The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-11
ENrz:NG STRIKES.


past few years, in the progress of in
dustrial disputes, is generally conceded
to have been unfortunate in the highest
degree both for the welfare of the COM
munities affected and for the individuals
who have been engaged in fighting out
their difficulties to a finish.
The G. ! o e has from time to time
urged the need on the part of the COM
munity of protecting itself against the
unreason which marks the progress of
such disputes after they have reached a
given stage and of saving itself the VIC
lence and bIoodshed as well as the ma
terial losses which ensue. Each succeed
ing disagreement however, among en-
ployers and employees is, with few eXcep-
tions followed by the same scenes of riot
and crime which everybody deprecates,
but which no one seems able to avoid.
Existing arbitration laws are of no
earthly use In such controversies. They
leave arbitration optional, and it is not
to be expected that men will agree upon
an amicable adjustment Of their diff
culties while they are laborlng under the
excitement which attends the assertion
of relative rights through the agency Of
the bludgeon.
The principle of enforced arbitration
would furnish the true remedy if public
sentiment existed to force its adoption.
There Is one country in which it Is and
for years has been in operation, and it's
fruits are now seen to be all that could
possibly be hoped for and to be such as
the American people are anxious to see
realized among their own Industrial class
es. In New Zealand some fifteen years
ago the entire colony was brought to the
verge of civil war through the agency
of a great labor strike. Some heroic
remedy chosen was that Of compulsory
arbitration. The result, after years of
trial of the remedy, Is set forth in a
recent publication entitled "a Country
Denarest Lloyd.
The author is a disinterested American
observer. He went to Australia to study
the system, and remained there for an
extended period In that undertaking. He
only summarizes the main results; but
his summary offers the most convincing
evidence that in New Zealand they have
brought the great problem Of industry
al f0d NV ha
a satisfactory solution. Under the sys-
tenn strikes have been stopped; wages and
terms are fixed so that manufacturers
can make their contracts ahead without
fear of disturbance; disputes, which
arise frequently, are adjusted either by
Cancellation or arbitration; as arbitration
is mandatory the system operates so that
employers and employees alike make the
necessary concession and arbitration is
rarely necessary. Industry has never
been disturbed no matter how serious the
disagreement and no factory has ever
closed under the operation of the law
When arbitration is had and the award
Is made, it usually operates as the basis
of satisfactory agreement for the
future. Workingmen, feeling secure, buy
their own homes and settle down more
securely than in any other land
The system has the direct operation of
promoting trades unions, but 1t has also
the effect, under express provision of
law, of making the unions take all com
petent workmen into their ranks. So,
too, it operates to promote organization
among employers. The law makes the
publication of all the facts of a given in
dustrial dispute obligatory, so that the
public are enabled to know the merit,
and dement's of the controversy, and set
tlement is soon demanded by public senti
ment. The awards of the arbitration
courts fix standards of living an0ng
WorAngmen which are recognized by the
courts of the colony, the courts taking
judicial cognizance of them in the adjust
rnent OF private disputes. The law recog-
nlzes the need of organization on the part
ootn OF employers and employees; with
the result that the entire system of the
relations of employers and employees is
adjusted on humane and rational basis.
which is so framed and administered as
to prevent either side securing any per-
manent advantage over the other
All these are what may be termed the
ideal results. But they are seen in active
operation, The fact that the law makes
necessary adjustment through appointed
methods has the effect, which is the con-
trolling influence in the entire plan. of
causing employers and employees who
otherwise might not be amenable to
reason to come together and adjust their
differences in the great majority of cases
without having recourse at all to even
arbitration. Thus the relations be-
tween capital and labor in New Zealand,
under the operation of the compulsory
arbitration system. oecure 20 capital care.