New-York tribune., 1901-05-09
TO CLOSE ON SATURDAY.
APPEAL FOR ARBITRATION
LEADERS AT MASS MEETING EXPRESS
PREFERENCE FOR INDUSTRIAL
pEACE-SOCIALIsTS ANNOYING.

A mass meeting under the auspices OF the
Committee Cancellation of the National civic
Federation was held last evening in the large
hall at Cooper Union to further the movement
started at the conference on Tuesday to form a
national board of arbitration. Charles Sprague
Smith presided, and there were speeches by
John Mitchell DR.. Felix Adler. Samuel Gompers
and others Socialists in the audience interrupt
ed the speakers so often to create consider
able confusion. Twenty policemen at the meet
ing were induced to take off their helmets and
take seats. but their presence did not prevent
Misses and interruption of speakers. At one
point Mr. Smith made an appeal to the dis
turbers. saying:
The Socialists have had their turn and We Will
let them have it again. but now ask f3r ,a 9reer %
selves in For the Lords sake hold yourselves in
John Mitchell said in part:
The impression may have gone forth that stand
for turmoil and war rather than peace but know"
stand for peace # It Gan be an honorable @ peas 3eaG6e tb
labor problem. but believe that the plans agreed
upon to-day will do much TO prevent strikes ana
Cured could have been avoided If the employers
and the representatives Of labor organizations had
conferred.
"It is the duty of every one who is not sell
fshly set upon his own theories" said DIR. Ad-
ler Ito strive for what can be done to mitigate
the evils of the present social struggles. The
first thing is to bring the two forces face to
face. Familiarity does not breed contempt: it
breeds respect. One of the chief sources Of
trouble is not selfishness. but misunderstanding
of each other"
TT will be a choice" said Samuel Gompers
between voluntary arbitration and compulsory
arbitration. where Jail will await those who
will not work under a settlement ordered by the
courts. Our experience of courts has not been
such as to warrant in placing Industrial
interests in the hands of the gentlemen who pre-
side on the bench"
The report of the National Committee on Con-
ciliation and Arbitration not presented at
the meeting. but was given to the press The
purpose of the committee is declared to be "the
prevention of those most threatening of all in
dustrial disturbances. the strike and the lock-
out" The scope of the committees work is de-
clared to be Ito form in the public mind the n
Viction, first, that industrial disturbances in the
nature Of strikes lockouts and should be
avoided; and, second that the only reliable
method of avoiding such disturbances is
through full and frank conferences between EN-
ployers and workmen, with the avowed purpose
OF reaching an agreement as to terms Of
ployment."
AS TO the method of work, the committee de-
clareS that IL will put itself into communication
with all representative bodies of workmen and
employers, inform them to it's purpose, offer
its services and obtain their cooperation and
large its membership so as to include such lead
of industry and labor and such representa-
tives of the general public as 1t may deem neces-
sary effectively TO extend the scope of its use
fulness. 1t will select from its members an ex-
ecutive committee of fifteen, in whom will be
vested power to equip and direct such working
organization in its judgment will be neces-
sary. 1t will appoint finance committee to Sc
cure sufficient funds to put the organization on
a firm basis, and to enable IL to carry out the
work on the lines indicated.