Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-12-20
LABOR CONFERENCE.
Arbitration and Cancellation
Under Discussion.
COMPULSORY MEASURES OPPOSED.
Representatives of Capital aud La
bOr Trying to Find n Cure For
the strike Evii-Bellcve 1t It's
In Voluntary Arbitration

In Voluntary Arbitratior
CHICAGO, Dec. 1S.-Men WI III the
past have bitterly opposed each other in
industrial contests filled Steiuway hall at
last nights session of the conference on
Cancellation and arbitration which has
begun here. Both the day and night ses-
sions were taken up with papers read by
representatives of capital and labor look
ing to the same end-a cure for strikes
From the tone of the addresses it seem
ed plainly evident that both sides were
vigorously opposed to compulsory arbi
tration. aud If u recommendation on the
subject of Il national board results from
the present gathering the recommended
tion will in all probability specify that all
the board's work shall be along the line
OF voluntary arbitration.
The night session was called to order
at . o'clock. After Il few introductory re-
marks by Franklin McVegh. the presid
ing officer. Henry W. Hoyt president of
the National Founders associs on. was
introduced. Mr.. Hoyt spoke j 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
OF is taught To assume that 81 iety is in
league to rob him as. sidual of
some of the purcha~ er of his
services SO long m. .is+@ exon with
him in his coli Sc SO ~ The em-
ployer who eless 5as5sS; S;ore this fact is
often as mnchs-,. = enace to the indus
trial peace rs S5.iiat agitator who plays
upon the prejndices and inHaises the pas
sions of the men he falsely serves But
thn = ions h.tl
sides. The progressive manufacturer has
learned that union is not an altogether
reprehensible evil in social economics and
readily admits that when organized wage
carners are dominated by strong consefv
ative men they will meet the employers
half way in arbitration
Unions 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 concede that their interests
mutual all thar the deep problems of
economics cannot he solved in n decade.
1t is a slow evolution that c;fnnot he has
tcnet Icy violence or Intolerance
The next speaker after Mr.. Hoyt was
Gompers stated that he desired to take
positive exception to statements that had
been made before the conference during
the afternoon. He had already. he said,
advised the gentleman whose remarks he
intended to criticise of his intention. Mr.
Gompers added: ''One of the things to
which | took exception was that as an
officer of the Atchison, Topeka and d'Santa
Fe railroad he should undertake in this
conference to present his side. the side OF
the railroad. in Al strike which is still in
progress without Il 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 presenta-
tion of the railroads side of this contro-
versy due notice might have been given
to the representative of the Order of
Railway Telegraphers in order that he
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
he avoided in the interests OF both capital
and labor. Mr.. iompers declared that
there were some evils more dreadful than
strikes. He added: 1--WE strike. People
in China do not strike | wonder whether
those who would try to prevent the strik-
ers from striking or those who would pun
ish the workers for striking would like 10
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 MS. and We shall
always insist on our right to strike for
any reason or for no reason at all.