The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-19
ARBITRATION is COMPULSORY
IN NEW ZEALAND, AS EXPLAINED
DURING THE DE-
BATE
THE CONVENTION At AN END
with Resolutions Adopted FavOrfng
the Establishment of Stand
ing Committee of Con-
ciIiatiOn.

and conciliation, which passed
into industrial history with its adjourn
ment tonight, was enlivened during the
day by e debate between Samuel Com,
pers, president American Federation of
Labor, and Hugh Lusk, cx-member of
parliament, of New Zealand. The vener-
able New Zealander, during the forenoon,
turned aside from his prepared address TO
express displeasure at declaration made
by Mr.. Gompers in his address last night.
The labor leader on the occasion men
toned asserted that he wanted to see
labor organizations retain the privilege
of striking when they pleased, why they
pleased, or merely because they pleased.
'"That is not liberty cried Mr.. Lusk.
eft is license
At this moment Mr.. Gompers entered.
The speaker proceeded:
''Mr. Gompers wants conciliation, and
he says you can never have any concllia-
ton unless you are ready to cut one an
others throats Well, if that is the un-
fortunate position of the people of
the United States, am sorry
ious to cut one another's throats where
came from. I wish Mr.. Gompers had
taken the trouble to find out what our
compulsory arbitration law was before
he told you about it, but, as he has not,
am obliged to do it for him"
During the afternoon Mr.. Gompers Sc
cured the stage and reiterated his asser-
tions of the night previous.
GOMPERS GETS BACK.
1--WE DON'T he declared, clutch each
others throats unnecessarily, but I would
rather have the right to clutch at a mans
throat than to have my arms amputated.
The compulsory labor law is equivalent
to the amputation referred to. I want
labor to have the strength of a giant, but
to use that strength gently
Following this, two speeches were sand
wiched in, and then Mr.. Lusk again Sc
cured the floor. He explained at length
the workings Of the arbitration court Of
New Zealand, generally talking straight
at the labor president
ou,d cut my arms off in your coun-
try, said Mr. Go1npers, speaking from his
seat.
If you were good we would not am
putate your arms" replied the New Zea-
lander, but We might enlarge your
head"
NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM.
A lively exchange Of questions and
answers which bewildered the audience,
followed. Mr.. Lusk explained that dur
ing the hearing of a dispute between
employer and his unionized employees
neither side could, under penalty, change
the conditions which caused the appeal to
the arbitration court. The hearing dur
ing which neither side had the right to
independent action generally lasted about
a month.
I'D rather be at swords points in
America, and independent, than to sur
render my right to strike for one min-
ute," shouted Mr. Gompers. And with
that he left the hall.
Aside from the thrusts between these
two men, and they took up considerable
time, there were numerous speeches all
favoring voluntary arbitra ation Even
Mr.. Lusk declared that America was not
ready for compulsory arbitration
Other addresses during the afternoon
were made by the following: Edgar A.
Agard, member of the executive board Of
the Glass Bottle Blowers association;
Frederick r. Bagley, of the Marble Man.
ufacturers' association, and Frank
Buchanan, president bridge and struc-
tnral irn workers. Benjamin I. Wheeler,
president University of California, was
present for g short time. He declared
that the university was the tribunal to
which labor difficulties should come for
calm, scientific discussion.
At the evening session the committee
On resolutions submitted its report.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
1II0 TSSOIOIlOlS T6COSLlZ0 Tie IdCL
that compulsory arbitration-aside from
all other objections urged against it's
not at this time a question of political
industrial reform, and that such systems
as are now in vogue don't seem to fully
meet the requirements of the different in
terests.''
The resolutions further recommend that
the presiding officer of the conference ap-
point a committee to serve for one year
m q nf rix Vaya ,4.,4:
the employer class and six of the en-
ploye class, to be selected as nearly as
consistent from the different sections of
the country for the purpose of forn1ulat-
ing some plan of action looking to the
establishment of a general system of
conciliation that will promote industrial
peace.
I'VE would also recommend" the report
concluded, that there be a committee of
two with power to appoint such auxiliary
committees from the industries, trades
and professions as may seem best to pro-
mote the work of conciliation and edu
cation.
1--WE believe that this conference viii
have, in part at least, failed in it's mis-
sion unless it strenuously insists that the
proper time to arbitrate is not after a
strike Or lockout has been inaugurated,
but before it has begun. We fully realize
that all plans of arbitration will be una
vailing until we are all animated by a
spirit of fairness and justice, and are
willing to open our eyes to such rights as
belong to every citizen
THE COMMITTEE.
The report was adopted without debate.
and Chairman MacYeagh appointed. as
members for one year the same gentle
men who constituted the resolutions com
mittee a follows:
A. G: Bartlett, vice president Hiboard
Spencer, Bartlett & Co., Chicago Henry
w. Hoyt, president National Founders
association; Herman Justi commissioner
Illinois Ccal Operators associati ton; G.
N. Watson French, vice pesident Repub-
lcian Iron and Steel company; E. D.
l<erna, vice president Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railway; Chauncey H. Cas-
tie, president Stove Founders National
Defense association; Samuel Gompers
president American Federation of Labor:
John Mitchell, president United Mine
Workers of America; Martin Fox, pres
ident Iron. Moulders' Union of America;
Frank p. Sargent, grandmaster Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen; Henry
White, general secretary United Gar
meflt Workers of America; James M
Lynch, president international Typo
graphical union.
The submission and adoption of the re-
port Of the resolutions committee was the
frat business transacted at the night Ses-