The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-17
Conference Called by Ralph NJ.
Easley in Chicago.
Meets to Discuss Methods OF
Closing the Gulf Between
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
Franklin MacYeagh Says IL Is
Largely Imaginary.
Vice President Kenna Opposes
Compulsory Arbitration.

! Chicago. Dec. IA conference on
Industrial Cancellation and Arbitra-
tion" under the auspices of the National
| Civic Federation began here at lo.aO
o'clock today Steinway hall was but
] half filled when the conference opened,
| but Secretary Ralph NJ. llasley Of the
! Civic Federation, declared that the
numerous labor captains present from
| various points of the country formed a
good return on the Invitations sent out.
The conference has for its object tha
stirring up Of public sentiment by
means of Intelligent discussion netwccu
representative OF labor and employer,
rather than Of taking definite action, al-
though IL is not unlikely that some rcso-
| luton giving the sentiment OF the COM
ference on the best ways of dealing with
Industrial disputes viii come up before
the close OF the meeting Tuesday night.
The audience during the forenoon
listened with close attention TO the
variety of views presented by the speak
ers. President Samuel Gompers OF tha
Federation Of Labor was present Tie
will speak tonight.
The conference was called 20 order hy
Franklin MacNeagh. chairman Of the
committee on arrangements. Ite spoke
in part as follows:
ADDRESS OF MAC VEAGH
Nothing certainly is more pressing
than a method OF adjusting the differ
ences Of capital and labor. Nothing
more Immediately or profoundly in
confronted just now by a great eN-
pansion Of our foreign trade; and by
a new vitality and vigor of domestic
prosperity and development as we'll we
can therefore IN afford to wait FOR the
basis of industrial peace If that basis
is possible 10 be found now. Neither the
working man, nor the employers. nor
the general public can afford TO waste
time in wandering about In maze or
confused conceptions and OF half
thought-out theories, policies and rrac-
ia tn d.
ton.
ut has long been generally assumed
that some form OF arbitration is the ffoal
toward which all solutions Of the prob
lens must Of necessity advance. be-
lieve this conference viii modify that
time honored assumption. Whether some
form OF arbitratiOn-that is "a hearing
and judgment by wholly diHintcrested
arbitrators-shall be finally accepted or
not, as the best method Of determining
questions between employer and en-
ploye.'it is no longer necessary 10 limit
ourselves to the consideration OF nrbitra-
tion in seeking our remedy. The aa-
vance of organization among both em-
plOyers and working men-and eHpeclai-
" the increasing prevalence OF national
OrganizatiOn-has MADE 10 possible 10 re-
sumo the practice Of settlement hy con-
ference OF the Interested parties them
selves: through the device OF national
conferees, fully Representative OF the In
terests of the disputing parties. but re-
moved stage or two from the lmmedi~
this substitute for arbitration the eiimi-
nation OF the disinterestedne Of the arr
bitrator, but at the same time, the elimi-
nation Of his unfamiiaritv with the
complexities. the technicalitics and the
national or general Importance and Hig-
nificance Of the questions involved; and
the elimination equally OF his rather
helpless and hopeless inclination 70 split
the difference
sThe adoption OF a successful method
Of settling the economic disagreement
between capital and labor without strife
and without excitement would have ut
course great influence on the material
progress Of the nation but Il would have
also a far-reachlng influence on the de-
velopment OF the nations civilization
and therein lies after all its chief sig
nificance and value.
MR.. KENNA's REMARKS.
The afternoon session was opened BY
T.. Dana Durand He was followed by
Mr.. J.. j.. Kenna. first vice president
and general manager Of the Atchison.
Topeka g. Santa Fe system, who said Ia
part:
to the subject under consideration in
wolves primarily two questions First,
what power does the public possess 20
control such carriers; and. second, 20
what extent s. IL desirable to exercise
such power. When capital is 50 em-
ployed as to monopolize transportation.
the public is neither impertiuent nor un-
reasonable when II says 10 both the em-
ployer and the emDl0ye. You have
chosen TO engage in a business that ar
fects directly every citizen, and, IN 80
doing. you surrendered n part Of your
natural liberty TO contract and deal as
you might see fit. il was long contend
ed by capital that the government had
no right TO regulate railroads. but the
supreme court held that when capital
was so invested IL became affected with
a public use, and subject to reason
able control by the state. The same
court has said that railways are public
T1f oh III N
railway company are governmental.
Therefore. those who are employed to
maintain our railroads are at work on
a public highway and those operating
them are performing public function
II the capital invested in such highways
is subject to regulation by the state.
why should not the employees who work
on them be subjected to a like res trniutf
Manifestly any right Of control which
the public has over the carrier extends
to its agents. for the state is cnl-
cient body that can compel the perform
ance OF whatever II may order
"Ts compulsory arbitration advisahief
Compulsory arbitration. without power 90
enforce the award. would be "a farce. To
say that men must arbifrat1. but need NOT
abide the award. would be TO provide "a
less. To make an award eWectiNef ~ -
necessary that one party can be com
PEELED to employ and the other compelled
To labor. though neither be satisfied with
the award This would be slavery. say
some. and others coniacation. but it
would be neither. and only mere obedience
to constituted authority. exercif ng poWers
both consistent with the spirit Of our laws
The sentiment Of today is unQueationnbly