Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-12-21
LABOR CONFERENCE.
Arbitration and Cancellation
Under Discussion.
COMPULSORY MEASURES OPPOSED.
Representatives of Capital and La
Dor Trying to Find Cure For
the strike ENii-BcIicvc II Lies
Voluntary Arbitration.

In NOIuntary Arbitration.
CHICAGO, Dec. 1S.-Ncn who in the
past have bitterly opposed each other i'll
Industrial contests filled Steinway hall ut
last nights session of the conference on
Cancellation and arbitration which has
begun here. Both the day and night SEES
sions We're taken up with papers read by
representatives of capital and labor look
ing to the same cnd-a cure for strikes.
From the tone of the addresses it seem
ed plainly evident that both sides were
vigorously opposed to compulsory arb-
tration, and if a recommendation on the
subject of national board results from
the present gathering the recommends
ton 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 5 o'clock. After few Introductory re-
marks 10y Franklin McNegh, the presid
ing officer, Henry w. Hoyt president of
the National Founders association, was
introduced. Mr.. Hoyt spoke in part as
follows:
The industrial problems, so called,
must be adjusted along the lines of least
resistance, and the line of least resistance,
in my opinion. is voluntary arbitration.
''As long as the wage Garner 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
services so long must society reckon with
him in his collective capacity. The en-
ployer who elects to ignore this fact is
often rs much of Il menace to the indus
trial peace as is that agitator who plays
upon the prcjudicos and inilamos 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
rcprchensible evil in social economies and
readily admits that when organized wage
ealners are dominated by strong conserv-
alive men they will meet the employers
half way i'll arbitration.
ONIONS must remember that there new
er was an attempt made To unite manu-
featuring employers in the common cause
of treating collectively with the relations
of labor until the unions themselves had
asserted their power. Both the employ
er and the employee must be honest
enough to conccdc that their interests are
mutual and that the deep problems of
economies cannot be solved in IL decade.
1t is Il slow evolution that cannot be has
tened by violence or intolerance"
The next speaker after Mr.. lIoyt was
Samuel Gompers. At the outset Mr..
Gumpers stated that he desired to take
positive exception To statements that had
boSn made before the conference during
the afternoon. He had already. he said,
advised the gentleman whose remarks he
intended to criticsc of his intention. Mr..
GonpcrS added: "Onc of the things to
which | took exception was that as an
officer of the -NtchiSon. Topeka and Santa
Fe railroad he should undertake. in this
conference To present his side, the side of
the railroad. in strike which is still in
progress without a representative of the
strikers being here to present their side
of the controversy. 1t seemed to me that
if the opportunity of This conference is to
he taken advantage of for the pr,Sonta-
tiun of the railroads side Of this contro-
vcrSy due notice might have been given
To the representative Of the Order Of
Hallway photographers in order that be
might be here to listen to what was said
and refute it if necessary. | am not pre-
pared to say that what the gentleman
said was untrue. but one story is very
good until the other side is told"
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 strike. People
in China do not strike. | wonder whether
those who would try To prevent the strk
ers from striking or those who would pun
ish the workers for striking would like to
change the condition from that which OBJ
tains in our country to that which OBJ
tains in China. If the absence of strikes
was the measure of civilization, then Chi
ma ought to stand at the head of the
world"
In conclusion he said, I'VE shall insist
upon the right to quit work whenever the
work becomes irksomc to us, and we shall
always insist on our right to strike for
any reason or for no reason at all"