Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-20

animation of economic conditions.
Permanent results have already been
definitely reached. 1t has been found
possible for the representatives of the
two organizations mentioned to meet
and discuss the principles for which
each is contending without the slightest
danger of personal animosity. Various
conferences have been carried on, with
a strong desire on both sides to reach
common ground by the exercise of
mutual forbearance and concession.
Failures to arrive at a harmonious de-
csion, even in the face of impending
Industrial conflicts, have not destroyed
faith in the success of the principle of
arbitration. Each party has become
more tolerant of the other. Friendly
conferences, face to face with each 9th
er, have destroyed preconceived no
tions of each others characteristics.
broadened and deepened the spirit of
liberation and gradually paved the way
for eventual peace in that great indus
try.
An attempt has been made to nation
alize the scheme of arbitration-in 9TH
er words, to take away from each indi-
vidual case of difficulty it's strictly To-
cal character and place the adjustment
of it in regularly appointed committees
chosen by both associations, which
committees, by reason of their expert
ence and broader horizon, are able to
eliminate the local features and arrive
at results in harmony with existing
and accepted conditions elsewhere
throughout the country.
This course of action has gone far
toward relieving the manufacturer
flom those petty annoyances which he
has always associated with unionism
and at the same time has elevated and
dignified the mission of those local and
district officers of the Iron Molders Un-
ion of North America.
The consequence has been that
more experienced, intelligent and toler-
ant body of men have been called into
action and that the rank and file of I'M
ion men are rapidly becoming educated
to the new method of dealing with their
affairs individually and collectively,
while the manufacturers have been ed
ucated to a more liberal and just con-
sideration of their employees interests.
The preamble of the constitution of
the Iron Moders Union of North Amer
lea begins with this declarations:
believing that under the present So
cial system there is general tendency
to deny the producer the full reward of
his industry and skilP'-
Upon this declaration of want of faith
in human justice is builded practically
all there is of unionism. The searcher
after truth cannot deny that there has
been much justification for this as
sumption. The National Founders as
sociation has expended a great deal of
energy in endeavoring to bring about
set of conditions which would destroy
the force of such a charge among its
members.
The association of which | have spo-
ken is type of its class. 1t is most
gratifying to note the success achieved
by the kindred organizations. The gen
eral public is scarcely prepared to ac-
cept the simplest recital of the history
that has been made in promoting the
principles of arbitration.
What of the future?
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
employer who elects to ignore this fact
is often as much of menace to the i'll
dustlal peace as is that agitator who
plays upon the prejudices and indames
the passions of the men he falsely
serves. But the conditions are improv-
ing on both sides. The progressive man.
ufacturer has learned that a union is
not an altogether reprehensible evil in
social economies and readily admits
that when organized wage earners are
dominated by strong, conservative men
they will meet the employer half way
in arbitration.
Unions must remember that there
never was an attempt made to unite
manufacturing employers in the COM
mon cause of treating collectively with
the relations of labor until the unions
themselves had asserted their power.
DUN 'hS ehipiosei anu thS cihpio!Se
must be honest enough to concede that
their interests are mutual and that the
deep problems of economies cannot be
solved in n decade. 1t is a slow evolu-
tion that cannot be hastened by vio-
lence or intolerance. All the theories
of all wise scholasticS on earth are of
little avail. There is only one certain
rule of action 1t was long ago called
the Golden Rule.-H. w. Hoyt in Chi
cago American.