The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-18
TO PREVENT STRIKES
Representatives ofCapitaI and
Labor Convene.
Both Sides Vigorously Opposed to Compulsory
Arbitration. Addresses by Gompers,
Mitchell, Hoyt and Others.
tBy the Associated Press


have bitterly opposed each other in in
dustrial contests filled Steinway Hall at
tonight's session of the conference on
Cancellation and arbitration, which began
here today. Both the day and night ses-
sions We're taken up with papers read
by representatives of capital and labor,
looking to the same end-a cure for
strikes.
1t seemed plainly evident that both
sides were very vigorously opposed to
compulsory arbitration, and if a recon-
s1endation on the subject of national
board results from the present gathering
the recommendation will in all probability
specify that all the boards work shall be
along the line of voluntary arbitration.
The night session was called to order at
8 o'clock. After a few Introductory re-
marks by Franklin MacVeagh, the presid-
ing officer, Henry w. Hoyt, president of
the National Founders Association was
introduced Mr.. Hoyt said:
THE industrial problems, so-called
must be adjusted along the lines of least
resistance, and the line of least resist
ance, in my opinion, is voluntary arbitra-
ton
las long as the wage-earner believes or
is taught to assume that society is in
league to rob him as an individual of
some of the purchasing power of his SER
vices, so long must society reckon with
him in his collective capacity. The en-
ployer who elects to ignore this fact is
often as much of menace to the indus
trial peace as is that agitator who plays
upon the prejudices and infiames the pas
sions of the men he falsely serves. But
the conditions are improving on both
sides The progressive manufacturer has
learned that union is not an altogether
reprehensible evil in social economics
and readily admits that when organized
wage earners are dominated by strong
conservative men they will meet the en-
ployer half way in arbitration
President Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor, was the
principal speaker tonight and an address
also was delivered by Henry White, Cen
eral Secretary of the United Garment
Workers of America.
The conference was called to order to-
day by Franklin MacVeagh Chairman OF
the Committee on Arrangements.
Carroll d. Wright. United States Com
missioner of Labor and Herman Justi,
John Mitchell, President of the United
Mine Workers, said his organization has
favored for over ten years an adjudication
on differences by cancellation and arbi-
tration and that there has not been
great strike in which the miners had en-
gagged that they had not first tried to
apply the principle of Cancellation and
arbitration before engaging in the strike.
This was true in the recent contest in
the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania.
At the afternoon session z. Dana Du-
rand and L. ID. Kenna made interesting
addresses
Mr.. Gompers in his address to the con-
ference referred to the remarks made du-
ring the session by Santa Fe official ac-
cording to whose statements. said Mr..
Gompers, it would appear that all the
overtures toward Cancellation or arbitra-
ton in such disputes as that between the
Santa Fee and its telegraphers came from
the employers. Mr.. Gompers asserted
that, on the contrary. where there had
been one offer from the side of associated
capital. there have been hundreds from
the side of organized labor. The employ
es, he said had become accustomed to
hear their proffers Cancellation met
with the answer that there lis nothing
to arbitrate." He added, however, that
he was not unmindful of the fact that
there was a growing disposition on the
part of employers toward a more consilia
tory policy. This condition, Mr.. Gompers
believed, was due to the growing strength
of organized labor.
Though admitting that strikes ought to
be avoided in the interests of both capital
and labor, Mr.. Gompers declared that
there were some evils more dreadful
than strikes. He added:
I'VE shall insist upon the right to quit
work whenever the work becomes irk
some to us, and we shall always insist
on our right to strike for any reason or
for no reason at all.
Chairman MacVeagh announced the fol-
lowing Committee on Resolutions and
Plan of Action chosen by the committee
in charge of the conference, representing
the different interests involved:
A. c. Bartlett Vice President of Hih-
bard Spencer Bartlett and Company, Chi
cago; Henry w. Hoyt, President of the
National Founders Association; Herman
Justi, Commissioner of the Illinois Coal
Operators Association; G. Watson |
French, Vice President of the Republic |
Iron and Steel Company; E. d. Kenna |
Vice President of the Atchison, Topeka |
and Santa Fe Railway System; Chauncey |
III. Castle President of the Stove Found |
ers' National Defense Association; Sam |
uel Gompers. President of the American |
Federation of Labor; John Mitchell, Pres |
ident of the United Mine Workers of |
America Martin Fox. President of the |
Iron Moulders' Union of America; Frank |
p Sargent Grand Master Brotherhood of |
Locomotive Firemen; Henry White, Gen |
eral Secretary United Garment Workers |
of America; James NJ. Lynch, President |
OF the International Typographical Union. |