Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-09

ously inJure their business interests.
II the corporation asserts that there
has been no Just ground for complaint,
and the men say they have been badly
used, why should not the contro,e rsy
be adjusted peaceably by arbitration?
II the men are ready to go before arbi-
traitors, and the corporation declines to
do so preferring war in the streets,
may not the people reasonably infer
that the corporation is in the wrong?
If such controversies ought to be set
tied by arbitration, what can the peo-
pie do to induce or compel both parties
to reach agreements in that way?
in the state Of New York there Is a
law providing for arbitration, but 1t is
only permissive statute. which has
no force in cases where one of the two
parties declines to use It, The time
has come for the enactment OF laws in
New York and other states compelling
the submission to arbitration of such
controversies between the employees
and the officers OF corporations using
public franchises as have recently
caused deplorable disorder and conflict
in the streets of several American cit
les. Compulsory arbitration has been
tested in New Zealand with very salts
factory results. There the process be-
gins with hearing before local board
of Cancellation, whose decision has no
binding force, but by such boards many
disputes have been settled. An appeal
may be taken, however. from the local
board to the court of arbitration, which
consists of one person elected by the
trade unions, one elected by the asso-
Citations of employers, and justice OF
the supreme court, who presides. The
decisions of this tribunal have the force
of law.
1.-The public may not suffer when
work is stopped in cotton mill or
shoe factory by strike or lockout.
In such cases very few persons except
the employers and the employed are
affected. But when the street cars IN
a city of a million inhabitants stop run
ming or can move under the protection
OF an armed guard, and both lie ana
property are nenaced by riots and ex-
ploslons. and trade is checked, the ef-
feet is more injurious upon the public
than upon either the workmen of the
employing corporation. The people
should and will undertake to protect
themselves. They can do this most
surely by legislation requiring the
other two parties to seek the decision
of arbitrators and abide by 1.-THE
Independent, New York.
Arbitration Should be Compulsory
What we need is kind of arbitration
that neither party will be at liberty to
treat with contempt If two men have
a quarrel and begin fighting in the
street. the police do not leave them
TO fight 1t out until one gets the other
MI 49, 40
putants may be absolutely right. The
policeman pays no attention to that.
He takes both men to the station house.
and the next morning magistrate
passes upon the case and both have to
abide by his decision.
Even if the man who happened to be
in the right should say. There is moth
ing TO arbitra.e-just stand aside and
watch me polish this fellow off, the
policeman would soon convince him
that there was something to arbitrate
after all.
When a community gives up its
lstree.s to corporation 1T does not re-
serve many rights. but one of the few
that 1t does reserve is the right to have
Ipeace A street-railroad company OPP
Grating under public franchise is a
i y
to carry on its business with the same
freedom from interference that might
be claimed by purely private individ-
ual, like barber or a tailor. And even
BARRIERS and tailors have been compelled
by law to treat their employees de-
Gently
Let US have system OF compulsory
arbitration. under which corporations
holding rights granted by the public
will De deprived Of the power TO sit in
Judgment In their own cases. Let the
tribunal established take cogniZance of
any dispute between such corporation
and any substantial number of its EN-
! ployees and render a decision which
shall be binding upon both parties.
! The present system. or rather lack
1 of system. Is simply economic anarchy
the naked, unrestrained right of the
strongest, in whose application the
most accomplished financier is merely
la humble imitator of the primitive gor-
lila with club. The Journal, New
York.