The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-18
A SPECIAL LABOR REPORT.
Treatment of the Subjects Of Dis
pUtes and Arbitration.

Peaceful Relations Between Employ
ers and Employee and HoyY Thcy
May he WaintHiucd-I.nvvS and
Court Decisions ~ to Trusts.
Charles F. EGEerton and r Dana Du-
rand have, under the direction Of the In
dustrial Commission, prepared a summary
OF tho report on labor disputes and ar
biuratycn and peaceful methods of pre-
venting and settling strikes The iufor-
nation has been obtained largely from
those connected with the various labor
systems in the United States The study
Of court decisions regarding strikes and
labor combinations has been based upon
study of the causes.
Discussing the Importance and general
nature of the subject the authors say in
part:
Perhaps no other question relating 90
labor has attracted EIoattr attention in
the United states in recent years than
that of the methods of securing more
peaceful relations between employers and
tiIp.oNCS- There is a growing feeling ON
the part Of WOrkiuEmen. employers. and
the general public that the determination
o. the conditions of labor by open CON
lhcts, strikes, and ICckoUtS. Is in most
instances unduiy expensive. and that II
ttHuS 10 create unnecessary friction be
tween employers and employees. Not only
90 bcln the employers and employees Suf-
Ter from the loss Of working time and
interruption OF business which comes
from strikes and lockoUtS but the con-
Ntnlvnce and comfort Of the general rub
nc are IN many Instances seriously inter
Tered with The ill-fJeliuE which too Of
ten accompanies open ruptures between
masters and men is not the least Of the
evils OF strikes and lOckOutS Wfd,sDread
Shl growing interest accordingly is mani
LyNt,u an me subject Of methods which
SAali tend 10 prevent. so far as practice
Die the actual cessation of cmnIDvrn,nf
OF account Of differences concerning the
conditions Of labor OF which. in case en-
p!C}Uent Is actually interruutsd may IA
cin13te early and peaceful settlement
ne result Of this growth OF uubIic
sentiment In favor of more peaceful meth
DDS Of determining the relations Of arn
ployeS an the United States is shown bv
the rapid increase IN the number and ef-
IeSliNtLtss OF the organizations and
mtthodS seeking this end. One cOUSpiclI-
Gus movement Of recent wears has been
thdl toward the enactment of legislation
seeking 10 establish methoCs of arbitra-
uon Cancellation. and mediation. In a
considerable number of State laws have
Deen passed providing for permanent
state boards OF arbitration. and while in
some Of the States the laws have been
almost dead letters. several Of the boards
thus este hiished have ACCOMPLISHED note
worthy results In other States the legis-
latures have passed statutes encouraging
me formation Of local boards of couciIi3-
ton and arbitration. a measure. however
winch seems 10 have proved almost uni
formly Of no avail. Even more important
than these legislative enactmentS is the
movement toward the voluntary estab-
hShment or methods of collective bar
gaining, or Cancellation and Of arbitra-
ton, within the various trades them
selves
In many trades the conditions OF Ia
Dor tn not a few localities are deternin-
ed by conferences between EMPLOYERS and
en- ,loyes, or between Representatives Of or
Gf arr,rf1 love-
These conferences often result in written
agreements prescribing the terms of the
labor contract for given period Of time
The practice Is also growing % referring
disputs. especially those relating To the
Interpretation Of the labOr contract to
committees representing the employers
and employees. while IN many instances
impartial umpireS or arbitratOrs are call
ed in TO settle matters as to which such
committees cannot agree. The most con
spicuOus manifestation Of the movement
In favor OF more harmonious relations be
tween employ ers and employees Is found in
the system Of conferences and Joint
agre1 ments covering trades throughout
the entire country, or throughout large
sections In most Of the ten or twelve
trsuieS in the Unitd States in which such
undertaking systems exist they have
been esta bliShcd within the past fifteen
years while fully half Of the systems date
beck not more than five years"
In regard TO laws and court decisions
as 70 labor combinations. the report says
THE subject OF the attitude Of lcgis-
latures and courts regarding the legality
OF the acts Of WOrkinGmtu and labor or
ganizati0ns IS a very interesting and i'm
pOTtant one. 1t is often asserted that
many acts Of wOrkngmen in connection
with strikes. boycotts. and combinations
OF labor are tyraunOUs and violent. and
contrary 20 recognized principles Of law.
On the other hand. WOTkinEmcn almost
universally complain that the attitude Of
the law, especially as interpreted by the
American courts, toward their acts is in