The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-23
Compulsory Arbitration.

compulsory Arbitration.
A correspondent calls our attention to
book recently published by Henry
Demarest Lloyd. giving an account OF
the system of so-called compulsory ar
bitration In effect in New Zealand. Mr.
Lloyd has only good words to say for
1t, and credits It with the following ben
efcent results:
Strikes and loekouts have been stopped;
wages and terms have been fixed so that
manufacturers can make their contracts
ahead without fear of disturbance; work
men. too. knowing that their income can
not be cut down nor they locked out. can
marry, buy land, build homes; no factory
has been closed by the act; the country
Is more prosperous than ever; compulsory
publicity gives the public, the real arb
traitor all the facts of every dispute: the
victory is given as nearly as possible TO
the right instead of to the strong, as in
war; the concentration OF wealth and
power are checked: the distribution OF
wealth is determined along lines Of rea-
son, justice, and the greatest need, in
stead OF along lines Of the greatest greed.
and democracy is strengthened by these
equaliyations.
The subject IL one that will gain re-
newed interest from the great strike in
the anthracite coal regions. What inn
presses every one. in such a dispute.
IS the enormous stake that the outside
community has in preventing the set
tement of differences by this crude and
hurtful method. 1t is bad enough for
the parties to it. but they at least have
counted the cost and believe that they
viii secure a gain corresponding to the
sacrifices they have to make. Third
parties have no such consolation; yet
they are called upon to endure hard
ships sometimes no less than those OF
the striking employees or the resisting
employer
For example. the prices Of coal have
already been advanced at the East. and
they will be subject to increase as long
as the strike lasts. This means loss TO
hundreds of thousands OF people in no
way concerned with the struggle in the
Pennsylvania coal region or responsible
for it. 1t involves wrong to the COM
munity, including the helpless and the
needy, against which the community
should be able to protect itself. In case
OF other strikes. especially those In
volving transportation agencies, mill
lions OF people are affected in property
and happiness who are innocent OF any
relation to the dispute. AS society de-
velopes. the relations OF all its members
become more intimate and complex
The time must surely come when So
ciety will insist. in self-protection. upon
some means other than the strike of
settling labor differences. Just as It
now insists that other differences be-
tween man and man shall be settled in
the courts instead of by the fist or the
shotgun.
The Post-Intelligencer described some
months ago. with the heartIest common
dalton, the system OF arbitration courts
in effect in New Zealand. Labor or
ganizations are Incorporated, so that
there may be on each side legal per-
son that can be held accountable when
case is decided. Employer and en-
ploye are thus bound 10 abide, under
proper penalties, the decision OF the ar
bitrators. Grievances are speedily and
authoritatively settled. and collisions
between capital and labor are discour-
aged by the doing OF speedy Justice to
both. The system is so simple and ad-
mirable and so consistent with the In
stitutions Of this country that the only
wonder is why there is so little prac-
teal agitation In favor OF It here. Soon
er or later we shall abolish the strike.
just as We have abolished trial by or
deal by substituting for II method
better worthy OF Justice and civiliza-
ton.