The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-06
THE STEEL STRIKE.

Mr.. Schwab at the head of the big
steel corporation says there is nothing
to arbitrate. Possibly there is not,
yet it would seem as though if both
sides to the great strike could get to-
gether through chosen representatives
that a satisfactory settlement could
soon be arranged. The trouble has been
from the start that both sides have
been shifting positions. When the
strike started the steel trust was will
ing to make settlement, but Presi-
dent Shaffer and his executive board
would not hear to it. AS matters have
progressed and the corporation has
been gradually getting the better of
the situation and the strikers losing,
it has naturally stiffened the operators,
while Shaffer and his associates have
somewhat receded from the position
they at first assumed. 1t would seem
that the plan of arbitration suggested
by General Master Workman Burns of
the Knights of Labor, is so fair that it
ought to have been accepted as means
of ending the present labor difficulty. 1t
has in fact received the approval of
Mr.. Shaffer and his associates and if
Messrs Morgan and Schwab would re-
cede trouble would soon be at an end.
This proposition is for arbitration. 1t
proposes that there be three arbitra-.
tors, one to be selected by the steel
corporation, one by the strikers and
the third by these two. This plan
would of course involve the recognition
of the labor union by the corporation.
1t has been reported, but whether COR
rectly or not is question, that it was
the purpose of the steel corporation to
crush out the Amalgamated associa-
ton. Possibly the heads of that or
ganizatiOn have felt that way since the |
strike commenced and possibly they |
could do it and for awhile run the |
plants they control, but they must be |
cognlzant of the fact that labor has !
some rights as well as capital and |
that its right to organize is just as in
evitable as that enjoyed by capital. |
The real facts of the case are that a !
settlement brought about by compro-
mise through board of arbitra tion |
would be far more beneficial than the |
winning by the crushing policy of |
either side.
The present strike has served to
point out most plainly the need of ma
tional control of great combinations of ,
capital. Had the proposed constitu-
tional amendment giving congress the
power to control and regulate such
combinations been adopted, it would
have opened the way for legislat ion,
which would force the combatants in |
such struggle as is now going on, to
pay some attention to the rights of |
the public and oblige them to submit |
any differences which may arise to set
Element by board of arbitration. 1t
is foolish for Mr. Schwab to say that
there is nothing to arbitrare, for whe re
there are differences sufficient to lead |
to a strike of the magnitude of the one
now going on. even though it may be
the result of bad leadership on the part |
of labor, there are matters which a
board of fair-minded men could ad
Just and so cause the wheels of indus
try to move on again, and it is duty
which both capital and labor owe to
tho D,1hlic that such diffarances should |
be so adjusted without resort to the
strike and if they will not so agree to
submit, they should be forced to by |
law.