The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-25
A DIsGRACEFUL wARFARE.

| DlSGRACEFUL WARFARE,
The state of things existing in the In
| dustrial life of the city of Chicago for
some weeks past is in every way deplor3-
bic. The strike and lockout are univer-
SAL and the organizations of employers
and union employees are engaged general
! ly In making the usual test of endurance.
| Meanwhile the industrial society of the
community outside of the ranks of the
contending forces seems to have little or
no regard paid to its rights or interests.
The men of the building trades were
| first in the field, and they have been fol-
lowed in quick order by strikes CT lock-
outs among the machinists the saddlers.
the tailors and the representatives of
many other crafts.
1t would be a useless task TO engage
IN the undertaking of trying TO deter
mine the merits or dement's OF the con-
tending claims. But in one instance. at
! least the result achieved seems to be
wholly unwarranted. and would be impos-
sible in case there were any serious pur-
| pose on either side to consider other in
! terests beside those immediately involved
in dispute. This instance is the case Of
the trouble existing betweln the mach n
lists and their employers. There conflict
for supremacy prevails between the TWO
organizations, the National Metal Trades
association and the International Asscci1-
ton of Machinists, representing re peat
lively employers and employees.
The men had demanded an increase in
wages ranging from 10 to 10 per cent, and
the recognition of their union by the en-
ployers. There were other minor points
of dispute, but in the effort TO secure
settlement an agreement upon arbitration
was reached. The proposition made by
the employers union was that a commit
tee of arbitration be appointed, to consist
OF the presidents of both organizations
and two members Of each organization.
which should arbitrate all present and
future difficulties, and whose decision
should be accepted as final by both par
ties This was agreed to, and matters
seemed on the point of adjustment, when
a difficulty arose which seems on it's face
| trivial The employers organization de-
manded That the other party should d.
| rect all its members on strike to return
to work as soon as the agreement to ar
bitrate was put in operation. To this the
men demurred declaring their perfect
70 oI1i
the arbitration board. but insisting that
matters remain in allegiance pending the
reaching of an agreement. On this rock
the forces divided, and open and unre-
lenting war is now In operation.
The men insist that the employers OBJ
ject to the union having control of it's
own members, and that The real cause Of
the refusal of the employers association to
close the disagreement up is it's determine
ton to dictate how far the union shall
and shall not control its own members.
The employers organization, in refusing
to maintain the status quo while arbitra-
ton was pending, assigned as its reason
its belief that the national organization
of the men did not have the power to Sc
cure the general acceptance of the result
Of the award among the local machnists,
especially if that result were adverse to
the mems claims
In this case, as, indeed, in the other
case Of the building trades strike, it is
quite plain that if there were any Off
ciai public body which might intervene In
a spirit of Cancellation and good will, 10
such foolish course would be entered
upon Union labor organizations are an
enduring factor in the Industrial life of
the country. 1t is useless and worse for
employers to endeavor to ignore them
Organization is an essential in conducting
the affairs both of the men and the en-
ploying forces and any course Of con-
duct on either side which seeks to ignore
or kill off the organization of it's oppc-
nents is idle. fegvv
The prevailing condition of Industrial
! turmoil in Chicago is a disgrace, and sa-
vors of sheer barbarism The general
| public is surely entitled to some protec-
ton against the consequences Of the ex.
treme views of both the opposing inter-
ests involved in all the prevailing dis
putes.