Arizona republican., 1900-12-19
A SPIRITED DEBATE.
Upon Compulsory Arbitration Be tween President Gompers and a New Zealand Representative Who Deprecates the Doctrine of the Right to Strike - Resolutions Looking to New System.

Chicago, Dec. 1S.-The conference on arbitrat tion and conciliation was en- livened during the day by a debate be- tween Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor and Hugh Il. Lusk, ex-member of parlia ment of New Zealand. The venerable New Zealander during the forenoon turned aside from his prepared address to express displeasure at a declaration made by MT. Gompers in his address last night. The labor leader on the Oc- casion mentioned asserted that he wished to see the labor organizations retain the privilege of striking when they pleased.
 That is not liberty" cried Mir. Lusk; 'it is license" At this moment MT. Gompers entered. The speaker con- tinued: MT. Gompers wants concilia- tion and he says you can never have conciliation unless you are ready to cut one another's throats. Well, if that is the unfortunate condition of the peo- pie of America I am sorry for them. We are not so anxious to cut one an others threats where I came from. I wish MT. Gompers had taken the trouble to find out what our compul- sorry arbitra tion law is before he told you about it, but as he did not I am obliged to do it for him..
 During the afternoon MT. Gompers secured the stage and reiterated his assertions of the night previous. we do not cut each others threats un- necessarily, but I would rather have right to clutch at a mans throat than to have my arms amputated. A con- pulsory labor law is equivalent to the amputation referred to-" he said. T want labor to have the strength Of giant, but to use that strength gently"
 Following this, two speeches Were sandwiched in, and then MT. Lusk again secured the floor. He explained at length the workings of the arbitra- tion courts of New Zealand, generally talking straight at the labor president.
 At the evening session the committee on resolutions submitted it's report. The resolutions recognize the fact that compulsory arbitration-aside from all other objections urged against it-is at this time question of practical in dustrial reform and that such systems as are now in vogue do not seem to fully meet the requirements of differ ent interests The resolutions fur ther recommend that the presiding of ficer of the conference appoint a com mittee to serve for one year, to be composed of six representatives of the employer class and six of the employe class, for the purpose of formulating some plan of action looking to the es- tablishment of a general system of conciliation that will promote and sus- tain peace.
 We believe" say tho resolutions, that this conference will have in part at least failed in its mission unless it strenuously insists that the proper time to arbitrate is not after a strike or lockout has been inaugurated, but before it has been begun.
 ''We fully realize that all plans Of arbitration would be unavailing unless We are all animated by a spirit of fair ness and justice and are willing to open our eyes to such rights as belong to every citizen" The report was adopted without debate and Chairman Macveagh appointed as members of the committee for one year the same gentlemen who constituted the resolutions committee.