The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-04
HOSTS OF LABOR ENJOY THEIR ANYAL HOLIDAY IN St PHL

gested, and their employees, what right
has the one or the other to be Judge of
MS own case any more than in any other
controversy? What right has the corpo-
Ldlon 70 say; Fhisssuits me and is my
pressure You must comply or 1 will de-
stFoy you and your family" But this is
JUST exactly what We npermit today. This
Is the language ofSthe lockout. We know
tnat TO the ordinary laboring man en-
ployed IN an industrial capacity, especial
ly II he has family the loss of his job
means almost destruction. 1t is Idle
therefore to saysathat he can go to an
otner town, or to another community to
OBTAIN work A man cannot pack his fam
lily nor transport himself to distant
market IKE the manufacturer can send
ms pale OF cloth. He is in a measure tied
TO the SOIL where he is, and he cannot
escape from that condition without terri
bic loss and sacrifice.
On the other hand, what right has Ia
Dor to say: I'VE will have such wages
and such terms of service and no other.
II you refuse them. we will not work; we
VIII not permit others. to work; we will
destroy your business
INTOLERABLE CONDITIONS.
These two propositions in the, one form
or the other nave conf onted the Ameri-
can people in the different sections of the
land in every month of the year, almost
as long as L can remember | repeat
tnat Such condition of affairs, a cOndi-
ton which leads to strife, bloodshed ind
violence, is intolerable and should no
longer be permitted. 1t has often been
asked, What is the remedy?" 1 an
sWer, What has humanity done to meet
IKE emergencies in the past?" 1t abol-
lshed the wager of battle; it abolished.
duell1ng; 1t said to the contestants. So
ciety will afford you an oppo, tunity to
submit your differences to an umpire.
Take his judgment and abide by his de-
clston. And l insist that the safety
or society, and of our institutions, de-
mends that We should solve this prob EN-
on the same lines. 1t is objected that,
while the decis' on could be enforced
against the employer, there is no way
OF enforcing II against the employee; that
the employe is irresponsible and cannot
be held TO the payment of damages. I
deny this The laboring man is not ir-
responsible In the first place he is
other citizen. If, after fair invest ga
ten before an impartial tribunal with
full access to the books and papers of
his employer, decision is rendered that
is fair to both sides, he is going TO abide
by that decision, although it may fall
snort OF what he sought to get. On the
other han6, Dor organizati tons as such
II recognized by law, if incorpora tea I'M
der the statutes, as we autholize the in
corporation of lodges Of ODD Fellows
Wofkmen, Woodmen, and other assoc'a-
ohs, would be a responsible as they
are, rs able to respond in compensation,
| II adJudged against them, as are any of
the organizations named. Many branch~s
| OF organized labor are ALREADY incorpor-
ehcial organizations, such as the Switch
mems, conductors and trainmen's organ
izatlons, and great MANY others I
have not heard it suggested that those
| organizations do not comply with their
contracts and decisions rendered against
/ them
LET LAW RECOGNIZE LABOR.
Let the law recognize labor organiza-
lions and permit the Incorporation of
| unions in the various states as it now
recognizes benevolent associations ana
! lodges. Let these unions, under proper
, regulations, adopt and file in the office
OF the commissioner of Labor their by
laws and regulations. They and through
I them their memheTsy are then in position
| to be dealt with by any other corporation
| They could be required to raise and MAIN
! tain a. reasonable amount of funds to
! meet such eXigencies as might arise If
| difference should then arise between an
| employer and employees, the employer
| would not, as he now objects, have to
deal, as he row protests he must, with an
! irresponsible walking delega tie, He
would have to deal instead with a duly
incorporated hody, acting through its lie
| gal officers. If the difference cGuld net
| be amicab.y adjusted, then a law pro
! vidtng (as docs the New Zealand statute)
| that either party might. apply for COM
i pulSory arbitration and that, pending
the arbitration, wages and employment
| should con- inue as though no difference
| existed, would remove every occasion for
both the lockout and the strike. The
i
! of Two members selected by each side,
land a fifth member tc ne either q judge
! of the district court 10 the district where
/ the differ ence occurred, or a Judge of the
| ssupr eme court. Such tribunal would be
| faiLaF constituted, end as likely to do
! justice to both sides as any plan that
| human Ingenuity can devise. Its deci-
| sion. which we are bound to assume
would be fair, would have the support of
/ public opinion. and would be accepted oy
the parties Adequate fines or penalties
| should be provided against failure to
| comply with its terms. Money penalties
have been sufficient to insure compliancs
| If this were found inadequate, forfeiture
| OF membership In the union could be i'm
| posed. 1t Is not, In my judgment. the
| penalties which such board would have
| the power tc impose that would give its
| decisions effectiveness. 1t is the fact that
| the decision when made after a full and
! fair hearing, by fairly constituted tri-
| and would have the sanction Of public
| opinion that would make it acceptable.
| The views that now express are no new
notion of mine. As long ago as 1885, when
| ] was first nominated for congress-
| drafted and had inserted a plank in the
| platform on which was nominated. as
| follows:
create a commission or tribunal to ascer-
tain and ADJUST alb differences between
employer and employed, who come within
| the sphere of national supervision. with
| full power in such commission or tribunal
to enforce its decrees.''
VOLUNTARY ARBITRATION.
In the second congress in which served
/ y