The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-09-29
LAB0Rl TROUBLES p | = II Z
COULD he ADJUSTED THROUGH AR
BITRATION.
And the Doubt, Uncertainty and
Harlships Attendant Avoided.
4 Miner Discusses Arbitration
Practical Remedies For Strikes.
The Arbitration Laws of New
Zealand Are Referred to.

"A
(Wm. Fennell, Jr, in the Mine Work.
ers Journal)
On the eve of what will no doubt, be
the greatest strike ever, experienced in
the anthracite coal mines Of Pennsyl-
vania, and possibly in the United
States, it is meet that we as intelli-
gent beings should ask ourselves the
question: Is there no means by which
this terrible industrial war might have
been averted. The people Of the coun
try have watched, with breathless in
terest, the events leading up to the pre-
sent situation in the anthracite fields
of Pennsylvania, and the heroic efforts
of the officers Of the United Mine Work
ers in trying to effect an amicable ad-
justment of the grievances complained
of without resorting to drastic meas
ures, have met their hearty approval.
So long as their was the least possible
chance to avoid conflict the order to
strike was withheld, and was only is
sued after it became apparent that all
negotia tions boxing to a peaceful set
tlement were at an end. This places
the responsibility for the strike, with
all it's consequent suffering, where it
properly belongs-on the shoulders of
the autocratic coal barons of the state,
who seem to think their employees have
no rights that they are bound to re-
spect Had the operators met the Of
ficers of the United Mine Workers or
committee of their employees in joint
convention, as they were requested to
do, and as the interest not only of
themselves and their employees, but of
the general public demanded they
should, happy solution of the whole
trouble would in all probability have
been reached and the mines would have
continued in operation in harmony and
peace. Not content with refusing to
meet the officers of the miners union
or committee of their own employees
to discuss the questions in dispute, they
| treated with silent contempt a PROPOSE
| ton to submit the whole matter to ar
bitration. This brings us again to the
question:, "Is there no means by which
this Industrial war may be avoided p
lBy constant agitation the abor unions
lsesaey alIkcAada - fsian
Ihaving a faW Epl laced ths
lbooks of that country creating inVol-
Iuntary II boards OF conctliatiOn and
courts of arbitration. Its main points
are: Q) 1t applies only to industries
| in which there are trades unions. (2)
! 1t does not prevent private concilia-
ton or arbitration. (O Cancellation is
exhausted by the state before it re-
sorts of arbitration. () If concilia-
ton is unsuccessful the disputants
must arbitrate. 90 Disobedience to
the award may be punished or not at
the discretion of the court.
Mr. Henry D. Lloyd, in. his new
book entitled "A Country Without
Strikes,'' tells us that. the compulsion
is threefold: compulsory publicity,
compulsory reference to disinterested
Iarbiter-provided the disputants will
not arbitrate Voluntarily; compulsory
obedience to the award"
The board of conciliation have four
Ito six members, are chosen every three
Years in each district by elections held
lseparately by the association of en-
lployers and the association of employees
under procedure carefully arranged by
law and under the supervision of a
government officer called the clerk OF
lawards. :.
The court Of arbitra ton consists OF
three persons who hold for three years
Iappointed by the governor general, and
of the three appointees one must be
chosen by him from men nominated by
the workingmen and one from among
men nominated by the capitalists. The
third is a judge Of the supreme court
We speak here of Involuntary arbi-
tration, yet under the New Zealand
laws the state takes no initiative ir
setting the arbitration in motion. The
law acts only as one party or the 9th.
er calls for it. The boards of concilia
ton have no other. powers than those
Of investigation, visitation and inter.
mediation. The court of arbitration is
a court with ordinary and extraordi
nary powers. 1t can summons any
party to dispute which is before it tt
appear and if he refuses can proceed
without him. 1t can compel the pro
r duction of any books or papers needed
, 1t can enter and investigate any prem
, | ises and question any person there Will
out warrant.
? These laws have now been in effec
more than five years, and during tha
time there has only been one strike il
> that country, Notwithstanding the fac
: that some Of the most hotly contested
, labor disputes ever known in New
Zealand have taken place since tn,
passage. Butfthey have all been de
cided before the court of arbitration
and consequently not a single day
work was lost by these disputes.
, large majority of the disputes decide,
2 by the arbitration court have been il
I favor of the laborers. It's decision
have been so fair that the employer
/ have in almost every case accepte,
f: them without a murmur. If the stat
l of, Pennsylvania was in possession o
, such laws as these instead. Of the in
: auguration, of gigantic strike tomor
t row morning we would see whitening
E ed peace lowering over these disturbe,
+ ! districts, But since peace can not b
J, had. and as the order has gone fort
: Ithat will@summon Of #brethrenstin th,
t anthracite mineas to the fray, let1zzus al
81 put our shoulder to the whee1, and wiz
[ a. long null and 81 strong pull and a pul