The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-01
THE PRICE OF ARBITRATION.

+, j. Merriam IN Atlanta Constitution.
Just when the country is being sgitstedpy great
labor strikes and certain lines OF business are ractca
paraiyzed for the time being, might be well tobtop ana
think for moment toward what end all this IS tenins ana
the price the country paying to settle these dhctes
The main thing with the labor people is TO sece recog
milton for their organizations by capital Theycel that
unless they do this their organization has faed to ac
complish its end and they still at the mercy ocapita
On the other hand the capitalist looks upon s demand
of labor sentimental and ridiculous They reon that
labor wants 10 quit work when they recevn good pay
and steady employment all because Of some mafed grev
in the Of public recognition let thego ahead
Capital can stand 1t il they
And the public the spectacle presentd to them
of two great classes Of producers the tool OWNS and the
tool at swords points and this at tim Of unex-
aped prosperity and business activity. Greathnerprses
standing still and millions Of dollars being lost the coun
try generally outside of the parties Immediately cerned
The general public interested in this mattetmore than
It to Its business is in affece but it is
forced TO grin and bear It, for there to be remedy
Still the public not help asking the questd now and
them Have capital and labor right to CARR war
which only Injuries themselves but damagesheir nno-
cent negbbor wci When vast combination of capital
appropriate railroad system which prcticay the
whole country, monopolizes single industry commod
y and when in self protection labor organizes nd perects
its organization 20 the point where strike will xend from
New England TO Florida when they will evently be in
position tie up system corpdstion, then
where do the rights of the public in Archie business
interests of the country be ruined because ivy sets of in
dvduals think they must needs ght Is the ppc going to
stand idly by and lives lost property RUNE and
sacrificed? And yet this the price pajns to adjust
these matters when they could be settled by SIMPLE abitra
ton Could be adjusted by intelligence instsd Of force
without the loss of cent Is it necessary intelligent
people pay the price which will be inevitable unless
action is taken?
The immediate contending parties lave lost sight
Of everything except what they pleasedto call their
rights Labor is true has offered arbrae their differ
but capital think they have nthrg arb
AZ .Ex
hours recognition of their union amounts to unwar
ranted interference with the business which a considers
its especial concern
Now, in this matter capital will evenuayfnd that it is
mistaken In all large enterprises the enjoyed per-
sonay interested The output these immene corporations
entirely the property OF the parties whdown the tools
The workmen employed who the tools hnd make the
product OF the corporation possible, have alright their
share If capital through organizing into ust is able
appropriate itself of the public wealth and dictate
the price Of labor its employees effecy then labor
has right organize for seIfprotection re-
ceves recognition then the labor organizations should
ceve il also And the public should hatthe differences
which arise between these partiesabor aid captalare
properly and promptly adjusted by arbitration
1t is bad enough in all conscience for tie public
robbed by exorbtant trust prices without living its bust
ruined by the quarres Of these giant combinations
Corporations should be allowed to lock out their en-
poyes Labor should not be allowed to quit york Business
stop while their differences are beire adjusted
But arbitration be made efectual along this line
be made compulsory. 1t become lsw Of the land.
The democratic party in its platform affirmed belief
arbitration law; but the people did NOT litcn Mckinley
and prosperity the only things in sgn But we
likely this prosperity wrecked fol the of
precautionary which democracy would have naugu
rated The price of arbitration, before is eventually
forced is likely to become costly experience
In the meanmefor not expect republican
congress to do anything along this lneh legislatures in
the different States where business is aneefd might begin
the work