent
ly resorted to in settling labor,
business and national differences.
In view of the serious outbreaks at
tending the street-car strikes in
Cleveland and Brooklyn and miners
strikes in several States, none OF
which would have occurred had the
employers agreed to arbitrate the
issues with their employees, bill for
compulsory arbitration of all labor
disputes is urged in New York and
will likely be presented in other
States when the Legislatures meet.
Thus far the discussion is confined
to the press, but the attitude of or
ganized labor toward it will have
much to do with its final DISPOSE
ton. The fact that organized labor
has advocated and contended for
arbitration for over a quarter of
century must not be considered as
proof positive that organized labor
will approve a general compulsory
arbitration law; on the contrary, it
will oppose such law, and not be in
consistent in so doing. Organized
labor understands the labor ques-
ton far better than any other class,
even the employers, as is fully
demonstrated by the fact that all
the beneficial labor laws enacted
were favored by organized labor,
and the Inefficient and injurious
laws were opposed by it. The
workingmen know what they want,
and frequently can tell the en-
ployer what is best for him.
If all questions were arbitrable
and the interested parties willing,
doubtless everything could be set
tied by arbitration. The essentials
10 successful arbitration are mutual
consent, justice to concede the
rights of others, and honesty to
abide the decision. Where en-
ployers and employees will recognize
and concede the just rights of each
other they are generally honest
enough to accept and faithfully
carry out the decision, whatever it
may be. They have only to be as
sured that the proposition to arbi-
trate is sincere and will be fairly
conducted, and they agree. For
them no compulsory law is neces-
sary.
The employer who does not even
recognize the legal right of his en-
ploye to have a voice as to hours of
labor, wages, terms, conditions, or
anything concerning his employ
ment or treatment, and conducts
his business in defiance of all these,
aud the law as we'll, will certainly
not fail to evade any restrictions an
arbitration board may place upon
him. So with the workman who
disregard the right of employers to
property or any authority over their
business, to fix rules or direct how
their work shall be done, regulate
their affairs, protect their plants
and earn a profit, neither will he
care for arbitration. In short, there
are employers for whom only slaves
can work, and there are workmen
who can not be made to work ex- /
cept by taskmaster. They detest
each other, and neither would ac- 1
cept or obey any decision but his :
own. !
To force arbitration on them
would be a farce, and the results 6
would not be such as to exemplify
its merits, but rather tend to render {
it odious. Arbitration is intended {
for and will benefit intelligent and |
honest people, but law can not c
make some people either intelligent ri
or honest. Education of employers :