The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-23
FOR ARBITRATION.
So Declaressthe5C Chief of New Jersey's
#sz#ss Bureau Of LnbOr, e ri 3:5

bureau OF Labor. III
The following contribution from the
pen of w. Stainsby. Chief Of the Bu-
reauEof Labor Of Ney Jersey, had place
in copyrighted symposium on labor
published in The Christian Herald.
l. You ask for my views on the reforms
which the century should bring into the
world of labor, especially as to the es-
tablisment of labor courts. the aboli-
ton of strikes and the addition to the
presidents cabinet of secretary of la
Dor. The, general discomfort now pre-
vailing throughout the world among
those who may be designated the work.,
ing classes would seem to indicate the
necessity of such reforms in the rela-
tons of employer and employe as well
as make each better acquainted with
the aspirations, responsibilities and diff
ficulties of the other ... -. 49,.
/ believe in arbtrati ton as means of
settling labor disputes after the prin-
cipals have failed to adjust their diff
ficulties themselves: Indeed, 1t is only
in that way that any just settlement
may be effected. When a dispute be-
comes so intense as to verge on a strike
the principals are of all persons the
least competent to get at the merits of
it and determine which side is right; it
is only an impartial third party who
can do that. The public interests re-
quire that all such disputes should he
|arbitrated, and the side refusing to sub
nit it's case for settlement in that way
ought to receive the severest censure
that public opinion can inflict.
Many of our states have enacted laws
establishing boards of arbitration in the
interest of the public, but the results of
their works seem much below what was
expected of them. The failure is gen.
orally attributed to the fact that their
power is simply advisory, offers Of medi
alton by them are frequently rejected
by one or both of the parties to labor
dispute. To give these boards authori-
ty to intervene, regardless Of what the
principals might desire, with the same
authority to enforce decisions which the
courts possess, would seem to be tn:
only way Of making their work effec-
tive. AS a theory, such a course would
seem to be free from any serious OBJ
! jection; it would only be necessary to
find out the right of the matter in dis
pute, which might be wholly on one
side or partly on both, and decide ac-
cordingly; but if the findings should
not be acquiesced in by the party in
: fault, then how would the public regard
the measures which must necessarily
be taken to enforce them?
! Assuming the cause of trouble to be
| the discharge of some workmen by all
employer and that the court, finding the
reasons given for dismissal not salts
factory, should order them restored to
their places, the employer has no choice
between taking back men he does not
want in his employ and whom he has
already discharged or mourning =. the
penalty of contempt of the court, which
could be no other than fine and, if per-
sisted in, imprisonment.
There are at the present time many
instances of labor disputes having been
satisfactorily settled by volunteer ar
bitrators, in whose hands both sides
were willing to leave their cause. The
intelligence. good Judgment and higf
4 personal character Of these men being
I regarded as sufficient guarantee thai
! the conclusions reached by them, ne
matter which side was favored, Wouli
be just and equitable. ~
God is invisible, and the car is fa1
off, is a proverb among the Russian
peasantry, eloquently expressive Of
wrongs inflicted by irresponsible under.
l.lings The pathetic note running
through it finds an echo in the hear
of many an American workman from
! whom the president or other supreme
: officer of the CORPORATION that employs
him is as far Of as is the Russian
autoerat from the peasant: - .
! To remedy these things I: believe tina
every corpora ton should have sitting
at it's council board, on perfectly equa
terms with the other directors,a repre-
sentative man who would particular,
:: represent the interests of labor, and. SEE
to it that in shaping it's policy~due. con
sideration be given them. This repre-
.sentation should he based on stock
which which the corporation Nigh
on terms adjusted to their means ant
/ which they should be encouraged t
: buy. He would then have "a means O.
, making his wants known and adjusting
t his grievances. without: resorting t.
l., strikes; and this; T believe, would be 9
;, infinitely greater advantage to him :ant
to the public than the appointment b!
the president of a secretary of labor il
the cabinet of the chief executive of tn
nation.
v BY a recent referendum vote tn
Brotherhood of Carpenters decided L