Evening star., 1901-02-02
CAPITAL AND LABOR
Ideal Way of Settling Differences
That May Arise.
CANCELLATION AND ARBITRATION
Private Boards Which Represent
Both Interested Parties.
A PRACTICAL DISCUSSION

Written for The Evening Star by Carroll n.
Wright. Ii. D., L. $. Commissioner OF Labor.
The subject of industrial Cancellation and
arbitration is getting to be somewhat
hackneyed, and yet there is still much to
be learned. The recent conference at Chi
cago under the auspices of the National
Civic Federation was one of the most
gratifying occasions of the kind that has
ever occurred. A similar conference was
held in 1894 by the Civic Federation of
Chicago. Its proceedings did not attract
much attention. Its discussions were too
academic for practical results, and there
was no unanimity of thought or senti-
ment, nor was the conference thoroughly
representative one, but that held December
IL and is was thoroughly representative
in its character, for there sat side by side
managing officers of great railway systems.
representatives of the builders of Chicago
presidents of manufacturing companies,
employees all along the line, heads of great
labor organizations, students reformers,
agitators.
The discussions were not only instructive
but forcible. There was a unanimity of
thought and Of desire. The representatives
of capital and the representatives Of labor
standing on the same platform could agree
and did agree, In some of the most vital
as, TOT instance, Mr. Herman
Jusu. commissioner for the Illinois Coal
Operators Association, association
which has had practical experience in con-
structing plans Of Cancellation and arbitra-
ton. insisted that the first step to prevent
strikes is to organize capital in order that
1t may deal with the problem of labor as a
practical business man would deal with any
other business problem. and that the great
need today Is two well-organized forces,
both established for the same purpose,
namely, to determine and regulate the
wages and the conditions Of labor He in
sisted that labor is much better organized
for the purpose Of handling labor difficult
ties and arranging wages, etc, than capt.
tai, and Mr.. John Mitchell, the president of
the United Mine Workers Association, who
carried on the late strike in Pennsylvania
so successfully and so satisfactorily, in
dorsed the statements Of Mr.. Just.
Both Sides Represented.
With one or two exceptions, all the speak
ers were in favor Of plans for Cancellation
involving private boards like those existing
In nearly all the great trades In treat
Britain. boards on which the employers
and employees are properly represented,
their function being to take into consider
alton for the purpose of settlement and ad-
justment all the grievances which may
arise on and be presented by either side,
and II necessary, after the issue Is clearly
defined of arbitrating the difficulty. All be-
HeVed that the proper time to interfere IS
Wien Tic grievances are presented, Tatner
than to wait till after the issues are de-
fined and the struggle is on. The expert
ence of Great Britain in this direction is
ample, and should encourage industry in
this country to follow the example set by
that country.
One of the most striking Illustrations OF
this method occurred recently In France
There was a strike at the coal mines of the
Loire basin for higher wages. This oc-
CURED in December, 1899, the demand being
based on rise In the price Of coal The
Miners Federation of the Loire proposed
arbitration. After various negotiations, t.e
proposal was accepted by the operators
The miners appointed Monsieur Jaures. the
noted socialist leader, as their representa-
tive The operators appointed Monsieur
Gruner, the secretary of the General Organ
iZation of Coal Operators of France as
their representative. These two men, rep
resenting the most extreme positions rela-
tive to labor and capital, met and came to
an agreement without the intervention Of a
third party. Their decision was accepted
and the difficulty settled. l know of no
more extreme illustration Of the applica-
tion of the prime principle in the settle
ment OF labor troubles
with Excellent Results.
This country can bear testimony to the
virtue Of this method through the expert
ence Of the boot and shoe manufacturers,
some OF the foundry establishments, the
building trades, the coal trade in Illinois
and some other trades. Wherever this
method Is adopted there are the very best
results. Disappointments, of course. will
occasionally occur, but a rule the private
method Of settling labor difficulties appeals
more thoroughly to the moral sense of the
parties than the action Of an outside board. |
There is growing feeling that state boards
can be only advisory. and as the British
method extends this feeling Of course, will
increase. This plan, comprehending the
services of private or trade boards Of con-
ciliation and arbitration. has been thor
oughly tried, and for too long a period to
have Its efficacy doubted. This experience
in Great Britain covers the years since 1860
but the experience Of the leading Industries
of Great Britain since that year can be
found in Bulletin No. % Of the United
States department of labor, and the expert |
ence in the boot and shoe trade in the |
United States, which is also very gratifying |
is detailed to considerable length in Bulletin |
No 8. There can be but one conclusion |
from a study of these details, and that is |
that peace and harmony in the industrial |
world can be better secured through the |
action of well-meanng men in the in |
dustries themselves than through any out |
side force. |
Three Parties Concerned. |
OF course. in Industrial concliation and |
arbitration there are really three parties !
the employers, the employees and the pub !
lie The public has q perfect right to say |
that industry shall be so conducted that
it shall not be inconvenienced. 1t is. how
ever. perfectly willing to withhold its ef-
forts to secure peace and absence of
inconvenience if the two other parties can
keep the peace through their own moral
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